Insulate Magazine - Essential Insulation Inside - March 2018 Issue 16

Carried out by a professional, EPC ratings
are determined following a detailed survey
of a building; this includes estimating its
total energy and CO2 outputs, as well
as assessing heating systems, insulation
and windows, with a final grade provided
between A-G.
Several courses of action can be taken to
improve a property’s EPC rating, ranging
from the replacement of doors, windows
or lights, to introducing a more efficient
secondary heating source, such as electric
heaters. However, where a rating is particularly
poor, a larger investment may be
required to address the fabric of a building.
Insulation plays a vital role in achieving a
positive EPC rating, and a poorly insulated
property can potentially lose up to 33%
of its heat through its roof. For landlords,
insulation materials need to be evaluated
based on several crucial factors, including
lifespan and ease of installation. Flexible
materials such as spray foam or mineral
wool are usually simple to retrofit; spray
foam requires only a hole in the wall for
applying it into the cavity of an empty
room, such as a loft.
Materials with long lifespans are unlikely to
require further investment and disruption in
future, and high performing materials significantly
improve efficiency and occupant
comfort. Materials such as TLX Gold Multifoil
can be fitted from a building’s exterior,
removing the need for internal access, or
raising of a roof.
Up to five times thinner than traditional
forms of insulation, multifoil is also an
ideal solution for smaller rooms or spaces.
Achieving the same performance as its
thicker counterparts, multifoil insulation ensures
a comfortable internal environment
all year round, with its reflective surface
acting as a barrier to thermal transfer,
resulting in significant energy savings.
fibre – and, used on its own or combined
with other insulations, can achieve any
U-value. Easy to install and with little
wastage, it’s also an eco-friendly choice,
produced from 40% recycled materials.
As an additional consideration, when
selecting insulation for use in residential
buildings with multiple occupants, insulation
should also be chosen based on its
acoustic performance qualities. Materials
should impede the transmission of sound
through a structure - Rockwool’s acoustic
slab, made from volcanic rock, traps
sound waves and dampens vibrations,
and is easy to install around fittings and
fixtures. Stone installation also provides
exceptional fire performance qualities; a
necessity in any residential or commercial
building.
Taking it Seriously
Landlords should not see MEES as a
box-ticking exercise, instead it should be
viewed as a commercial opportunity, with
many tenants and developers now evaluating
properties based on EPC ratings
– some tenants may also be willing to pay
more for properties which are proven to be
energy efficient.
With the deadline of April 1 looming, landlords
should take the opportunity to get to
grips with the MEES now to understand
the importance of energy efficiency, as
well as how the impact of non-compliance
could negatively affect leases and lending
conditions. Making the required changes
quickly will not only benefit both tenants
and property owners but will go far in
preventing the need for larger financial
investments in the future.
Multi-Layer Foil Insulation SF40 by Super-
FOIL, is also a good choice for roofs, walls
and floors. Offering enhanced thickness
combined with radiant reflective and air
barrier properties, it provides benefits over
traditional open-face insulation like glass
30 www.insulatenetwork.com