Insulate Magazine Issue 12 - November 2017

Round 12 

with Recticel 

The only independent 

insulation industry 

trade magazine 

Exclusive Interview with Commercial Director Kevin Bohea 

Issue 12 | November 2017 

Inside this months issue 

Richard Beale BBA Exclusive 

What's in a U-value Calculation? 

New Identity for Association 

Ambition for Energy Efficiency

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Contents 

Round 12 with Recticel's Kevin Bohea 6-7 

Part 2: When is an Insulation Manufacturer 8-9 

BBA Behind the Scenes with Richard Beale 10-12 

A New Identity for Association 14 

Working at Height : Reality of the Risk 16-17 

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The magazine is sent to 17,000 digitial subscribers per month 

Ambition for Energy Efficiency 

18-20 

What is in a U-value Calculation? 22-24 

Home is Where the Hearth is 

26-27 

Judges Deliver Awards Verdict 28-29 

Benefits of Independently Assessed Psi Values 

30-31 

Insulation and Reducing Fuel Bills 32 

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Taking Winning to the Next Level 33 

Trevor Moves on from TICA 34 

NIA Conference 2017 Preview 37-39 

The UK's only dedicated 

trade journal for the insulation industry 

3

When we started Insulate Magazine 12 months ago, we 

wanted to get to this issue, we wholeheartedly believed 

that there was a need for a standalone publication for an 

industry that is essential to and often overlooked by the construction 

industry, to gain the traction and readership we wanted, we had to 

get to issue 12 - We did it! 

Colin Heath 

Managing Editor 

colin@insulatenetwork.com 

@colinversanta 

It would be remiss of me as editor, not to thank they many contributors, 

advertisers and friends we have worked with over the past 12 months, a 

certain level of belief in the magazine had to be shown by you all and for 

that I am truly grateful. Back in issue one, we featured a list of friends who 

had helped get the first issue out, we would need a whole page to list those 

people now so I’ll simply say thank you, you know who you are. 

In this bumper Birthday issue, we’ve got an exclusive interview from Recticel’s 

Kevin Bohea, An introduction to The BBA’s Commercial Director 

Richard Beale. We shine the spotlight on the EEIG launch with Sarah 

Kostense-Winterton and have a major announcement from Simon Storer of 

…….. 

Reaction to the first printed edition was fantastic, subscribe at www.insulatenetwork.com 

or drop me an email colin@insulatenetwork.com and I’ll add 

you to the list! 

Jamie Street 

Creative Director 

jamie@insulatenetwork.com 

@jamieversanta 

Enjoy…… 

4 

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The only independent insulation industry trade magazine 

Cover Story Exclusive 

Round 12 

with Recticel's Kevin Bohea 

Insulate Magazine’s Colin Heath had the unique oppotunity to get in the ring for round 12 (issue 12) with 

Recticel’s Commercial Director Kevin Bohea. In the Interview Kevin reflects on his industry background, 

the Recticel proposition, the key behind Recticel’s growth and the plans for the future. 

Hi Kevin, Thanks for taking the time with us, you’ve 

spent some twenty years in the construction industry, 

could you talk us through that period until 

joining Recticel in 2013? 

The key factors behind our growth has been really listening 

to our customers and understanding our customers’ 

needs and then what we’ve done is mapped our resources 

and our approach to really maximise the opportunities 

with the small range of customers that we have. 

I was lucky enough to work for a big German company 

for fourteen years at that period and they sold into pretty 

much every part of the construction industry, so that gave 

me the chance to get experienced in a number of different 

areas of construction and to understand a number of 

different methods that are used in different kinds of buildings 

different kinds of construction methods and it gave 

me a great footing really, a great I suppose a great foundation 

for really understanding about how construction 

really works and how different elements of construction 

can compliment other areas of the build. 

So what was the proposition that Recticel offered? 

It was actually 2013 when I joined Recticel and what I 

liked about the proposition from Recticel was that it was 

relatively unknown, there was a blank sheet there with 

the Company, it was a brand that wasn’t recognised or 

known by anyone and it had great quality and the ethos 

of the business, a great foundation as well. You know 

Recticel as a group has been trading since 1778 so huge 

prominence in history and it wanted to invest and grow 

and it wanted to give the autonomy to someone to come 

in and say right we want you to do something with this 

company, and that’s where the appeal was. 

Clearly a progressive company that has seen significant 

growth in the U.K.? 

