The 5 Most Common And Effective Thermal Insulation Materials

By Author: Zac Fogg
Total Articles: 27
Comment this article

The advantages of insulation are no longer a myth as homeowners are adopting its revolutionary features to give their spaces the best thermal efficiency and other secondary benefits. For people living in extreme weather conditions, the barrier is extremely important in providing the insides of the house with a sustainable and ambient surrounding. Insulation technology has been expanding and growing at an exponential rate and over the years, sustainability and affordability have also expanded for everyone to savour its benefits. In the spectrum of construction, building materials have gone through improvements and innovation to give the consumer market the best insulation advantages that are. Insulation also comes with various other advantages that not only let you save substantially on your home maintenance budget and in the long run, reflects as an environmentally sound option of home renovation and modification.

Insulation ranges from extremely affordable to expensive with various materials as its foundational matter. Each of them has its upsides and downsides but in the end, it all comes down to the requirement of ...
... the house and its surroundings. There are various factors that differentiate the quality of insulation materials like R-value, soundproofing capabilities, environmental impact, flammability, and more. If you ever decide on getting your home or office space insulated, these following five materials of choice will give you ample insight in deciding the best advantages for your living situation.

Mineral Wool

Mineral wool collectively refers to either glass wool or fibreglass made out of recycled glass or rock wool made out of basalt. Mineral wool may also refer to slag wool that is produced from the deposited slag collected from steel mills, which again is the most common type in use in the consumer's market. Sold as loose material or in batt bundles, mineral wool lacks the advantage of providing fire resistance benefits. The chemical composition of mineral wool does not contain any additives and hence, render a poor insulating material for areas with extreme heat discharge. However, with an R-value between 2.8 to 3.5, mineral wool can be used as an effective insulator in conjunction with the properties of other potent, fire-resistant materials.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is made by weaving fine glass threads into a structure which helps in minimizing bidirectional heat transfer effectively. With an R-value ranging between 2.9 to 3.8, fibreglass is considered extremely beneficial as a non-inflammable insulating material within an affordable price range. However, fibreglass is dangerous to handle because of the shards of glass formed around its structure which needs extra precaution and safety gears and equipment during the time of insulation.

Cellulose

Made out of recycled cardboard or paper with an R-value between 3.1 and 3.7, cellulose forms the best eco-friendly insulation materials available in the market. The material is constructed with compact elemental blocks making no crevice for oxygen passage that again translates to substantial protection against fire. The only downside of cellulose as an insulation material is it might make the air temporarily get filled with allergens or newspaper dust.

Polystyrene

Thermoplastic and waterproof foam that makes for a good thermal and sound insulation material, polystyrene comes in two types (EPS and XEPS) which differ in terms of pricing and performance. However, both are efficient insulators giving a smooth finish that is hard to find in any other insulating material. Polystyrene is ideal for wall insulation because of its structural built and is made into an inflammable material by coating it with fireproofing agent hexabromocyclododecane.

Polyurethane Foam

Another eco-friendly counterpart of insulation materials, polyurethane foam does the least damage to the ozone layer by using non-chlorofluorocarbon gas as its blowing agent. They are lightweight, low in density, and come with fire-resistant advantages making them an excellent choice for insulation. Especially for the gaps that do not have insulation, polyurethane foam can be sprayed to give the entire place the right thermal barrier.

Ecotite is one of the biggest names providing the best insulation solutions for home and office spaces. If you want to give your home and office the benefits of insulation with quality assurance and an affordable price bracketing, Ecotite's technology and engineering services will provide you with the best solutions.