Draught Finder Trevor Clark 11. INSULATION Qualified L1 Air Tester & Thermographer Affiliate Member BINDT (British Institute of Non Destructive Testing) Independent Airtightness Testing Scheme UK Thermography Association

INSULATION This presentation is intended to provide a brief description of Insulation What is Insulation? In past years one of the most cost effective means of reducing heating bills, increasing the energy efficiency in buildings was to increase the level of insulation within the outside walls of the building. But what is insulation? Insulation is a material that restricts or slows down the transfer of heat energy We have not yet found a material that stops the transfer of heat energy. Although we have come close with a material called Aerogel.

INSULATION What is Insulation? In a building two processes are involved when we consider heat energy transfer, Conduction Convection Radiation at this point is not considered as the heat radiation from a body turns to conduction when it reaches another body. The best insulator we have in abundance is Air – Dry air being better than air holding moisture. But air suffers from heat transfer due to CONVECTION – which when heating a building is handy, but not so much when we require insulation If we could stop or reduce air from forming convection currents, this would increase the insulation performance. So how do we control convection currents?

INSULATION What is Insulation? We need to make the air volume smaller, and so make the convection cycle smaller, so small it will in effect, stop the air circulation. A very small enclosed bubble Heat from this side heats up the air which rises and starts the convection process The air starts to cool and fall, as it passes this side it gives up the heat through the material. We need to make the material that holds the air bubble as thin as possible, to reduce the CONDUCTION heat transfer.

INSULATION What is Insulation? To increase the performance of the insulation we now need to make the bubbles very, very small and the material that hold the air bubbles as thin as possible without bursting.

INSULATION What is Insulation? Urethane insulation is currently possibly the best insulation on the market today. But there are others…

INSULATION What is Insulation? All current insulation uses the same principle, and try to prevent Convection and Conduction from happening within the insulation. The ‘enemies’ of insulation are; Water Air Movement Water because compared to air it is a good conductor, so decreases the performance as an insulator Air because it takes the heat away (Robs Energy) as is passes through and around the insulation, again reducing the performance of the insulation. So how do we maintain or increase the performance of our insulation …..

See our slide show on “Wind, Air & Vapour Barriers” INSULATION How to maintain or increase the performance of Insulation? 1. Insulation is generally a light material, so needs in the first instance to be held firmly in place. 2. Insulation comes in many different forms, sheet, fibre, or beads. Each needs installing according to it’s makeup, but all need to be installed in the following manner; Laid between supports, with no gaps Second and subsequent layers placed so as to cover any joints Protection from air gaining access between insulation and structure. Protection from water vapour from travelling through insulation Protect from Air (Wind) travelling under the insulation, soffit ends of wall plates Exception to the above is “Spray Foam Insulation” – but this still requires a Vapour Control Layer 3. Consider carefully where you will use each type of insulation – i.e. Do NOT install fibre roll insulation in vertical walls, it will slip down, leaving a gap with no insulation. 4. Consider carefully how you will protect the insulation from Air Flow (Wind) and Water Vapour. 5. Always use good quality Air Barrier with a combined Vapour Barrier, installed on the warm side of the insulation. If building new (or refurbishing) install an external Wind Barrier material. 6. Do not allow the insulation to become compressed, it loses performance! See our slide show on “Wind, Air & Vapour Barriers”

INSULATION Wind, Air & Vapour Barriers? Why use a Barrier? A Wind Barrier, Air Barrier or a Vapour Barrier is a CONTROL LAYER that is installed in a building to PREVENT; WIND from outside travelling through the structure, that will lead to increased energy usage. AIR from travelling through the structure, that will otherwise increase the Air Permeability of the building leading to increased energy usage. WATER VAPOUR from entering the building wall & insulation, & as a result of a lower temperature condense within the thickness of the structure reducing the insulation performance & lead to structural damage due to rotting over time. Air or Vapour Barriers are used within modern building constructions as part of energy conservation measures & to protect the structure. Wind barriers are used outside to prevent air blowing into the structure. These barriers can be used to prevent Air or Vapour, but some can be used to prevent BOTH Air & Vapour from permeating through the structure. Vapour Barriers are slightly different in that they are designed to stop water vapour, as a consequence they also stop Air. Air Barriers - while they will prevent Air from passing they may not stop Water Vapour. Check the specification before use!

The combined use of insulation with an AIR/VAPOUR BARRIER also; Benefits of Insulation and Barriers? However the use of a Barrier (with vapour control layer) will prevent warm internal air carrying moist air from getting through to the insulation layers and therefore stops water vapour from condensing within the insulation. The combined use of insulation with an AIR/VAPOUR BARRIER also; Lowers ENERGY RUNNING COSTS, less energy input Improves COMFORT CONDITIONS, steady temperatures Improves INDOOR AIR QUALITY, providing sufficient ventilation is installed Quicker HEAT UP TIME, retaining heat longer. Less DIRT & GRIME, brought into the building, Reduced Washing cycles Improves INSULATION PERFORMANCE, prevents air blowing through or around insulation Improves ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE, less noise transmitted Improves OCCUPANCY SATISFACTION, fewer complaints from tenants, reduced rent disputes Avoidance of moisture related BUILDING DAMAGE, lower maintenance Lower ENERGY CAPITAL EQUIPMENT COSTS, smaller replacements required Improved BUILDING STANDARDS, Builders take more care when building Less CO² used in heating or cooling – Helping Government meet CO² reduction targets

INSULATION Over the last 10 years modern buildings have increased the level of insulation. If the insulation is installed correctly it can significantly reduce the energy required to heat the building. This leaves air leakage as the main requirement for energy input. Stopping air leakage will again significantly reduce the energy required to heat the building and maintain comfort conditions. It has been proven that air leaking around and through insulation can negate the effect of installing the insulation in the first place ….! Over 50% of the energy required to heat modern buildings goes into heating the air lost due to poor construction details which results in air leakage. Energy losses also come from Thermal Bridging and Thermal Bypass. Thermal Bridging - is where the insulation has not been installed correctly, or not at all, around structural items such as steel which conducts heat from the warm inside to the cold exterior. The phenomenon know known as Thermal Bypass is where air may not actually enter the conditioned space but the air moves around and through the insulation picking up energy and remove it from the conditioned space by conduction through materials. These items need careful consideration when insulating any building.

It is quick, accurate and non-destructive, with minimal disturbance. INSULATION If Heat energy is invisible, how do you find leaks? To “see” the energy leakage area we use a Thermal Infrared Camera. It is quick, accurate and non-destructive, with minimal disturbance.

Trevor Clark INSULATION Qualified Air Tester & Thermographer If you are experiencing any of the problems in the previous slides, please call TREVOR for an informal discussion on how we can help reduce your heating costs by finding those ‘Unseen Energy Losses’ Mob: 435052 Trevor Clark Qualified Air Tester & Thermographer Thank you for reading …. Check out our other Slide Presentations in this series