We’ve deliberately not tried to be all things to all people, 

we’ve deliberately tried to say right we’ve got a key account 

approach here with some really big players in the 

construction industry and we’ve made sure that we map 

our resources to what they want delivered from the supplier. 

There is much talk of PIR shortages at present, 

what can the industry do and specifically, how are 

Recticel coping? 

Recticel are working really hard on trying to get a fix to 

this, we’ve had a real challenge this year as an industry 

because of supply chain issues further down the line in 

raw materials, it’s affected the whole industry, it’s affected 

the availability of product from every manufacturer and 

6 



Tom Nash (right, front) receives his Recticel Graduation from Kevin Bohea (Left, front) at UK Construction Week at the NEC Birmingham 

it’s gone on far longer than any of us really expected it 

to. However, with Recticel being such a large user of the 

two real types of products that have been affected, there’s 

both MDI which is a key raw ingredient used within PIR 

manufacturing and TDI which is the main raw ingredient 

which is used on flexible foam manufacturing and so of 

our five plants in the UK all five plants have been affected 

by either MDI or TDI shortages, but because we are such 

a European organisation of the size, magnitude and usage 

of both MDI and TDI we’ve really been exerting pressure 

on the supply chain to try and get things right and I think 

we are going to emerge from this sooner, stronger than 

the competition. 

We are hearing through the industry that there may 

be new lines coming to market in 2018, can you 

elaborate on these at all? 

We’re keen to be investing in the UK but we want to be 

sure that we invest in the right way with the right added 

value for the industry there are some new parts coming 

on line in 2018 We’re being very sensible I think in 

our approach about where and when we put our plant 

down and on the back of the challenges that we have 

had on raw material supply and foreign exchanges and 

looming Brexit we’re just taking a breath to ensure that the 

decisions that we make are the best for our industry 

Recticel as a group has been trading 

since 1778, so huge prominence in history 

and it wanted to invest and grow 

and it wanted to give the autonomy to 

someone to come in and say right we 

want you to do something with this 

company, and that’s where the 

appeal was. 


7


Insulate Exclusive 

Part 2: When is an 

Insulation Manufacturer... 

Still not an insulation manufacturer? Last month we started looking at occasions when a manufacturer’s 

role risks going beyond advice on the products they make. Whether being asked to recommend 

defined U-value targets, or approve the installation of products, there are times when salespeople or 

technical help desks have to recommend seeking advice from other professionals. In part two, we look at 

how that applies to design advice. By Insulate Magazine. 

Design Professionals 

We all appreciate the pressures on architects and design 

professionals. Balancing the many and varied constraints 

that threaten their vision for a building, then juggling any 

issues that unexpectedly arise once work starts, is no 

easy challenge. A change in product availability here, a 

difference in level there, and what started life as a simple 

design or elegant detail quickly finds itself hammered 

(sometimes brutally!) into a wholly different shape. 

And that presents problems. After all, the position of loadbearing 

elements is pretty non-negotiable! The building’s 

footprint sets the foundation design, which dictates the 

line of the external wall structure and where the roof structure 

is supported. Floor decks and slabs, steel beams, 

timber components - they all have to be a minimum size 

and can’t be shrunk. 

If that sounds obvious then it is only to highlight why the 

insulation specification often becomes the target for potential 

changes or savings. 

Thermal performance targets set by Building Regulations 

result in substantial insulation layers. Everyone is as aware 

of insulation as they are of, say, bricks and blocks - but 

while materials like bricks and blocks come in standard 

sizes, everyone also knows there are different types of 

insulation, and varying thicknesses within any insulation 

range. 

Product substitution isn’t always about swapping one 

similar-performing product for another. Unexpected constraints 

that put pressure on the original design can result 

in a fundamental change in specification being considered, 

the wider implications of which need to be assessed. 

When questions about that sort of change come direct 

from the architectural practice, the key person or people 

who need to make that assessment are directly involved. 

The manufacturer can advise on best practice and help 

the design professional to understand how the performance 

characteristics of their products differ - or otherwise 

- compared to the material originally specified. 

When the questions come from clients or contractors, 

however, things start to get more difficult. They are less 

likely to understand what has driven certain detailing decisions 

or material specifications, and how they relate to the 

design philosophy of the building as a whole. Decisions 

about product swaps might be centred more on price or 

availability, putting the onus on the insulation manufacturer 

to make the assessment on design impact. 

