Question 1

1. What is a thermal insulation?

Accepted Answer

Thermal insulation refers to any product that’s used to reduce heat transfer from one area of a building to another. For example, between the inside of a house and the outside. This is useful in both cold and hot weather, preventing heat escaping from the building during winter, as well as keeping heat out in the summer.

Aside from comfort, thermal insulation can also save occupants money on heating and air conditioning. It makes buildings easier and quicker to heat and cool, improving energy efficiency. For this reason, efficient insulation is also important on sustainable builds.

Question 2

2. What are the building regs for thermal insulation in construction?

Accepted Answer

The building regulations for thermal insulation are different depending on which part of the UK your project is in. If you're working on a new or existing building in England, Approved Document L: Conservation of Fuel and Power contains the energy performance standards that you need to follow. Wales has its own version of Approved Document L, and the Scottish standards are in Section 6 of the Building standards technical handbook.

Question 3

3. What’s thermal conductivity for insulation materials?

Accepted Answer

The ‘thermal conductivity’ of a material is a measure of how easily heat can travel through it by conduction. This figure is often called the lambda value of the material. As a rule, the lower the thermal conductivity figure, the better the performance.

However, thermal conductivity isn’t all that’s needed for a product to be a good thermal insulator. Other factors like thermal resistance, density and heat capacity should also be taken into account.

You can find a quick guide to the properties of different thermal insulation building materials here on GreenSpec.

Compare thermal insulation materials

100mm Knauf Loft Roll Insulation 44 Combi-Cut (13.89m²)

200mm Knauf Loft Roll Insulation 44 Combi-Cut (6.84m²)

100mm Rockwool Flexi Acoustic Insulation Slab (4.32m²)

Superfoil SF19+ Multi Foil Insulation 1200mm x 10m (12m²)

170mm Knauf Loft Roll Insulation 44 Combi-Cut (8.01m²)

50mm Knauf DriTherm Cavity Insulation Slab 37 (6.55m²)

100mm Rockwool Thermal Insulation Cavity Batt (3.28m²)

75mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board​ 1200mm x 450mm (3.24m²)

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board​ 1200mm x 450mm (2.7m²)

Superfoil Shed Insulation Kit (21m²)

100mm Rockwool RW3 Acoustic Insulation Slab (2.88m²)

100mm Rockwool Thermal Insulation Loft Roll (6.6m²)

75mm Jablite Jabfloor 70 Polystyrene Insulation 2400mm x 1200mm

50mm Kingspan Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board 1200mm x 600mm (Pack Of 10 - 7.2m²)

25mm EcoTherm Eco-Versal PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

150mm EcoTherm Eco-Versal PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

Superfoil SF19BB Breathable Multi Foil Insulation 1200mm x 10m (12m²)

50mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board​ 1200mm x 450mm (5.4m²)

Soudal Genius Gun Gap Filling Expanding Foam 750ml

100mm IKO Enertherm ALU PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

50mm Jablite Jabfloor 70 Polystyrene Insulation 2400mm x 1200mm

Unilin Thin-R PIR 125mm x 2.4m x 1.2m

75mm Rockwool RW3 Acoustic Insulation Slab (4.32m²)

100mm Knauf Rocksilk Flexible Insulation Slab 1200mm x 600mm

25mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

70mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

50mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

75mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

90mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

50mm IKO Enertherm ALU PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

90mm IKO Enertherm ALU PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

80mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

30mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard Insulation​ 2400mm x 1200mm

Knauf Insulation FrameTherm Roll 32 4500mm x 1140mm x 90mm

165mm Celotex XR4165 PIR Insulation Board 2400 x 1200 (Pallet Of 12)

Sheepwool Loose Wool - 5Kg Pack

75mm Celotex CW4075 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm (Pack of 8 sheets)

50mm EcoTherm Eco-Versal PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

85mm Knauf DriTherm Cavity Insulation Slab 37 (4.37m²)

75mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm (3.24m²)

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm (2.7m²)

50mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm (5.4m²)

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard Insulation 2400mm x 1200mm