Thermal Insulation Materials for Building Applications

Contents Preface ix
About the authors xi
List of figures xii
List of tables xiii
List of boxes xv
List of plates xvii
Abbreviations xvii
Author’s note xx
1 Introduction 1
Reference 3
2 Types of thermal insulation materials 5
2.1 Mineral wool insulation 6
2.2 Glass wool insulation 8
2.3 Hemp fibre insulation 10
2.4 Hemp-lime insulation 11
2.5 Flax fibre insulation 13
2.6 Sheep wool insulation 14
2.7 Wood fibre insulation 16
2.8 Aerogel insulation 18
2.9 Polyisocyanurate (PIR) and polyurethane
(PUR) insulation 19
2.10 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation 21
2.11 Extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation 22
2.12 Polyethylene (PE) insulation 24
2.13 Phenolic insulation boards 25
2.14 Urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) 26
2.15 Spray foam insulation 27
2.16 Structural insulated panels (SIPs) 30
2.17 Insulating clay bricks 32
2.18 Cotton waste insulation 32
2.19 Cellulose insulation 33
2.20 Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) 35
2.21 Injected fibres for cavities 36
2.22 ‘Magic wallpaper’ and thermal paint 37
2.23 Clay boards 38
2.24 Injected expanded polystyrene 38
2.25 Expanded cork board insulation 40
2.26 Straw bale insulation 42
2.27 Cob, rammed earth and adobe 43
2.28 Aircrete – aerated concrete and
autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) 44
2.29 Mushroom insulation 45
References 46
3 The science of insulation 49
3.1 Heat transfer mechanisms 49
3.2 Thermal conductivity 49
3.3 U-value and R-value 52
3.4 Heat capacity and thermal mass 52
3.5 Decrement factor and time lag 53
3.6 Thermal diffusivity and effusivity 53
3.7 Adsorption and adsorption isotherm 54
3.8 Moisture buffering 60
3.9 Water absorption coefficient 64
3.10 Vapour permeability and vapour diffusion
resistance factor 65
3.11 Phase change 66
3.12 Heat, air and moisture transfer 67
3.13 Heat and moisture balance equation 68
3.14 Air balance equation 68
3.15 Prediction of mould growth 69
References 70
4 Assessment of thermal conductivity
and U-value of materials 73
4.1 Laboratory-based measurements 73
4.2 In situ measurements 79
References 79
5 Durability 81
5.1 Introduction 81
5.2 Agents that induce degradation
and affect durability 81
5.3 Service life and durability 82
5.4 Requirements for durability 84
5.5 Service life assessment 85
5.6 Factor method for service life assessment 85
5.7 Ageing exposure programmes 86
5.8 Durability of insulation materials 87
5.9 Durability by engineering and design 93
5.10 Conclusions 93
References 94
6 Regulatory requirements, standards
and thermal insulation materials 95
6.1 European Union 95
6.2 United Kingdom 95
6.3 Unites States 97
6.4 Conclusions 99
References 99
7 Insulation fire risks and building regulations
post-Grenfell 101
7.1 Building regulations and combustibility 102
7.2 Classification of flammability and
insulation materials 104
7.3 Will the regulations be changed after
Grenfell? 107
7.4 Grenfell and the Hackitt Report 108
7.5 Smoke toxicity, residue issues and
dangers for firefighters 109
References 112
8 Sustainability and life cycle assessment 115
8.1 Environmental dimension of insulation
materials 115
8.2 LCA of bio-based products 121
8.3 Sustainability of building materials and
the UK context 128
References 129
9 Cost, supply chain and manufacturing
of insulation 131
9.1 Cartel’s and investigations 131
9.2 Green Deal and Energy Company
Obligation (ECO) 132
9.3 Selling and distribution: the small number
of insulation companies 134
9.4 Raw materials production 135
9.5 Chemical sources for insulation products
and shortage problems 136
9.6 Costs 141
References 143
10 Buildability and installation issues 147
10.1 Is insulation all the same:’ the performance
gap? 147
10.2 varying insulation material problems 148
10.3 Use of different insulation materials in
different forms of construction 148
10.4 Taking care with installation 153
References 153
11 Retrofit, renovation and fuel poverty
initiatives: insulation materials 155
11.1 Fuel poverty and insulation retrofit 156
11.2 Retrofit evaluation 157
11.3 Developing good practice in retrofit and
evaluation 161
11.4 Retrofit insulation solutions, accreditation
and fire problems 165
11.5 Different materials and methods used in
insulation retrofit 166
References 175
Index 181