In particular, asking an insulation manufacturer to comment 

on a single section or junction detail can be risky. 

Trying to work out why the original product was specified, 

or what about the site or building design requires certain 

product characteristics, is tricky without all of the information. 

And even where the information might be present, 

the person looking at it may not be suitably qualified to 

make such a judgement. 

Insulation manufacturers employ good technical and 

specification people, some of whom have architectural 

experience. 

8 



But those people cannot take on design liability, and on 

some projects there is a fine line between offering product 

advice and making design decisions. It only continues 

to highlight the importance of true collaboration 

on construction projects, ensuring the right people are 

involved at the right stages to aid the decision-making 

process. 

Structural Engineers 

examination of the times when too much is asked Does 

anything generate more confusion and uncertainty than 

structural loading and compressive strength declarations? 

It’s not hard to see why. The potential ramifications of 

using an insulation product incapable of taking the loads 

imposed on it would make any specifier nervous about 

committing to a specification they were unsure about. 

And from the point of view of understanding products, 

what is the relevance of declarations made at “10% 

compression”? 

purely on the basis of compressive strength declarations 

will not offer a fair comparison. There is, however, a set of 

technical guidelines, jointly drafted by certification bodies 

across Europe, that describe how insulation products for 

flat roofs should be evaluated. The guidelines include assessment 

of compressive strength and, based on testing, 

classification of ‘fitness for use’. It is from here that 

references to ‘access for maintenance’ or ‘suitable for 

pedestrian traffic’ can be derived. 

Through guidelines like these, insulation manufacturers 

can offer advice about their products and good practice. 

Asking if an insulation product is “suitable for use on a 

terrace”, however, is too vague. It doesn’t convey the 

size of the terrace, how often it might be used or, crucially, 

the total loads that using it could impose. When 

it comes to the calculation of in-service loadings, that’s 

where the structural engineer is needed. 

Some applications - like basements or floors for heavy 

industry - impose such substantial loads on the insulation 

layer that it is relatively easy to select an insulation 

product capable of working in those conditions. Extruded 

polystyrene (XPS) products, for example, can offer 

compressive strengths in excess of 300, 500 or even 

700 kPa. 

At the opposite end of the scale, there are expanded 

polystyrene (EPS) products perfectly suitable for domestic 

ground floor constructions that ‘only’ offer a compressive 

strength of 70 kPa. Does that mean the declarations 

of between 120 kPa and 175 kPa offered by 

polyisocyanurate (PIR) and phenolic foam products for 

the same use are overkill? 

Well, no. It means that different insulation types offer a 

different balance of cost, thermal performance and load 

bearing capability - and it is up to the specifier to ensure 

that the one best suited to the individual project is selected. 

Performance declarations like compressive strength are 

made based on accepted test methods that form part of 

harmonised European standards - documents that ensure 

construction materials meet minimum performance 

levels to ensure their safety and suitability for sale. These 

tests examine the product in isolation to determine a 

particular characteristic, without accounting for how the 

product will be used. 

Flat roofs are another application where loadings are critical, 

and where differentiating between insulation types 


9


BBA Exclusive 

Behind the Scenes 

at the BBA with Richard Beale 

The Insulate Magazine team was invited to the BBA headquarters in Watford to meet with their newly 

appointed Commercial Director, Richard Beale. Managing Editor, Colin Heath interviewed Richard 

and the team were given a tour of the facility, here’s what happened….. 

Hi Richard, Thanks for having us, could you give us 

a brief overview of your career to date? 

You’re welcome, thanks for taking the time to come along. 

I began by studying at the University of Brighton where 

I gained my degree in civil engineering. I immediately 

joined Metsec, selling lattice joists and beams, and was 

soon promoted to National Sales Manager, after which I 

became International Sales Director for Cable 

Management Systems. I was then promoted to Sales 

Having spent upwards of 20 years in the manufacturing 

space, I felt I had sufficient knowledge of the in-depth 

manufacturing process, new product development 

and the significant investment required to bring quality 

products to market. I felt that this activity should be 

recognised by all the players within the supply chain, 

from Specifiers to Contractors and Installers, and that 

certification is the driver to do this. The rigorous BBA 

process provides third party reassurance to the industry 

and gives credibility and confidence in the use of 

applications, and in so doing improves standards in the 

sector. 

As Commercial Director, how do you see your role 

developing and driving the BBA forward? 

Director for the last 6 years of my 15 years tenure. 

