Avoid ‘gas guzzling’ buildings

Today's buildings demand reliable, robust, high thermal performance envelope and fabric solutions, that drive energy-efficiency, prevent heat loss, eliminate thermal bridging and control solar gain over their operating lifetime. These performance criteria are key factors in minimising energy running costs, while maximising property value and lease-out opportunity.

With this in mind, it is therefore critical that the correct insulation systems and materials are specified at the design stage to ensure that 'as built' thermal performance is maintained throughout the lifetime of the building. Additionally, high performance envelope and fabric systems can reduce the capital cost of M&E plant and associated annual running costs by up to 40%.

The two common types of insulants used in building envelope applications are known as 'fibrous' and 'closed cell'.

Fibrous insulants are typically glass fibre or stone wool, both of which are man-made mineral fibre (MMMF). These insulants rely on air between the fibres to provide their thermal integrity. However, these insulants are prone to degradation due to moisture ingress, air infiltration, ageing, thinning and settlement, all of which can reduce thermal performance. This can result in building fabric failure, and in turn, cause increased heat loss, energy running costs and carbon emissions.

The energy gap

FIBRE FACT: Reduced thermal performance of fibrous insulants in building envelope and fabric systems can increase energy running costs and carbon emissions.

1% moisture content in fibrous insulants can reduce thermal performance by up to 85% or more which can cause massive energy and heat loss.
Degradation of fibrous insulation due to ageing, thinning and settlement can reduce U-value performance by up to 20%.
Air movement through fibrous insulation can result in increased energy and heat loss of up to 500%.

Close the energy gap with Kingspan

Closed cell insulants typically comprise thermoset rigid urethane or phenolic materials. The closed cellular structure has permanent resistance to moisture and air infiltration, therefore providing guaranteed thermal reliability, without degradation, over the lifetime of the building. It is these properties that have led Kingspan to continuously develop closed cell thermoset technologies and integrate them into their insulated panel system and insulation board ranges. The use of either Kingspan insulated panel systems or Kingspan insulation boards, ensures that the building envelope and fabric are future-proofed in terms of controlling heat loss, reducing energy consumption/costs and minimising carbon emissions.

email: avoidguzzling@kingspan.com