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PowerPoint presentationSustainable insulation materials

Unit 202: Principles of building construction,

information and communication

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Aims and objectives

Aim:

• Introduce learners to sustainable insulation materials.

Objectives:

• State when insulation was introduced into houses.

• Research and identify sustainable insulation materials.

• Explain the Building Regulations that cover the insulation of buildings.

• Explain how existing buildings can be insulated to upgrade their

energy efficiency.

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Insulation

Many older homes do not comply with current Building Regulations,

which is a problem. For example, a centrally heated home built in the

1970s without insulation consumes about five times as much fuel as a

home built to today’s Building Regulations.

Research has shown that 59% of

heat loss in a house is through

the external walls (33%) and the

roof (26%).

On existing homes built prior to 1985,

cavity wall insulation may not be

installed. However, cavity wall

insulation can be inserting using a

blow method.

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When was insulation introduced?

Insulation was first used in the 1860s in the form of asbestos. This was

a deadly insulator. It has caused more than 100,000 deaths in the UK. It has since been banned from use in the UK.

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Sustainable insulation materials

The use of sustainable materials in construction is becoming more and

more popular. There are many types of sustainable insulation materials

available on the market.

Research sustainable insulation materials for:

• the loft

• cavity walls.

Images courtesy of www.blackmountaininsulation.com

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Sustainable Insulation materials

Use the following websites to research sustainable insulation materials:

http://www.natureproinsulation.co.uk/

http://www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/Sustainability.aspx

http://insulation.sustainablesources.com/

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/resources/whats-best-insulation-

material/

http://www.building.co.uk/data/sustainability-thermal-

insulation/3075146.article

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Sustainable insulation

The use of sustainable insulation materials is becoming more and

more popular.

The types of sustainable insulation materials are:

• sheep’s wool

• recycled newspaper and card (cellulose)

• recycled denim

• Icynene

• nanogel

• wood fibre.

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Building Regulations

Insulation is a vital part of constructing a house. Insulating a house

correctly will help reduce energy costs and reduce its impact on the

environment.

The part of the Building Regulations that covers insulation is Part L,

introduced in October 2010.

It calls for a 25% reduction in carbon emissions compared with 2006

levels. A fundamental part of the revised Regulations is the significant

improvements in U-values required within the building fabric. Typically,

meeting this level of improvement will require 45% more insulation.

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Existing buildings

Existing buildings use more energy and lose more heat than newly

built houses.

The reasons for this are:

• lack of insulation in lofts

• no cavity wall insulation

• lack of floor insulation

• incorrect insulation used

• incorrect windows installed.

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How to insulate existing buildings

You can help to reduce energy and heating costs by insulating your

house correctly. The insulation you can use is:

• cavity wall insulation – blown insulation, polystyrene bead, foam

• loft insulation – rockwool, glass wool, matting, loose fill,

insulation board.

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Any questions?