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)

1200mm X 10m Superfoil SF19+ Multi Foil Insulation

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

Soudal Genius Gun Gap Filling Expanding Foam 750ml

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

Knauf Insulation Omnifit Roll 100mm

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board​ 1200mm x 450mm

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

Superfoil Shed Insulation Kit (21m2)

100mm Rockwool Thermal Insulation Loft Roll (6.6m²)

Kingspan Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board 1200mm x 600mm x 50mm 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

50mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board​ 1200mm x 450mm

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

Jabfloor 70 Floor Insulation 2400x1200x75mm

100mm X 20m Superfoil Met Poly Foil Tape

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K107 Pitched Roof Board 2400mm X 1200mm (8' X 4')

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

100mm 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

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

100mm Rockwool RW3 Acoustic Insulation Slab (2.88m²)

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)

Jablite Claymaster 2400x1200 50mm

Thermal EPS Plasterboard Tapered Edge 2400x1200mm x 40mm

75mm Rockwool RW3 Acoustic Insulation Slab (4.32m²)

Knauf Insulation Rocksilk Flexible Slab 100mm

1200mm X 10m Superfoil SF19BB Breathable Multi Foil Insulation

120mm Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

75mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm

100mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm

50mm Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Insulation Board 1200mm x 450mm

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