Insulation

Designing ventilated façades for building exteriors is a popular method in modern construction which introduces a series of performance benefits for occupants – but also raises specific fire safety considerations. Will Wigfield, Product Manager – Building Envelope at ROCKWOOL UK, discusses the benefits of ventilated façades and the merits of a total solutions approach to fire safety.  

In a ventilated façade system, the outside face of a building is formed by cladding panels fixed back to a load-bearing wall, creating a cavity through which air is free to circulate. This air space does more than just prevent condensation – in summer, warm weather causes a convectional air current which helps to cool the building, whereas in winter, air in the cavity remains still and provides an insulating effect.

In addition to tenant comfort, ventilated façade constructions give designers a high degree of creative freedom to produce striking exteriors that perform as well as they look.

The specialist area advises on insulation for both new build and retrofit projects

Stone wool insulation manufacturer, ROCKWOOL has bolstered its technical resources, with a new Social Housing Resource Hub. The hub makes it easier for specifiers to access the latest information and advice on specialist insulation solutions for social housing, helping them create comfortable and safe properties that improve the lives of residents.  

The new Social Housing Resource Hub brings a wealth of technical information into one place giving stakeholders access to product data and benefits, case studies and direct links to further helpful resources at their fingertips.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be more connected. The RCI Show, taking place on 29-30 September at the Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, provides visitors with an opportunity to make new connections and reaffirm old ones with leading manufacturers and suppliers, as well as browse the latest products that are relevant to your business, and access thought-leadership content via a series of keynote seminars, free of charge.

These are exciting times for INCA, the Insulated Render and Cladding Association, the trade association solely focused upon external wall insulation (EWI), a cladding form used in both refurbishment and new build sectors. The market for EWI is seeing a healthy growth, membership of INCA is flourishing and in its 40th year, the association is now launching a new brand image to propel it into its next phase of development.

Within the public sector, INCA provides a valuable service to building professionals through the supply of essential information and guidance and a directory of members able to tackle residential and commercial buildings in need of fabric improvements in their energy efficiency. Through the use of high performing insulation and a range of facade finishes, low, mid and high rise buildings can be improved beyond recognition. INCA is an association representing specialists of all sizes with a track record of professional knowledge and experience.

The Kingspan TEK Building System of structural insulated panels (SIPs) has been used to create a spectacular, cantilevered self-build in Oxfordshire, achieving excellent airtightness and energy efficiency with a fast-track build programme.
Homeowner, Daniel Frazer, identified timber frame as his preferred construction method at the outset of the project due to its speed of build and ability to be constructed in most weather conditions. Following discussions with Greenspace Architects and Kingspan TEK Delivery Partners, Point 1 Building Systems, he finally settled on the Kingspan TEK Building System. “I was attracted to SIPs due to their air-tightness and even faster erection speed,” Daniel commented. “I particularly liked the ability to have a roof fabricated from the panels.”

New research has shown that the physical properties, specifically the enhanced thermal performance, of Kingspan Kooltherm K110 FM Soffit Board can allow installers to fit an additional 5.25 m2 of insulation every thirty minutes when compared with the closest competitor, rock mineral fibre.

A new build estate of bespoke modular houses, under construction as part of one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration programmes, is benefitting from the outstanding thermal performance of Kingspan Kooltherm K110 Plus Soffit Board.