FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Insulate?
Insulation is necessary to reduce energy consumption, sound pollution and improve the comfort and quality of life in new or existing buildings regardless of the construction system. Read More
Where To Insulate?
To obtain a thermally homogenous building and reduce heat losses properly, provide comfort in winter and summer, all surfaces in contact with the outside (roof, wall, loft) must be insulated. Read More
What are the environmental properties of Isover glass mineral wool?
At Isover we take our environmental responsibility seriously. The very nature of our business is to develop insulation solutions to protect both your built environment and the natural environment. During every stage of development, from product innovation to the sourcing of raw materials through manufacture, distribution and installation, we constantly achieve improvements in our environmental impact. That is why we have developed our 3 Point Plan for environmental sustainability. This dynamic plan focuses our efforts on continuously improving the way in which our products and processes impact the natural environment and seeks to ensure that Isover and our products, when in-situ, use less materials, less energy and produce less emissions. We are proud of the successes we have already achieved, such as being the only glass mineral wool manufacturer to achieve 86% recycled content (the absolute limit) or the 20% reduction we have made in factory energy consumption, but we are committed to achieving far more.
Is it easy to fit Isover glass mineral wool?
Isover glass mineral wool is very easy to fit. It’s flexible and friction fitted and holds in place between timber/metal frames/rafters without the need for additional fixings. This is unlike rigid boards which are solid, need to be cut to size and do not hold in place between timber/metal frames/rafters.
All Isover packaging now includes a set of text and icons to represent important handling and health and safety information. These icons follow latest EURIMA (European Mineral Wool Manufacturers Association) guidelines and have been developed to ensure that health and safety information is shown in a consistent, common format to all insulation users.
The complete list of the health and safety icons and their descriptions are shown below:
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Clean area using vacuum equipment |
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Rinse in cold water before washing |
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Ventilate working area if possible |
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Cover exposed skin. When working in unventilated areas wear a disposable face mask | ||||||||||||||||
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Wear goggles when working overhead |
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Waste should be disposed of according to local regulations | ||||||||||||||||
What is the fire performance of Isover glass mineral wool?
Isover glass mineral wool insulation is completely non-combustible and has a Euroclass A1 fire rating - the best attainable.
What is the density of...?
Density is not the best measure of performance for the majority of applications. For this reason it is better to specify a product depending upon the performance requirements for the system, such as thermal insulation, acoustic attenuation or fire resistance. Ultimately it is likely that a particular element needs to meet one or all of these performance requirements to comply with either legislation or specific client needs. With this information we will be able to recommend an appropriate product / system specification.
Under current regulations what U-Values are required for each area of a new residential building?
There are no set U-Values for compliance with Approved Document L1A for new-building residential buildings. The performance requirements for individual elements will be set by the designer, and will vary as required in order to give the desired SAP 2009 emission result.
Under current regulations what U-Values are required for each area of new non-residential buildings?
As with new-build housing requirements, AD L2A for new buildings other than dwellings is based on carbon performance of the whole building. A calculation process has to be followed and the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM), developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), is the methodology for carrying out these calculations. Although there are area-weighted limiting U-Values, the performance requirements for individual elements will be set by the designer, and will vary as required in order to give the desired SBEM emission result
Under current regulations what U-Values are required when upgrading existing domestic and non-domestic buildings?
Although an energy calculation process can be followed as per new buildings, the Regulations lay down some very specific U-Values for the building fabric and this is the most likely route that developers will follow. The U-Values will vary depending upon several factors, such as the work being carried out and the thermal performance of the existing element at the outset. Please refer to our web site section covering Building Regulations for a clear guide to the U-Value requirements.
Can you offer an alternative product to...?
We can offer suitable alternative products for most applications, however it is important to know what the product is being used for, and the relevant performances required i.e., acoustic, thermal or fire performance.
Please contact us on 01159 451 143 with this information and we will be able to recommend an appropriate product / system specification.
How do I store Isover glass mineral wool?
Isover glass mineral wool is compression packed using strong polythene packaging, which is recyclable according to the above classifications. All packs are then stacked on wooden pallets with a final weatherproof outer covering which allows the option of outside storage.
Does glass mineral wool absorb water?
Isover insulation does not absorb water and therefore does not sustain vermin, or promote the growth of mould, fungi or bacteria.