In 2008, I joined Marshall Tufflex as Commercial Director 

where I was responsible for all commercial activities for 

the group, which covered construction products ranging 

from underfloor systems to PVC trunking. I subsequently 

joined the BBA in June 2017 as Commercial director. 

So a career in construction products finds you now 

here at the BBA, what was the draw to the product 

certification space? 

The new BBA strategy sets clear growth targets 

that expand beyond our traditional core business of 

certification. The expansion of our product portfolio into new 

product areas, and the development of new go-to-market 

approaches represents a change in the way the BBA 

does business and will require the alignment of the whole 

organisation to market and meet client requirements. The 

Commercial Director role was created specifically to drive 

this growth by being the central coordination point for all 

business development initiatives. 

Much has been made recently of the testing of 

insulation products both at the BBA and other 

testing organisations. What can the industry do to 

assist in the development of these products/tests and 

ensure that they are fit for purpose? 

We know that what matters to our clients, more than 

anything else, is that their new products get to market as 

quickly as possible, and we can help them achieve this 

10 



providing we get an early “heads-up” on their plans and 

ideas. Sometimes we will be invited to look at a product 

and will know instantly that more work needs to be done 

to get it to the point where it can be successfully assessed. 

This situation is now 

being routinely avoided 

by clients coming to 

see us as soon as they 

get their ideas onto the 

drawing board. The other 

challenge for our clients 

is marshalling all the documentation 

and testing 

that they need to demonstrate 

that their product 

or service meets a required 

standard. Again, 

we can help by pointing 

out what will be needed. 

Exciting work with The BIM Store and CIT 

amongst others, lots of development occurring 

here, do you have any up-coming projects you 

can share with us? 

In the last year, we opened our new office in Cardiff and 

early next year we will open our new office in Dublin. 

We have a series of technical seminars planned which 

will bring together the UK’s experts on a range of 

projects. We will also be working with industry partners to 

develop new standards and assessments for some of the 

very innovative construction products that we are now 

beginning to see coming into the market. And of course, 

we continue to provide expert advice to Government 

departments and Housing Associations. 

BBA Certification is regarded as one of the most 

widely recognised forms of system certification. 

What factors do you believe are key to this 

recognition and how do you aim to sustain this in 

to the future? 

The BBA’s reputation is 

founded on 50 years of 

technical excellence. We 

invest significantly in the 

development of our Staff 

and this will never change. 

We actively campaign on 

behalf of our clients and 

seek to influence government 

policy to realise the 

potential of our clients’ 

innovations. Big ideas go 

nowhere if there is no access 

to the market, and 

our reputation allows us to 

speak to agencies and governments alike. In fact, we are 

involved in an ongoing campaign to persuade them to 

permit the use of new products and services. 

We stand by our clients and their products, and we 

are proud to do so. We have never forgotten our duty 

to protect the interests of the public and we continue 

to offer impartial advice to our colleagues within local 

authorities and housing associations, as well as 

designers and specifiers alike. 

In simple terms, how would you explain what the 

BBA does and the value it brings to a business or 

specific system? 

11


BBA Exclusive 

For over five decades, specifiers, and users of 

construction products have been able to count on the 

BBA to accurately describe a product, its possibilities and 

limitations. 

Construction is an industry where innovation is 

costly and carries long term risks. The BBA provides an 

independent and reliable assessment of new products for 

that we all value. 

BBA Certification for many is an essential yet high 

value investment, how do you respond to people 

who consider it too expensive? 

A BBA Certificate is an investment very much linked 

with the long-term success of a construction product. 

Having BBA back up is a key element in reducing barriers 

for adoption and facilitating market acceptance of new 

products. Although the initial investment could be 

considered high for some manufacturers, the 

performance, aimed at helping manufacturers who are 

promoting those products, in this country and abroad. 

This adds enormous value to both the industry and the 

economy. 

A BBA Certificate or Service Assessment is thorough and 

we never cut corners. We will continue to work hard to 

do what is necessary to protect the public and our clients 

from activities of product manufacturers and installers 

that bring the industry into disrepute. These endeavours 

don’t always make us popular, but we have to protect our 

clients who are committed to maintaining the standards 

return on investment could also be high over time, and 

this can be realised in many ways: access to tenders, 

selection of products by Specifiers, Architects and Installers 

willing to use the product. In other words, we give our 

clients a unique competitive advantage in an increasingly 

competitive market place. 

