insulation

Typically two thirds of a building’s heat is lost through its fabric such as walls, roof, windows and floors. Improving insulation levels and making a building more airtight can be extremely cost effective and should be considered whenever a major refurbishment programme is carried out. Improving the fabric of a building will make the building not only cheaper to heat but will also improve occupant comfort levels. Better insulation can also increase a building’s value and marketability.

Roofs account for over 20% of total heat loss from a building. For pitched roofs that are easily accessible the recommended depth for insulation is at least 250mm (10 inches). With flat roof buildings adding insulation retrospectively can be more problematic and is best tackled whenever the roof is replaced.

Cavity walls should be insulated if they haven’t already been done. For solid walls insulation board and render can be added to the outside of the building or insulation board can be added internally. Both are more expensive and can be disruptive so are best addressed during building refurbishment.

Windows and doors are another major source of heat loss. All single glazing should be upgraded to double or triple glazing. Draught proofing should be fitted around doors and windows wherever gaps are found. For heated and air conditioned areas doors and windows should be kept closed as much as possible.

An area often ignored is the heat that’s lost through the ground floors of a building. For suspended timber floors consider adding insulation between floor beams. For concrete floors insulation should be added whenever a new floor is laid. Adding insulation between ceiling spaces will help to reduce the problem of underheating on lower floors and overheating on higher floors.

We can provide cost and carbon payback comparisons for your site between natural, man-made and the cheapest available materials, and for insulating to building regulations or to a higher eco-specification in conjunction with other energy efficiency technologies.