HOW DOES INSULATION WORK?
An un-insulated home is subject to considerable winter heat losses and summer heat gains.
The term ‘insulation’ refers to materials or a combination thereof which provide resistance to heat flow.
When these materials are installed in the roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors of a building, heat flow into and out of the building is reduced, and the need for heating and cooling is minimized. Although ceilings and walls may be insulated, heat loss will still occur in winter if there are large areas of unprotected glass or through fixed wall vents, gaps electric light entry points and cracks around external doors and windows.
Appropriate internal window coverings (e.g. lined drapes with pelmets) and draught proofing are vital to complement insulation. Insulation should always be coupled with appropriate shading of windows and adequate ventilation in summer. Without shading, radiant heat entering the home through the windows will be trapped inside by the insulation and cause discomfort.
PRINCIPLES OF INSULATION
Resistance to heat flow is achieved by the use of either bulk insulation, reflective insulation or a combination of both, which work in different ways.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
There are various factors to consider before making an insulation decision:
THERMAL PERFORMANCE – INSTALLED R-VALUE
When insulating a home or building, it is important to ascertain the R-value specified by the National Building Regulations.
It’s also important that the product provide long-lasting thermal performance. It is the overall R-value installed that is important.
LIFE TIME PERFORMANCE
In order to ensure the expected energy savings, it is important that the insulation does not deteriorate, or settle, over time.
FIRE SAFETY
In accordance with the application of the National Building Regulations SANS 10400-T Fire Protection, all insulation products should be independently tested in accordance with SANS 428 Fire performance classification of thermal insulated building envelope systems, prior to being sold.
SANS 428 incorporates all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
SANS 428 provides a standard testing procedure to measure:
- combustibility; SANS 10177-5:2012, Fire testing of materials components and elements used in buildings Part 5: Non-combustibility at 750 ºC of building materials.
- surface fire properties; SANS 10177-10:2007, Fire testing of materials, components and elements used in buildings Part 10: Surface burning characteristics of building materials using the inverted channel tunnel test
- designated use and application. SANS 10177-11:2007, Fire testing of materials, components and elements used in buildings Part 11: Large-scale fire performance evaluation of building envelope thermal insulation systems (with or without sprinklers)
MOISTURE
Insulation will lose its insulating efficiency or R-value when exposed to moisture. Some insulation products are not absorbent and, if exposed to moisture, will not wick up or hold water. If allowed to dry out insulation may retain its original R-value. In wall applications certain insulation material may be applied as vapour retarders, or moisture barriers.
AIR INFILTRATION
Air infiltration generally occurs in the areas of a home that are not correctly sealed or insulated, such as around windows, doors, fireplaces, HVAC ductwork and perimeter joints. It can, and should, be controlled with proper caulking, and sealing of band joists, sill plates, header plates, and around doors, windows, electrical outlets and other openings.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
In assessing the environmental characteristics of insulation materials, consideration must be given to a broad range of issues relating to the resources going into their production, manufacturing processes, pollutants given off during their lifecycle, durability, recyclability, and impact on indoor air quality. Recycled content is the most recognized environmental feature of building products.
Materials with recycled content have four advantages:
- they require less natural resource;
- they divert materials from the solid waste stream;
- creating additional job opportunities for the unemployed by collecting waste;
and - they use less energy during manufacturing.
The insulation industry is full of good examples of recycled material use:
- Cellulose Fiber uses recycled newspaper by weight; the rest is comprised of fire retardant chemicals and—in some products—acrylic binders.
- Fiberglass uses recycled glass
- Mineral wool actually refers to two different materials: slag wool and rock wool. Slag wool is produced primarily from iron ore blast furnace slag, an industrial waste product and Rock wool is produced from natural rocks.
- Polyester Fiber uses recycled PET bottles and some use Kenaf (similar to hemp)
LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS
A life-cycle analysis is an appraisal of the environmental impacts connected with a product through an examination of the product’s environmental traits during many stages including pre-manufacturing; manufacturing; distribution/ packaging; use, reuse, maintenance; and waste management. In reviewing each of these stages, a life-cycle evaluation clearly shows its environmentally beneficial attributes.
This is just the first step…”
