FAQ

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. All walls and the roof in particular must be insulated The thermal performance of insulation must be very high in the roof. In winter and summer, strong thermal resistance in the loft is essential. In winter, losses are at their maximum through all opaque and glazed surfaces and structural links. In the summer, direct sunlight on the walls and roofs - particularly exposed - can overheat the interior temperature. The same goes for windows which need outside shutters, blinds, awnings, etc. to deflect direct sunlight from the house. The specific case of old houses Very old walls can be thick (about 1 metre). But despite their thickness, they do not provide sufficient insulation and comfort nor do they reduce energy consumption properly. They therefore need to be insulated. This is especially true for buildings erected after 1945 which often do have very thin concrete walls. Thermal resistance and wall thickness To obtain satisfactory performance with respect to current construction criteria (thermal resistance at R=3), the following wall thicknesses would be needed: 10.5 metres in granite, 4.2 metres in concrete and only 12 cm of insulation (? =40) In a home that is not properly insulated, heat escapes through: Roofs - 30% Doors and windows - 13% Walls - 16% Floors - 16% Inner surfaces - 75% Air renewal - 22% Structural links and thermal bridges - 5% In a properly insulated building, heat transfers are reduced on all surfaces, both in summer and winter. Controlled mechanical ventilation optimises air renewal to keep losses down to a minimum. Depending on the orientation, the size of windows and the occupiers’ lifestyle, free energy through sunlight can represent up to 20% of energy consumption and reduce the heating bill accordingly.

Isover glass mineral wool insulation is completely non-combustible and has a Euroclass A1 fire rating - the best attainable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Isover insulation does not absorb water and therefore does not sustain vermin, or promote the growth of mould, fungi or bacteria.

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.

Please refer to the Yellow Guide to Technical Insulation pages 16-26 for the correct thicknesses. Insulation thicknesses should always be to the thermal regulations BS5422:2009 for England, Scotland & Wales. Pipework and ductwork are both referred to in these standards.

Generally it may be difficult to totally eliminate all sound. The increasing degrees of sound proofing would require more materials but typically glass mineral wool and a plasterboard encasement suffices. Plastic Pipes and Acoustic Attenuation Consider a 110 mm sewage pipe made of PVC with a water velocity of 1.5 litres/sec. The sound level measured 0.6 meters from the uninsulated pipe was = 56 dB(A). A plastic pipe should be insulated with 20 - 30 mm mineral wool to get the same noise attenuation levels as for cast iron pipes.

No, stainless steel wants to react or corrode more easy than other metals so additional measures should be taken as follows: For temperatures of up to 500oC, aluminium foil of not less than 0.06mm thick to be applied to the steel surface and arranged to shed water with overlaps of not less than 50mm at the joints. The aluminium foil provides a physical barrier to the ingress of water and provides galvanic protection. Full guidance should, of course, be obtained by examination of BS5970:2012 (Code of practice Thermal insulation of pipework, ductwork, associated equipment and other industrial installations in the temperature range of −100 °C to 870 °C) relating to austenitic stainless steel that is insulated with any type of insulation

Yes, all pipe insulation products qualify for Enhanced Capital Allowances or ECA. This is a government initiative to encourage the correct thickness of pipe insulation to be be used on services. Saint-Gobain Isover’s products satisfy the Energy Technology List (ETL) criteria which is part of the ECA. Further information can be found at http://etl.decc.gov.uk/etl.

These can found within our product datasheets which are located within the download section.

Yes you can but not without a waterproof jacketing system. The foil facing of our HVAC products acts only as a vapour barrier. To ensure a waterproof system, please consider products such as VentureClad or Fibaroll. Specific details should always be sought from the relative manufacturer.

Yes, but chlorine will have the effect of causing an oxidation on any foil surface in contact with chlorine. We would therefore recommend CLIMAVER® Neto IS initially used as it has a black textile inner facing. If aesthetics are not an issue, CLIMAVER® will still perform to the desired system performance.

Yes, since November 2008 we have been offering training to contractors . Please contact your local representative or email to receive our recommendations in this regard.

The only fire protection solution that Isover offers for circular and rectangular ductwork is ULTIMATE™ Protect.

Yes we have an MED Cert for our current Isover CLIMCOVER Roll Alu1and Marine Performance Slab. Not only this they have been tested to DefStan 713 and are approved for use on MoD vessels. These products are typically used for thermal and acoustic applications. We also have a full range fire rated MED and MoD approved ULTIMATE™ Marine products. Please contact your local representative or email to receive our recommendations in this regard.