INSULATION

INSULATION

The installation of insulation either during a renovation process or as part of the construction of a new dwelling can have such an important impact on the energy efficiency and internal living conditions of a home by reducing the amount of heat flowing through the building. As many materials used in construction offer little heat flow resistance, insulation installed in both the ceiling and walls is the most effective way to achieve this. Bulk Insulation (Batts, loose fill, boards and some building materials) reduce the flow of heat by the creation of small pockets of still air, whereas reflective foil will reduce heat absorbed.

INSTALLATION TIPS:

• Ensure there are no gaps in the insulation
• Dont compress bulk insulation
• Ensure clearance of insulation from around flues and halogen lights
• Protect insulation from any moisture contact
•  The effectiveness of reflective foil insulation if hard against cladding is greatly reduced, so ensure air spaces are maintained.

CEILING INSULATION-When insulating a roof cavity it is important to look at it in 2 levels. Firstly, start with a reflective foil material directly under the roofing sheet and fixed to the roof battens. This ensures the provision of an airgap in between the actual roofing material and other bulk insulation. Secondly,  between the joists, tightly place a bulk insulation product like a recycled polyester (Autex GreenStuf Bats, Polymax Thermal Bats). These recycled Batts are generally comprised of recycled materials such as old drink bottles and are safe to handle. The team at Green Insulation (www.greeninsulation.com.au) have released 2 new products in particular, 'Reflecta-Guard' and Reflecta-Cell'. This insulation is a reflective bubble foil, manufactured in Australia that is light and easy to use, highly rated for fire and noise protection and is guaranteed for 15 years. These products have been shown to reflect up to 97% of radiant heat, are environmentally friendly and fibre free and also have the added benefit of coming in custom length rolls. Hence reducing both waste and manual labour costs.

SUB-FLOOR INSULATION-Masterfloor (www.practicammc.com.au) produce a polystyrene sub-floor insulation system that has been designed for installation under either new or existing flooring and is non-allergenic and fibre free. It is an affordable and lightweight alternative to other sub-floor systems and its specially designed concertina like edges compress during application to ensure a perfect fit between floor joists. With claims of up to 12% savings on energy bills and a minimum R value that is better than required it's a product well worth consideration when having timber floors.

INSULATED WALL-CLADDING-NRG Energy Efficient Building Systems (www.nrggreenboard.com) offer an insulated wall panel that is a combination of exterior cladding and insulation.  The core of greenboard is a high quality polystyrene, producing a light weight and energy efficient panel that once coated is weather resistant and has the appearance of seam free render. There are no CFC's used during production, and no site waste as any offcuts can be used as added insulation. It also has the benefit of being fire and vermin retardent with great thermal and accoustic qualities.