12



New Identity for Association 

BRUFMA launches new name to become 

Insulation Manufacturers Association 

BRUFMA (the British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturers 

Association) has unveiled its new name - Insulation Manufacturers 

Association. A response to create clarity within the marketplace, 

the new name reflects the critical role the organisation plays in representing 

a key component in the built environment. 

BRUFMA has announced a change of its name to Insulation Manufacturers 

Association with immediate effect. The new name reflects the position that PIR 

and PUR insulation manufacturers hold in providing the largest share of insulation 

products used in the UK market. With a growing need for ever greater energy 

performance and thermal efficiency across all buildings, this share of the market is 

expected to keep on growing and therefore the Trade Association has a responsibility 

to ensure it is the principal point of contact for all audiences relevant to this 

sector with a name that reflects this responsibility. 

Speaking about the change of name, Simon Storer, 

Chief Executive of IMA said; “BRUFMA as a name has 

served the industry extremely well over the years, especially 

on technical and industry matters and this of course, 

will not change. 

“However, the membership agreed that the Association now 

needed to build on this well-established foundation, move 

away from predominantly inward facing activity and extend 

its reach and influence to a wider and more diverse external 

target audience, which is not necessarily steeped in 

technical or industry language. 

“Events of this year certainly brought this need into sharp 

focus, as many commentators and other interested parties 

were unable to immediately identify which trade 

association spoke for which part of the industry. We also 

wanted to be sure that as an Association we are solely responsible 

for and have ownership of the messages coming 

from this sector. 

insulation market. We are setting out to develop and 

expand our policy, communications and public affairs 

activity, to support the Association’s technical and 

scientific work. 

“At IMA we are very excited as we start a new chapter 

in the Association’s life, of representing our members, 

including all the manufacturers of PIR and PUR in the UK 

and Ireland, as well as all those across the supply chain 

including chemical and ancillary suppliers. 

“There is a very important job to be done with regards to 

ensuring buildings in the UK meet their design 

specification. We have a large part to play in this and 

changing our name to Insulation Manufacturers Association 

is one step in fulfilling this longer-term objective.” 

For more information about 

Insulation Manufacturers Association please visit: 

www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk 

With a name that enables everyone to understand 

exactly who we are and what we do, it gives the 

recognition that we speak for the largest part of the 

14 


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insulate columnist 

Working at Height 

Reality of the risk 

Insulate Magazine columnist George Elliott, a technical specialist at science-based technology company 3M, 

explains the need for having suitable fall protection in place when working at height, whether that is at one or 500 metres 

Last year, the number of worker fatalities due to falls from height was the lowest on record. In 2016/17, 

there were a recorded 25 fatal injuries, compared to 37 in 2015/16 and an annual average of 40 over 

the past five years. While increasing risk awareness and enhanced safety measures have helped 

towards this improvement, even the most careful and focused worker can still be subject to the kind of 

danger that could change a life forever. 

In particular, when working on contracts such as loft insulation 

there are a number of hazards which could lead 

to potentially life threatening falls. Before turning to personal 

fall protection equipment, managers must consider 

the hierarchy of controls to ensure that the hazard is not 

avoidable. 

Eliminating Risk 

The preliminary stage is to try to eliminate any risk 

altogether. This can involve looking at the design or 

engineering solutions in order to avoid a need to work 

at height in the first place. Of course, in many cases 

this is not possible, so the next stage is to find ways of 

preventing the fall from occurring. Here, there are two 

main channels to explore; collective and personal fall 

protection. 

Collective protection includes equipment such as 

temporary working structures and guardrails. For 

prolonged contracts, a semi-permanent platform could 

be used in the place of ladders as these fixtures have 

required HSE standards. 

All potential dangers should be strictly assessed by 

means of a risk assessment before any construction work 

begins. Further information to assist in this process can 

be found on the HSE’s website, hse.gov.uk. 

Individual Safety 

Once the collective protection structure is deemed safe, 

there is the matter of individual safety. When deciding on 

the type of equipment to issue to their workforce, 

managers should consider that just because equipment 

is CE-marked, it does not mean it necessarily 

provides the most suitable protection for any particular 

job. CE-marking simply means that the minimum safety 

requirement has been met. 

For example, most harness equipment is tested against 

the EN drop-test, using a weight of 100kg. An individual 

may weigh more than this when fully kitted out with boots 

and tools and so their harness may not be adequate. 

