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• 2006 Archive

INSULATION FOR FLOOD RESILIENT CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS (AUGUST 2007)

In a recent report published jointly by DEFRA, DCLG and the Environment Agency “Improving the flood performance of new buildings” rigid PUR foam is shown to be the best performing when installed into cavity walls. The report states “Cavity insulation should preferably incorporate rigid closed cell materials as these retain integrity and have low moisture take-up. Other common types, such as mineral fibre batts, are not generally recommended as they can remain wet several months after exposure to flood water which slows down the wall drying process. Blown-in insulation can slump due to excessive moisture uptake, and some types can retain high levels of moisture for long periods of time (under natural drying conditions).” The results of the report are based on laboratory findings and classifies wall components as good,medium or poor with regard to :

• water penetration – the leakage (rate and volume) through the entire wall thickness (note that this is different from “water absorption”)
  
• drying ability – the capability to regain its original surface moisture condition (assessed by the average drying rate and the time taken to reach the original value)
  
• retention of pre-flood dimensions, integrity – the lack of deformation or change in form or appearance of the wall panel.

PUR foam gained a Good rating for retention of pre-flood dimensions, integrity and a Medium rating for water penetration and drying ability with all other insulants listed having a Poor rating.

Closed cell insulation is also recommended when installing floor insulation in order to minimise the impact of flood water.

To see a complete copy of the report click here

BRUFMA publishes guides to new Building Regulations

BRUFMA has produced two documents to help people who are involved in building design to select insulation or insulated products which will meet the 2006 Edition of the Buildings Regulations Approved Documents L1A (Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings) and L2A (Conservation of fuel and power in buildings other than dwellings).

The documents deal with the implication of the changes in the Regulations for roofs, walls and floors and provide information on the most commonly used insulation materials. The documents also address other issues that are currently changing the way the construction industry builds roofs, walls and floors.

John Roberts, BRUFMA’s Chief Executive said “Details are given about the content of the new Approved Documents and the effects they will have on methods of roof, wall and floor construction and the thicknesses of PIR/PUR products required to achieve the new standards.”

To download the documents, click here:

BRUFMA response to Green Consumer Guide

In the recent publication of the Green Consumer Guide, which was also featured in the Daily Telegraph (15-5-2007), the section on insulation bizarrely rates polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foams as 1/10 despite highlighting its excellent insulation properties. Likewise, recycled newspapers and sheep’s wool are rated very highly (9/10 and 8/10 respectively) despite acknowledging their poor performance under certain conditions. This again demonstrates the lack of real knowledge of the facts surrounding the issues of sustainability and environmental impact.

BRUFMA members have, for many years, been active in promoting increased energy efficiency, and their products have contributed, and will continue to contribute to, the significant reduction in emissions of CO2 by improvements in insulation performance in line with Building Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Polyurethane (PUR)/Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation is one of the most thermally efficient insulation materials available, and because of its other unique properties is ideally suited for many building insulation applications.

To counter these publications, BRUFMA has written to the book’s author Julia Hailes and to the Daily Telegraph and a copy of the letter can be seen by clicking here.