Item(s) added to your
URN:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
What is Thermal Insulation?
Thermal insulating insulates homes and commercial spaces against heat. Insulation acts as a barrier between the air inside your home and the air outside. It reflects thermal radiation, which keeps your home warmer for longer.
The main property of thermal insulation is that it has low thermal conductivity. Manufacturers use lots of different materials to create thermal insulation. Rock mineral wool, fibreglass, and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam are some of the most popular insulation materials on the market.
Best Materials for Thermal Insulation
Insulation manufacturers know how important thermal conductivity is. They prioritise processes that trap chemicals and still air to improve heat transfer reduction. With the number of thermal insulating products on the market, it can be difficult to choose between the different materials.
Rockwool Insulation Slabs
Rockwool insulation is made from a combination of basalt and slag. Manufacturers melt these materials and weave them into fine strands. They bond the strands with resin and compress them into slabs. The fine strands trap still air, which is an excellent insulator. Rockwool insulation generally has a thermal conductivity value of 0.035 W/mK.
Rock mineral wool has shorter fibre stands than the alternative glass wool insulation. Shorter strands improve the compressive strength of the product. Rockwool stands out from the competition when it comes to fire resistance, with the best possible rank on the Euroclass scale. It ranks between A1 (non-combustible) and A2 (limited combustibility) depending on the manufacturer.
One of the most well-known manufacturers of rock mineral insulation is Rockwool.
PIR Thermal Insulation Boards
Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation boards are created when manufacturers use a blowing agent catalyst to force a reaction between two monomers. This chemical reaction traps gas between the PIR foam, which is excellent protection against heat transfers.
PIR is one of the most effective insulation boards on the market. PIR insulation boards have a thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mK, which makes them one of the most effective heat reduction products on the market.
The second biggest benefit of PIR insulation boards is that they reduce CO2 emissions. PIR boards insulate spaces so well that they cut heating costs and reduce the production of CO2. PIR manufacturing plants also have low CO2 emissions.
Celotex is one of the most popular PIR insulation board manufacturers.
Fibreglass Thermal Insulation Rolls
Fibreglass insulation roll is an insulation wool made from plastic and is reinforced by glass wool fibres. Manufacturers can either make loose-fill or blanket form fibreglass thermal insulation rolls. They spin molten glass into fibres and coat it with a liquid binder if a blanket is the desired result. Loose-fill does not require liquid binders. As the glass fibres cool, they travel on a conveyor belt. The fibres tangle together to form a wool, which then passes through curing ovens.
Fibreglass insulation slows the spread of both hot and cold air. Hot air gets trapped between the fibres and cannot move. The hot air turns into still air, which is an excellent insulator. Fibreglass insulation rolls have thermal conductivies between 0.032 W/mK and 0.044 W/mK depending on the product.
Glass is resistant to heat. Fibreglass insulation is the go-to choice for people who want heat resistant materials that are also fire resistant. We recommend a fibreglass insulation roll for people who want to protect their lofts, crawl spaces, and open walls.
We recommend Knauf Insulation rolls for people who want reliable fibreglass insulation.
Frequently Asked Thermal Insulation Questions
What Is Thermal Conductivity?
The term thermal conductivity refers to the degree to which a material conducts heat. It is measured in watts per meter-Kelvin (W/mK). The higher the thermal conductivity of a material, the worse it performs as an insulator.
PIR insulation has one of the lowest thermal conductivity values on the market. Each PIR board has a thermal value of 0.022 W/mK.
What Is the Best Thermal Insulation For Floors?
PIR insulation is one of the best thermal insulation choices for under laminate flooring. PIR boards are rigid, lightweight, and resistant to water. They also have high compressive strength, which means that they will not become misshapen or less effective over time. As well as being an effective thermal insulator to insulate floors, PIR is easy to install. You can cut PIR boards into the sizes you need with a simple utility knife.
What Is the Best Thermal Insulation For Walls?
Homes lose approximately 35% of heat through walls. Lots of homeowners target walls when they want to reduce their overall heating bill and CO2 emissions.
Most insulation boards are good thermal insulators. The type of material you choose to insulate your walls with depends on a number of other factors. People who want to improve the acoustic insulation in their homes might prefer Rockwool RWA45 acoustic slabs for internal walls, whereas people who a reliable thermal solution for cavity wall insulation might choose PIR Insulation or Phenolic Insulation, for their excellent thermal properties.
How to Install Thermal Insulation?
There is no one size fits all answer to this question. At Materials Market, we stock thermal insulation from many industry-leading brands who manufacture boards, rolls and slabs. Whether you need insulation installed in internal walls, cavity walls, floors, flat roofs, pitched roofs, or a garage we have the right materials for you to insulate your project.
The installation method depends on where you are going to install the insulation, and what form of insulation you are installing. Always consult a professional before undertaking installation of the insulation yourself.