Insulation

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Thermal conductivity (λ value) The measure of a material’s ability to transmit heat. Units: W/mK. Also called lambda (λ) value.

Thermal Resistance (R value) The measure of a material’s ability to resist the transfer of heat, it is specific to a particular thickness of material. Units: m2K/W.

Thermal Transmittance (U-value) It is a measure of the rate of conductive heat loss of a building element or component. Units: W/m2K.
U is the reciprok R-value; U=1/R

Calculation How to calculated the thickness of insulation to achieve a U-value of 0.15 equivalent to an R-value of 6.66, which is the minimum requirement for an external wall today? The thickness in meter = 6.66*λ. Examples with Stonewool: 0.038*6.66 = 0.25 m; Phenolic Foam: 0.022*6.66 = 0.15 m; Aerogel: 0.013*6.66 = 0.09 m; VIP: 0.005*6.66 = 0.03 m.

Rigid Phenolic Foam (PF) is not marketed in all countries yet, but it is affordable and will take the lead. PF is very hard but also very brittle material. It can be pulverized by hand. Rendering more ...

Render on insulation. External thermal insulation with a cement rendering require stable and compression resistant insulation materials. EPS/XPS, PF and EPS protected vacuum plates are suitable as well as special hard glass- and stonewool products.

Render on insulation is subject to greater temperature fluctuations than render applied direct to masonry. Reinforcement with a mesh and a render incorporating a polymer and/or reinforcement fibres is therefore required.

Cladding. Insulation can also be incorporated behind cladding such as back-ventilated tile hanging and weatherboarding. A back-ventilated facade-cladding allow practically all materials to be used.

Aerogel has extreme insulation properties. A new version of aerogel used on NASA's Stardust spacecraft, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the solid with the lowest density.

Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) - the ultimate insulation material. Available in 50 mm thickness ~ U=0.1 ~ R=10. Cladding should allow the panels to be easily inspected particularly with infrared thermography and replaced in case of failure.

The 9 cm Weber VIP LockPlate system with λ=0.007 in average has an U-value of 0.08 W/m2K and a R-value of 12.9 m2K/W.

External Wall Insulation. The internal option still leaves “cold-bridges” and doubts about interstitial condensation. By utilising external wall insulation, the risk of interstitial condensation is reduced and without “cold-bridges”. External insulation also retains the internal wall as a heat sink, storing heat in the day.

SW Stonewool. Example: Rockwool RockShield. Read more...

GW Fiberglass Example: Crown Universal Slabs. Read more...

EPS Expanded polystyrene. Example: Sundolitt S70 50 mm; UK EUR 2,75/m² incl. VAT Read more...

XPS Extruded polystyrene has closed cells of particular advantage in contact with soil. Example: Polyfoam fabrication boards 50 mm; UK EUR 2,75/m² incl. VAT Read more ...

PUR Polyurethane (PUR) insulations are manufactured by chemical reaction between polyalcohols and isocyanates. The gas from the blowing agent remains in the cells and serves to improve the thermal performance. Example: Kingspan Thermapitch TP10 50 mm; UK EUR 6,29/m² incl. VAT. Read more...

PIR Polyisocyanurate is produced by the same process as that used for polyurethane but with different ratios of the components. Polyisocyanurate (PIR) exhibit increased fire performance, reduced combustibility and higher working temperature limits. Example: Kingspan Celotex. 50mm; UK EUR 5.85/m² incl. VAT Read more ...

PF Phenolic foam. Rigid phenolic has better fire properties than other rigid foam plastic boards. Example: Kingspan Kooltherm K5 EWB 50 mm; UK EUR 10,68/m² incl VAT. Read more...

Aerogel Example: Aspen Aerogels, Spaceloft 10 mm. UK EUR 31/m² incl. VAT - Re.: www.proctorgroup.com Read more ...

VIP Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) contains nanoporous fumed silica or a combination of superfine fiberglass and phenolic foam. The plates are heat sealed in a barrier film under vacuum. The low internal pressure is responsible for the low thermal conductivity. The plates may be protected with EPS on one or both sides. Example: Porextherm Vacupor NT UK EUR 89/m² incl VAT for a 2 cm panel. Read more... Weber LockPlate - distribution of the LockPlates started 2010 in Germany. Read more...

Prices. Difficulties in price comparison is indicated by the following best prices incl. VAT per square metre for one and same PF-product Kingspan Kooltherm K5 EWB 50 mm in UK: EUR 10,68; Germany: EUR 19,64; Denmark: EUR 29,19.