SOPREMA not only specialises in waterproofing; we are equally devoted to addressing your insulation needs. Our extensive product offer and premium service help you select the best insulation material for your project. Continue reading to get a brief overview of the different insulation types on the market, and to find out more about the U-value and other building calculations we can do for you.
Insulation Types: An Overview
When it comes to insulation types, there is a distinction between natural insulation, foam insulation and mineral wool-type insulation. Natural insulation materials can be subdivided into cellulose-based materials (with wood fibre, recycled cotton or paper as raw materials), organic materials (such as sheep’s wool) or even straw (though this material does insulate, it is never used solely for insulation purposes). In addition, natural insulation materials come in loose, rigid and flexible form.
Foam insulants are either XPS or EPS insulation boards, or polyisocyanurate (PIR) or polyurethane (PUR) insulation boards; while mineral insulation can be glass mineral wool insulation, rock mineral wool insulation, foamed glass insulation or aerogel insulation.
Main Characteristics and Advantages
Each insulation type has its specific advantages. Foam insulants like EPS and XPS, for instance, are known for providing the highest thermal efficiency and – especially in the case of XPS – the highest compressive strength. The latter characteristic makes these boards ideal for use beneath load-bearing structures such as loaded roofs, or below-ground applications.
If you are facing space limitations, achieving the thinnest possible build-up is key. In that case, PIR insulation might be the better choice for your project. Finally, a natural insulation material is the go-to option when sustainability is your number one priority. PAVATEXTIL, for instance, is not only made from recycled end-of-life cotton, but also has excellent thermal and acoustic insulation as well as moisture-regulating properties. The panels are flexible, making them easy to install, and exceptionally light, so you can apply several layers of them without having to worry about the overall weight. A product like PAVATEX, in turn, has the advantage of offering superior protection against overheating due to its high mass.
U-Value Calculations and Other SOPREMA Services
There are different performance criteria that affect your choice of insulation material, and it is impossible to find all of them in one product. Are you looking primarily for outstanding acoustic performance , non-combustibility, high compressive strength, breathability or overheating protection? Depending on your priorities, SOPREMA helps you choose the right insulation product.
Moreover, we offer U-value calculations – as an online tool for roof constructions, but we can provide them for other applications and other SOPREMA materials as well – as well as condensation risk analysis. We always look at the complete picture. After all, any changes to the thermal performance of an existing structure can change the building’s physics, affecting for instance the way it handles moisture. This is the reason why over-insulation, especially in refurbishment projects, is not recommended. Without proper ventilation, the building will just accumulate too much moisture. Moreover, insulation is subject to the law of diminishing returns: after a certain point, you can add more insulation but your return will invariably decline. This is why we always take cost versus value into account as well.
Do you want to get expert advice on the best insulation material for your project? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.