The benefi ts of proper insulation and ventilation · Insulation often gets the blame for...
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multicomfort.co.uk Share ideas on how to improve our comfort and wellbeing through a better built environment @multicomfortuk linkedin.com/company/multi-comfort facebook.com/MultiComfortUK multicomfort.co.uk The benefits of proper insulation and ventilation “I have been a member of the Celotex Technical team for over three years, coming from a background of technical positions at manufacturers of specialist construction materials. A large part of my role is to offer technical assistance to our broad range of customers including architects, contractors and distribution partners. Additionally, I offer technical support to our product development, marketing and external teams. I enjoy developing my knowledge of construction and building performance. I also enjoy seeing our products being used on site and discussing practical solutions with installers.” SUBMITTED BY Rob Firman Technical Services Officer, Celotex When DIYers or those with limited building experience try to improve the insulation of a home, they need to ensure that they do so in a way that will not create problems with condensation either within the structure of the building fabric (called interstitial condensation) or on the inside surfaces of rooms due to the unintentional creation of cold spots – called ‘thermal bridges’ Thermal bridging can be a particular problem for existing buildings. Making sure that there are no areas left uninsulated – such as under floor boards for example – is important as these will become cold when compared to the rest of the building and attract condensation and promote mould growth. Seeking technical advice on the best way to insulate walls, floors or roofs is a great way to get the best result from any refurbishment or new build project as it ensure that the proposed solution delivers the appropriate U-value (a measure of heat loss through the construction) and has passed a condensation risk analysis. For new build projects a SAP or SBEM calculation, available through Energy Assessments by Celotex, is carried out to assess performance of the whole building fabric. The guidelines for the advice are taken from an Approved Document of the Building Regulations called Part L – The Conservation of Fuel and Power along with the appropriate British Standards relating to the control of condensation within buildings. Another Approved Document – Part F, plays an important role as this addresses Ventilation. Good ventilation is key within buildings as it ensures that a good level of indoor air quality is maintained further reducing condensation risks and also helping to keep the home cool in the summer to prevent overheating. Insulation often gets the blame for overheating however, insulation serves both purposes: it keeps the home warm by stopping heat from escaping, but it also keeps the home cool by preventing the heat getting in. Recently built homes constructed to Building Regulations can suffer from overheating in the summer months and this is also the case with retrofit projects because frequently, a proper assessment of the existing insulation and ventilation measures isn’t completed and both strategies aren’t considered in unison. Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations used to be revised at the same time to Continued... EVIDENCE & OPINION | 15th November 2016 WHERE: HOME WHAT: THERMAL COMFORT | HOLISTIC COMFORT | BUILDING FABRIC WHY: WELLBEING | LIFESTYLE | HEALTH Ref: MCMT036
Transcript of The benefi ts of proper insulation and ventilation · Insulation often gets the blame for...
multicomfort.co.uk
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The benefi ts of proper insulation and ventilation
“I have been a member of the Celotex Technical team for over three years, coming from a background of technical positions at manufacturers of specialist construction materials. A large part of my role is to offer technical assistance to our broad range of customers including architects, contractors and distribution partners. Additionally, I offer technical support to our product development, marketing and external teams.
I enjoy developing my knowledge of construction and building performance. I also enjoy seeing our products being used on site and discussing practical solutions with installers.”
SUBMITTED BY
Rob FirmanTechnical Services Offi cer, Celotex
When DIYers or those with limited building experience try to improve the insulation of a home, they need to ensure that they do so in a way that will not create problems with condensation either within the structure of the building fabric (called interstitial condensation) or on the inside surfaces of rooms due to the unintentional creation of cold spots – called ‘thermal bridges’
Thermal bridging can be a particular problem for existing buildings. Making sure that there are no areas left uninsulated – such as under fl oor boards for example – is important as these will become cold when compared to the rest of the building and attract condensation and promote mould growth.
Seeking technical advice on the best way to insulate walls, fl oors or roofs is a great way to get the best result from any refurbishment or new build project as it ensure that the proposed solution delivers the appropriate U-value (a measure of heat loss through the construction) and has passed a condensation risk analysis. For new build projects a SAP or SBEM calculation, available through Energy Assessments by Celotex, is carried out to assess performance of the whole building fabric.
The guidelines for the advice are taken from an Approved Document of the Building Regulations called Part L – The Conservation of Fuel and Power along with the appropriate British Standards relating to the control of condensation within buildings.
Another Approved Document – Part F, plays an important role as this addresses Ventilation. Good ventilation is key within buildings as it ensures that a good level of indoor air quality is maintained further reducing condensation risks and also helping to keep the home cool in the summer to prevent overheating.
Insulation often gets the blame for overheating however, insulation serves both purposes: it keeps the home warm by stopping heat from escaping, but it also keeps the home cool by preventing the heat getting in.
Recently built homes constructed to Building Regulations can suffer from overheating in the summer months and this is also the case with retrofi t projects because frequently, a proper assessment of the existing insulation and ventilation measures isn’t completed and both strategies aren’t considered in unison.
Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations used to be revised at the same time to
Continued...
EVIDENCE & OPINION | 15th November 2016
WHERE: HOME WHAT: THERMAL COMFORT | HOLISTIC COMFORT | BUILDING FABRIC WHY: WELLBEING | LIFESTYLE | HEALTH
Ref: MCMT036
multicomfort.co.uk
Share ideas on how to improve our comfort and wellbeing through a better built environment
@multicomfortuk
linkedin.com/company/multi-comfort
facebook.com/MultiComfortUK
multicomfort.co.uk
...continued
ensure that insulation and ventilation were on the same page. However, this has not happened in recent revisions, making it vital that an appropriate ventilation strategy for the designed footprint / layout of new build or refurbishment projects is carried out and implemented
Whether new build or refurbishment, what’s needed is a holistic approach. For example, on a retrofi t project, a home might have double glazing to conserve heat and provide security, but do the windows also have a secure purge ventilation option for night cooling and are the homeowners aware of the solution and know how and when to use them?
Insulating properties without due consideration of condensation and ventilation issues can be damaging to the health and wellbeing of building users, but equally, if you insulate correctly, it will have a positive infl uence on those who use that space. To strike the balance, it’s all about understanding the relationship between insulation, condensation and ventilation, knowing what you’re starting with (on a refurbishment) and getting the right advice.
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EVIDENCE & OPINION | 15th November 2016
WHERE: HOME WHAT: THERMAL COMFORT | HOLISTIC COMFORT | BUILDING FABRIC WHY: WELLBEING | LIFESTYLE | HEALTH
Ref: MCMT036
