Kingspan Kooltherm Phenolic Insulation Board
(33 Products)Phenolic insulation like Kingspan Kooltherm offers high thermal efficiency in a compact form. With conductivity values as low as 0.018 W/mK, it outperforms many common insulants on the market. The boards are also resistant to water, vapour, and air infiltration. This makes them a smart option for thermal upgrades in areas where space is limited.
Browse through our Kingspan Kooltherm boards and discover premium thermal protection for walls, floors, and roofs.
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What Is Phenolic Insulation?
Phenolic insulation is made from a mix of resin, catalyst, and a gas that expands the foam. Once it sets, it produces a rigid board where most of the internal structure (over 95%) is closed cells.
This structure helps it resist moisture penetration far better than many other insulation types. Even when conditions are damp, phenolic boards hold their shape and insulating ability.
The boards are also faced on both sides, which blocks water ingress and stops mould or rot from developing inside wall or roof assemblies.
Benefits of Using Phenolic Insulation
- High thermal efficiency With minimal material thickness.
- Fire resistance: Withstands high temperatures, limited smoke production.
- Moisture-resistant: Suitable for damp environments.
- Durable: Maintains shape and effectiveness over time.
- Environmentally conscious: Often includes recycled content and aligns with sustainable building practices.
Where Can I Install Kingspan Kooltherm Insulation?
You can install Kingspan Kooltherm insulation in floors, walls, and roofs.
Each board has a different code in the title: K108 and K103 are part of the same K100 range, for example, but have different uses and properties.
It's important to note, that boards in the same range are often not suitable for the same insulation project. Make sure that you choose the right code for your insulation needs.
Here are a few examples of where you can install Kingspan Kooltherm boards.
Kingspan K103 insulation is designed for floor insulation in floor buildups. You can install K103 phenolic foam boards in block and beam, solid concrete, suspended ground floors and timber floors. The insulating core is surrounded by glass tissue facings.
Kingspan K106 insulation is the most thermally efficient full-fill cavity wall insulation board available in the UK. When you choose K106 boards, you are getting the best of the best. These boards have a composite foil facing on one side and a polypropylene fleece on the other. They have a lambda value of just 0.018 W/mK.
Kingspan K108 insulation is ideal for people who need a thermally efficient partial-fill insulation board. K108 boards are purposed for use in partially filled cavity walls and boast a low emissivity composite foil facing. They are often installed alongside a build-up of other materials that have low thermal conductivity ratings.
Kingspan K110 insulation is tailor-made for structural ceiling systems. These phenolic insulation boards are often used in commercial spaces such as car parks. They feature a glass tissue-based facing on their front surface and low emissivity composite foil on their reverse surface.
If you're looking to extend the benefits of phenolic insulation to internal wall linings, we also stock Kingspan insulated plasterboard (Kooltherm K118) with a foil composite facing - ideal for direct bonding and mechanical fixing.
Kingspan Kooltherm Standard Range
Kingspan is the only UK manufacturer producing phenolic foam insulation. Their original Kooltherm boards were the first in the range, and they’re still used in plenty of builds today.
They offer thermal conductivity between 0.020 and 0.023 W/m·K but the newer K100 series pushes things further.
These boards work well in floors, ceilings, and wall systems where you want reliable insulation without adding bulk.
Kingspan Kooltherm K100 Insulation
The Kingspan Kooltherm K100 range features some of the most widely used phenolic insulation boards in the UK.
As a more recent addition to Kingspan’s lineup, the K100 series benefits from updated manufacturing techniques that improve thermal performance. With a fibre-free rigid thermoset phenolic core, the boards boast an exceedingly low thermal conductivity value of 0.018 W/mK.
Kingspan Insulation is renowned for taking an environmentally friendly approach to insulation, as is demonstrated in the eco-friendly manufacturing of K100 boards.
Kingspan uses a blowing agent with zero ozone depletion potential and low global warming impact. For those looking to reduce both energy use and environmental footprint, Kingspan phenolic insulation offers a responsible, high-performance solution.
Manufactured to the highest standards under a management system certified to BS / I.S. EN ISO 9001: 2008 (Quality management systems. Requirements), Kingspan creates a board for every kind of insulation need. You can install K100 Kooltherm insulation in floors, walls, and roofs.
Frequently Asked Phenolic Insulation Questions
What Is The Difference Between PIR and Phenolic Insulation?
Phenolic foam is often confused with PIR insulation due to the fact that these two materials share a lot of similarities.
Both PIR and phenolic are rigid thermoset foams that function as insulating cores between two facings. The main difference between them is the materials and the manufacturing process.
PIR foam is made from isocyanate and polyol. PIR insulation boards are manufactured in much the same way as Kingspan Kooltherm insulation. The main difference is that PIR insulation has to be cured for much longer than phenolic insulation.
Whereas phenolic boards are cured before they are packed, manufacturers cure PIR boards after they have already been packed. The boards cure in a temperature-controlled environment for one day per each 25mm of thickness.
Whilst PIR has good thermal insulating properties, phenolic excels in thermal performance, reaching lows of 0.018 W/mK compared to the 0.022 W/mK of PIR. Despite the many rigid thermoset insulation materials on the market, you will not find a lower thermal resistance figure than phenolic insulation.
Both phenolic and PIR foam have combustible properties. However, they do deliver excellent protection against moisture and are ideal for areas with high rainfalls. Rot or fungi growth won't be an issue when you invest in phenolic insulation.
Are Kingspan Phenolic Insulation Boards Flammable?
When fire touches phenolic foam insulation it undergoes thermal decomposition, which is called pyrolysis.
There are two byproducts of pyrolysis: the first is pyrolysis gas and the second is a black char on the surface of the board. Pyrolysis gases are hot and combustible, meaning that phenolic insulation is not entirely anti-flammable.
The fire resistance of insulation boards is measured against the Euroclass rating. Insulation materials undergo up to five different tests and get a rating that ranges from A (non-combustible) to F (very combustible).
There are lots of Kingspan Kooltherm boards to choose from, which means that there are a few different ratings to consider when meeting thermal performance targets and building regulations.
Most Kooltherm boards have a rating of C on the Euroclass scale, meaning that they are classed as combustible materials with limited contribution to fire.
How Is Rigid Phenolic Insulation Made?
To make phenolic insulation boards, Kingspan applies a layer of wet phenolic directly onto a facing. The plastic foam forms an insulating core and expands to meet the top layer, achieving the desired thickness.
When phenolic dries, it becomes tacky. It adheres to the top and bottom facings to create thin sheet material.
Kingspan cooks the resulting board under immense heat, then cures it in a second oven. Cooked and cured phenolic is a distinct pink colour, which is distinguishable from yellow PIR foam.
The boards have very low thermal conductivity and provide the best thermal protection that you can buy. They can also withstand continuous temperatures of up to 120 degrees C, making them the ideal choice for high specification projects.
What Is A Cavity Closer?
A cavity closer is a vital component that maintains continuous insulation in modern construction, designed to close the gap or cavity found in a wall structure, specifically around window and door openings.
These cavities are common in cavity wall construction, where there are usually two parallel walls with a gap or "cavity" between them.
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