Insulation is a generic name for materials that are designed to reduce the transmission of heat and sound.
Basic types of insulation
Consider the types of insulation, their characteristics and application, which will allow you to choose the right materials. There are two main types of it: heat and sound insulation. The first reduces heat transfer. This leads to a more stable temperature, reducing the heating and cooling of indoor air. Soundproofing makes the house more pleasant to live in, protects from external noise. To select the best product, you can study the classification of materials, taking into account the R-value, as this is a measurement of resistance to heat transfer. The higher this indicator, the better.
Heat insulation materials use:
- in construction for facade and interior work with application on walls, floors, roofs;
- for technical purposes - they insulate pipelines and various equipment;
- special types include infrared, vacuum, reflective, air - technological insulation, the characteristics of which make it possible to maintain the desired temperature in the room.
Types of raw materials
Organic insulation includes a variety of polymeric materials that are lightweight, maintain temperature well, but ignite easily, so must be protected.
Types of insulation, their characteristics and application differ in the raw materials from which they are produced. They can be:
- organic;
- mixed;
- inorganic.
Heaters differ in structure and are granular, fibrous, cellular. And also the form: from rolled materials, plates to figured products. A special indicator is the attitude towards fire: from completely resistant varieties to fire hazardous ones, which are used only for certain, narrow purposes.
Wood processing products in the form of boards, sawdust, shavings, as well as recycled paper, various types of waste from forage in agriculture are called "organic wall insulation", the price of which is the lowest. Such materials are used for private homes, but they get wet easily and are not resistant to decay.
Inorganic materials include mineral wool and its derivatives, concrete and glass products, metallurgy waste with special technologies in the form of foam, fiber, cellular structures. They are characterized by an average specific gravity, low strength, and wetting. Therefore, they are only used in combination with other building products.
Mixed insulation materials include asbestos materials (solid,carpet, foam). They are lightweight, flame retardant, but can release harmful fumes if left unprotected or improperly installed.
Basic insulation products
The main types of insulation, their characteristics and application can be considered on the example of the most common insulating products.
Glass wool is made from recycled glass and sand, soda ash and limestone. The glass is then molded with resin into millions of pure fibers that are bonded together. Such heaters can be produced in the form of rolls and plates. Mineral wool is made from molten rock in a furnace, through which it is blown at a temperature of about 1600 °C. Finished products are produced in rolls and sheets. The density of this type of insulation can be different. It acts as a good thermal and sound insulator.
Rigid thermal insulation boards are divided into:
- Polyurethane (PUR) plates, they are filled with gas, but treated with aluminum foil to prevent leakage.
- Polyisocyanurate (PIR) boards have long strands of fiberglass in their structure.
- Polystyrene boards, such as foam insulation, are good materials for protection from extreme temperatures and noise.
Reflective foil insulation is an environmentally friendly and efficient product that is often used in the construction industry. The material with foil reduces heat transfer by up to 97%. reflectivethe insulator acts as a large shield against vaporization and reduces moisture condensation. Wetting can be a problem with some fiberglass materials.
Eco-isolation
Eco products include environmental types of insulation. These are thermal and acoustic slabs and rolls, wool wadding, hemp and recycled polyester. The dry method of construction involves lining of drywall boards. They are used as a substitute for wet plaster.
Ventilation membranes, waterproofing materials, adhesives are also essential building blocks. The density of the insulation used in the premises to protect the roof, external facade systems, attic and ceiling, floor, walls can be different, which allows you to compensate for the temperature regimes of different climatic zones.
Roll products
Roll insulation is the most common and affordable type of insulation. It consists of flexible soft threads, most often fiberglass. Such materials are also made from mineral (stone and slag), plastic and natural fibers such as cotton and sheep's wool.
