A key element of a comfortable home is the interior temperature of the building. Maintaining a building’s interior temperature is crucial in areas with hot or cold climates and this is made possible by a structure’s effective thermal insulation. The process of maintaining a consistent (pleasant) temperature within a building with the aid of various materials is known as thermal insulation of a building and the materials used for thermal insulation are known as thermal insulators.
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See also: Cavity wall insulation: How to save energy and cut costs?
Thermal insulation: Purpose
- Maintaining a steady heat or temperature inside a building is the basic goal of thermal insulation.
- Thermal insulation creates cosy interior environments for living and working. Specifically to keep the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
- To lessen the need for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
- To stop moisture from condensing on interior walls, ceilings, windows, etc.
- To lessen the chance of heat loss from the hot water system and water freezing in pipes.
Thermal insulation: Materials
A good insulating material should be sufficiently resistant to fire, termites and dampness as well as be sufficiently strong, stable, and long-lasting. Among the materials used as insulation are some of the following:
Insulating blankets
Flexible fibrous materials that are delivered in rolls or another form are blanket insulators. They are constructed of cotton, processed wood fibre, mineral wool, and animal hair. They may be applied directly on the surface of walls and ceilings and range in thickness from 1 to 8 cm.
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Batt insulation materials
These materials resemble the previous category but are thicker and smaller in size. The most popular thicknesses are 5, 7, and 9. They are also produced in smaller sizes for framing.
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Block or slab insulators
Block or slab insulators are tiny, robust components with a 2.5 cm thickness that come in sizes ranging from 60 cm to 120 cm. These boards are constructed using cement and materials such as cork boards, cellular glass blocks, rubber blocks, mineral wood slabs, or wood fiberboards. For lining reasons, these compact modules may be mounted to the walls and roofs.
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Concrete cement products
The insulating value of cement concrete products is often lower. However, by combining lightweight particles like vermiculite, burned clay aggregate, and blast furnace slag with cement concrete, the resistance can be increased.
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Insulating boards
These are the boards that are made by pulping wood, cane, or other materials, and then putting the fibres back together to form the boards. Adhesives are utilised to maintain the fibres in the appropriate location. These boards, which come in a variety of widths and thicknesses, are used for partitions as well as the internal lining of walls, roofs, and other structures.
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Loose fills
These are fibrous substances like wool made of rock, slag, glass, cellulose, or wood fibre. For the goal of insulating against heat, they are arranged loosely in the needed space.
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Reflective sheet materials
The features of these materials that make them heat resistant are mostly dependent on their surface characteristics. They are typically used in conjunction with air voids to reveal the reflecting, insulating surface. Gypsum or sheet boards, steel sheets with reflective compounds, aluminium foils, etc., are some of the materials used in these reflective insulations.
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Thermal insulation: Techniques
The regions that need to be concentrated for thermal insulation are determined by the causes of heat transmission and the techniques that should be used include:
Roof thermal insulation
A roof’s insulation can be done either inside or outside. Thermal insulation should often be installed above the slab. The following techniques might be used:
- It is permitted to put heat-insulating materials over the roof but under a waterproof course. If the material is being applied internally, it may be fastened to the underside of the roofing using adhesives or another method.
- A false interior ceiling made of insulation material with certain air gaps may be installed.
- Reflective insulation material may be positioned on top of the roof.
- By placing asbestos sheets over the bricks, air holes may be created on the flat roof’s top.
- Regularly misting the top of the roof with water may stop the heat flow.
- Whitewashing the roof before the summer season begins also stops heat transmission.
- The heat flow on the exposed roof surface can be reduced by providing suitable shadowing.
Insulating thermally exposed walls
- A thermal insulator is created to some extent by increasing wall thickness. But the price is high.
- Having hollow walls serves as an excellent thermal insulator.
- When creating walls, heat-insulating materials may be used with other building materials.
- To lessen thermal transmittance, heat insulators similar to those previously described may be attached or fitted on both the inside and outside of the exposed wall.
- Hardboard or batten sheathing installed on each side of partition walls can be used to create air gaps.
- Exposed surfaces may be whitewashed or painted with a light-coloured distemper.
Thermally insulated external windows and doors
Windows and doors that are uncovered allow a significant amount of heat to pass through. You can reduce the amount of solar heat that strikes exposed windows and doors. This can be accomplished by using external shade, such as sun breakers, louvred shutters, chajjas, etc. It is possible to employ internal shading methods like vertical blinds and heavy-folded drapes. Insulating glass or double glass with an air gap can be used in glazed windows to reduce heat transmission.
FAQs
What materials are used for thermal insulation?
Materials commonly used for thermal insulation include fibreglass, cellulose, foam, and rock wool.
Why is thermal insulation important in buildings?
Thermal insulation helps regulate the temperature inside a building, reducing energy costs and energy consumption and contributing to a more comfortable indoor environment.
How does thermal insulation work in a building?
Thermal insulation creates an airtight barrier to minimise heat transfer and regulate the temperature inside the building, reducing energy costs and promoting energy efficiency.
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