Post by account_disabled on Mar 15, 2024 21:47:35 GMT -8
Thermal insulating materials in construction are not only those we know best: polystyrene and mineral wool. They also include materials that provide better protection against heat loss and cold air penetration, while being thinner and moisture resistant. What materials will be best for insulating a roof, exterior walls or foundation? Let's find out! Published: 08-23-2023 Why do we use heat insulating materials in construction? The layer of thermal insulating materials is mainly applied to improve the thermal efficiency parameters of the building . In practice, this means that these materials help us reduce heat loss and the penetration of cold air from outside. Another application of thermal insulating materials in construction is acoustic insulation . With an additional layer installed on the wall or ceiling, the interior is better protected against noise. Are thermal insulating materials always necessary ? Yes, they are a commonly used standard. Concrete (the most popular material used for wall and foundation construction) shows a fairly high thermal conductivity coefficient (approx. 1–1.7 W/mK) and is susceptible to moisture. Consequently, uninsulated concrete elements poorly separate the interior from the exterior and do not effectively keep warm air inside. Also read about concrete admixtures and admixtures . Find out what types of concrete exist. The use of thermal insulating materials in construction is not only a way to guarantee thermal comfort at any time of the year.
Insulation also helps building residents reduce heating costs . Heating equipment can operate at lower power and more easily maintain the optimal indoor temperature. This leads to lower energy consumption and lower costs. What characteristics should thermal insulating materials used in buildings have? Building designers can choose from several types of thermal insulating materials, whether natural or made from plastic . All of these solutions have some characteristics in common. First of all, thermal insulation materials used in construction must meet the requirements set out in the Polish CZ Leads standard . Their thermal conductivity coefficient λ must not exceed 0.175 W/mᐧK. Good insulating materials are also those that: they are resistant to humidity: they absorb water from the air, rain and snow only to a small extent; They are insensitive to changes in temperature: they must retain their properties both in the event of frost and heat; they are not damaged by the forces or loads acting on them; They are flexible and easy to install: their shape adapts to the wall or another partition of the building. What materials are used to insulate buildings? The list of construction materials with which thermal insulation can be carried out is quite long. The insulation of envelope components (elements located on the exterior side of a building) is nothing innovative. In the past it was made of wood, sawdust or even straw or peat. But those times are gone; Today, these insulations only occur in structures built with traditional methods or in historic buildings subject to rehabilitation supervised by a heritage conservation officer.
Contemporary thermal insulating materials are much more effective at protecting against the cold, less susceptible to humidity, easier to install and safer (more resistant to fire, for example). What heat-insulating materials are most often used? The most popular ones include: Mineral wool : product made from molten basaltic rocks (rock wool) or quartz sand and glass (so-called glass wool). It is available in the form of sheets or loose granules. It serves as thermal and acoustic insulation. It is non-flammable, fireproof and resistant to loads. However, it is also very hygroscopic. Styrofoam : granules glued together to form panels of different thickness. Styrofoam is produced from processed expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) . The thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.032 to 0.045 W/(m·K) for EPS polystyrene foam and 0.021 to 0.03 W/(m·K) for extruded polystyrene foam. The latter is harder and has a very low susceptibility to humidity. Polyurethane , which is in the form of a spray insulation foam or the form of sandwich panels made of polyurethane foam . It has very good thermal conductivity parameters , the coefficient being only 0.019-0.025 W/(m·K). Unlike mineral wool or polystyrene, it hardly absorbs water. Consequently, it also works well in places exposed to moisture, for example on the roof or near wall gutters. The best insulating materials for roofs, attics, exterior walls or foundations. There is no universal thermal insulation material that is perfect for any environment. Depending on where the insulation is to be installed, different parameters may matter, such as vapor permeability, moisture resistance or load resistance.
