John Johnston, Sales Director at A. Proctor Group, addresses the thermal performance of existing housing stock.
Increasingly within the housing sector, there is recognition of the urgent need to improve the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock. In doing so, strategies for retrofitting existing buildings are of crucial importance. Equally, preserving the lifecycle of buildings is a priority, more than ever due to the rising energy costs.
The objective is securing the future of our ageing housing stock by providing warm, damp/mould-free living space. When considering the insulation of buildings, we refer to U-values, which quantify the rate of heat loss through a building element such as walls, roof, windows, and doors. The lower the U-value, the slower the heat generated by the heating system will escape, and less energy input is required to maintain a comfortable internal temperature.
Where thermal performance is poor, this has a significant impact when occupants are in fuel poverty or belong to a vulnerable social group such as the elderly. This can lead to health problems for these groups, so upgrading such homes is a priority. With improved performance in mind, the A. Proctor Group developed Spacetherm WL, a high-performance laminate specifically intended for use where internal space is limited.
Spacetherm WL is fixed to the internal surfaces of existing walls without the need for mechanical fixings. Consisting of a Spacetherm aerogel insulation blanket bonded to 3mm Magnesium Board (MgO), at just 13mm thick, there is often no need to remove skirting boards and cornices, saving time and cost. For example, a typical solid wall will have a U-value of around 2.1 W/m2K, and after installing Spacetherm WL, this can be reduced to around 0.8W/m2K, dependent on the wall structure.
This makes Spacetherm ideal for use in rooms with limited floor area, at door and window reveals, and in other areas where retaining existing features would otherwise limit the use of thick and bulky insulation. The thermal conductivity of Spacetherm, at 0.015 – 0.0195W/m2K, makes it among the best thermal insulants in use today, combined with its high vapour permeability, making it ideal for refurbishments.