Slabs and rolls have insulation sizes that fit the standard spacing between nails in the wall, attic rafters or beams, and floor joists. Continuous rolls can be manually cut or trimmed to fit any flat profile to avoid tearing. The heater is installed with or without lining. Manufacturers often combine roll materials with a protective layer of kraft paper, foil-kraft paper or vinyl toprovide vapor barrier and air barrier. Plates with a special refractory surface are produced in various widths for basement walls and other places where their layer will remain open. The cladding also helps facilitate fastening during installation. However, uncoated slabs, when used with additional insulation, are the best insulation for walls, the price of which is quite moderate.
| Name | Price per roll, rub. |
| Glass wool Ursa | 900-1300 |
| Uniflex "TechnoNIKOL" | 1100-1400 |
| Glass wool "Izover" | 1100-1300 |
Standard fiberglass rolls and slabs have high thermal resistance, but the second one is one and a half times higher.
Concrete blocks
Concrete blocks are used in the construction of a house for the foundation and walls. There are several ways to protect them. If the cores are not occupied by concrete and steel for structural reasons, they can be filled with insulation, which increases the average R-value of the wall. Field studies and computer simulations have shown that the technology of filling with any type of protective material offers little fuel savings, because heat is easily conducted through the remaining solid parts of the walls, joints. It will be more effective to install insulation on the surfaces of the blocks. The price for it is much lower than the cost of heating.
Placement of insulation on the inside of load-bearing walls and on the facadehas additional advantages in contrast to the block containing the thermal mass. In an air-conditioned room, such an installation helps to stabilize the temperature.
Some manufacturers include polystyrene beads in concrete blocks. Which increases the R-values of products throughout the volume. Other manufacturers make foamed concrete blocks. They have twice the thermal resistance. Various sizes of insulation help the widespread use of blocks in construction.
There are two types of solid precast autoclaved concrete: wall blocks made of autoclaved aerated concrete and autoclaved aerated concrete. This material contains about 80% air and is widely used in construction.
Autoclaved concrete is ten times more insulating than regular concrete. Large blocks are easily sawn and the shape is adjusted using conventional tools. The material absorbs water well, so it needs to be protected from moisture. In the production of precast AAC, fly ash is used instead of silica sand. This distinguishes it from cellular concrete. Ash is produced when coal is burned in power plants and is a virtually free material that used to be disposed of.
Also, hollow blocks made from a mixture of concrete and wood shavings are used to create warm walls. They are installed by dry laying without the use of mortar. One potential problem with this type of block is that wood is susceptible to moisture and insects.
For concrete block walls,as a rule, foam insulation is used during the construction of a new house and overhaul, or thermally insulating concrete blocks. Block walls in residential buildings are also insulated indoors.
Foamed rigid boards and fixed formwork
Rigid insulation panels can be used to insulate almost any part of your home, from the roof to the foundation. Insulation "Penoplex" or other rigid plates provide good heat resistance, and also reduce the thermal conductivity of structural elements. The most common types of materials used in the formation of boards are expanded polystyrenes, which include polystyrene, extruded polystyrene foam - "Penoplex", polyisocyanurates and polyurethanes.
Insulating Structural Forms (ICF) are mainly formed for cast concrete structures, which creates walls with the highest thermal resistance.
ICF systems consist of interconnected slabs made of blocks filled with technical insulation or foam blocks. The panels are fastened together with plastic ties. Along with the foam elements, steel reinforcement bars are used, which are added before the concrete is poured. When using foam blocks, steel rods are inside the cavities to strengthen the walls.
Insulation is often easy prey for insects and groundwater. To prevent these problems, some manufacturers are making insecticide-treated foam blocks and implementing methods for waterproofing. To properly install the ICF system or insulation (reviews hereunanimous), the help of experienced specialists is needed.
ICF consumers claim:
- Insulation demonstrates high quality thermal and waterproofing.
- It is quite difficult to mount such a system yourself.
- It has been functioning perfectly for several years.
Loose types of insulation
Loose insulation consists of small particles of fiber, foam or other materials. This mass forms a material that can fill any space without disturbing the structure or finish. This ability to take any form for retrofitting in places where traditional types of insulation cannot be installed makes loose insulation suitable, the price of which is very low. The most common materials of this type are cellulose, fiberglass and mineral fibers. They are produced using recycled waste. Cellulose is made from recycled paper. Fiberglass is made from 20-30% recycled glass. Mineral insulation "TechnoNIKOL" is usually produced by 75% from post-industrial materials. Some less common insulation materials include polystyrene beads, vermiculite, and perlite. Loose insulation can be installed in closed cavities or attics. Cellulose, fiberglass and mineral wool typically require experienced skilled installers to ensure the correct density and high R-value. Polystyrene granules, vermiculite and perlite are usually poured.
Infrared andreflective barriers
Most general insulation systems resist conductive and convective heat flows. The best insulation forms infrared barriers. They reflect radiant thermal energy. Such insulation is installed with the help of specialists.
Infrared barriers are used in homes, usually in attics. First of all, to reduce the influx of heat in summer, reduce cooling costs. Reflective isolation includes highly reflective aluminum foil IR barriers.
These systems are also a variety of substrates in the form of kraft paper, polyethylene film or balls, cardboard, and other thermal insulation products.
Infrared radiation travels in a straight line from any plane and heats up the solid surface, which absorbs the energy. When the sun heats the roof, this is the action of radiant energy. Most of this heat "travels" through the roof to the attic, being conducted along the plane of the roof.
Heated roof material radiates this energy to cooler attic surfaces, including air ducts and attic floors.
The IR barrier reduces the transfer of radiant heat from the underside of the roof to others - in the attic. To be effective, the system must face the airspace.
The infrared barrier is a heater whose technical characteristics make it more effective in hot climates, especially when cooling air channels are located in the attic. Some studies show that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs by 5% to 10% when used in sunny weather. Reduced heat gain. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of air conditioning. In cool climates, it is generally more cost effective to install thermal insulation.
Rigid fiber insulation
Fiber insulation consists of fiberglass or mineral wool made from stone and slag and is mainly used to protect air ducts in homes. The production technology of such material is not simple. But the TechnoNIKOL mineral wool insulation has a complex of unique properties that are difficult to combine in one product. Especially if there is a need for a material that can withstand high temperatures. Installation is usually carried out by ventilation and air conditioning specialists on the outer surfaces of the ducts. If the insulator is uncoated, then the installation work is completed with reinforcement with cement, canvas and water-repellent mastic. Different thicknesses of insulation provide the desired R-value. The slabs are installed so that the seams between them are sealed with pressure sensitive tape or fiberglass and mastic.
Foam dispensers and liquid insulators
Liquid foam is sprayed or poured at the desired location. Some materials may have twice the R-value of conventional materials. Foam wall insulation fills even the smallest cavities, creating an effective air barrier. Today, most of these materials are usedblowing agents that do not use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), substances harmful to the Earth's ozone layer. Available liquid insulation foam is made from cement, phenol, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane. Some less common types include aisinine and tripolymer. Aisinin can be sprayed or injected, making it the most versatile, and it also has good resistance to air and water penetration. A tripolymer is a water-soluble foam that is injected into a wall cavity. This unique insulator has excellent resistance to fire and air penetration.
Liquid thermal insulation foam combined with a blowing agent is applied using small spray containers. Foamed wall insulation is poured in large quantities on site under pressure. Both types expand and solidify as a mixture. They also conform to the shape of the cavity, filling and sealing it very carefully. Delayed hardening liquid foam is also provided. It is designed to flow around obstacles before expanding and curing. Liquid foam can be poured directly from the container. It is often used for wall cavities in residential buildings.
Installation work
Installation of most types of liquid foam insulation requires special equipment and should be done by an experienced installer.
After installed, the foam thermal barrier has fire resistance equal to that of drywall. In addition, some building codes do not recognize spraying as a vapor barrier. So such a setting canrequire additional vapor protection.
Some types of insulation materials can be installed independently, especially roll or foam. Others need professional installation.
- Special skills require insulating concrete blocks that are laid without mortar. And the surfaces are connected by a configuration or additional structures.
- Insulation work outside the wall units inside the conditional space that can simulate the room temperature.
- Laying AAC and AAC wall blocks creates 10 times the insulating value of conventional concrete.
Maximum thermal performance, or R-value of insulation, types of insulation, their characteristics and application significantly affect the requirements for proper installation.