In any case, a full risk assessment should determine 

the most appropriate personal fall protection equipment 

(PFPE). Companies should choose the best equipment 

for each job, not simply supply equipment to demonstrate 

compliance. 

Aside from the risk of a fall, there is also the possibility of 

objects dropping from above and causing injury. As stated 

in The Work at Height Regulations 2005, measures 

should be put in place to stop this from happening, but 

also to protect workers should they be hit, particularly on 

the head. 

If - for reasons beyond control - measures to totally 

prevent falls are not possible, then managers can look at 

16 



mitigation methods as a last resort to reduce 

any potential impact. 

Mitigation Methods 

Such methods may include a personal fall arrest lanyard 

attached to a body harness, specifically designed to 

withstand the brunt of a fall through an energy-absorbing 

element. Anchorage connectors can be used as a 

secure point of attachment for lifelines of this type. 

There are a number of PFPE options on the market 

encompassing solutions for many of the above hazards, 

all with differing levels of protection. 

Finally, where work at height is necessary, companies 

should have a rescue plan that either provides the prompt 

rescue of workers in the event of a fall, or ensures that 

they are able to rescue themselves. Descent and rescue 

devices are one way of addressing this. 

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 also state that 

where other precautions do not entirely eliminate the risk 

of a fall occurring, those who will be working at height 

must be properly trained in how to avoid falling, and how 

to avoid or minimise injury to themselves should they fall. 

There are many training courses available for both safety 

managers and their workforce. 

3M offers training classes and tools to help promote 

safety on every worksite, with courses delivered 

either on site or at 3M’s specialist training 

centre near Manchester. For registration and 

course information requests, visit 3M.co.uk/fallprotection, 

email safetytraininguk@mmm.com or 

call 01457 878640. 

Risks at height should be preventable, so long as 

the equipment is used correctly. In accordance 

with HSE requirements and government legislation, 

employers are responsible for ensuring all employees are 

properly trained to safely use the appropriate fall protection 

system and its components. 


17



Renewed Aspiration and 

Ambition for Energy Efficiency 

Sarah Kostense-Winterton Executive Director, MIMA 

On Thursday 12 October, The Guardian headline read “UK climate change masterplan – the 

grownups have finally won”. This announced the first of two major wins for MIMA, for the EEIG and 

for the industry with a renewed aspiration and ambition from Energy Minister, Claire Perry in the 

very long-awaited Clean Growth Strategy. The announcement that saw MIMA and the EEIG’s aspirational 

target of bringing homes up to EPC C by 2035 being publicly supported by the Energy Minister and the 

Government. 

Claire Perry told her colleagues in Parliament that the 

measures in the Clean Growth Strategy “not only continue 

our work in cutting emissions, but we can also cut 

consumer bills, drive economic growth, create high-value 

jobs right across the UK and improve our quality of life. It 

is a win-win opportunity: it is ours for the taking”. 

Mirroring the messages of the EEIG, it could have almost 

been lifted from the EEIG commissioned Frontier Economics 

report, “Affordable Warmth, Clean Growth”. Even 

her predecessor, Nick Hurd acknowledged the that strategy 

was much better than when he left his position as 

minister. 

This was swiftly followed by a second win from the National 

Infrastructure Commission, recognising buildings 

energy efficiency as an infrastructure priority saying “Two 

priorities for achieving low-cost, low carbon are clear. The 

first is to improve energy efficiency. The UK has old and 

leaky buildings, which means households and firms use 

far more heat than should be required, pushing up consumer 

bills and increasing the costs of moving towards 

18 



low carbon heating in the longer term. The Commission 

will consider how an ambitious programme of energy 

efficiency improvements could rectify this.” 

However despite Perry’s positive tone and ambition, we 

do hear the many voices of caution, the voices that say 

it is only aspirational, it doesn’t mean the government will 

do it. The devil’s in the detail or there’s a lack of detail. So 

what does all this mean for us? Is the Government going 

to deliver? What should we be doing? Where do we go 

from here? 

What it does mean is that we have ALL to play for, we 

have to deliver and we must and we can make this 

change happen. The opportunity is clear with one-third 

of UK carbon emissions coming from buildings and with 

19 million homes in the UK still with needlessly poor levels 

of energy performance - below an EPC C rating. Up to a 

quarter of the energy consumed in homes could be saved 

cost-effectively, with the technical potential for energy use 

in homes to be cut in half. 

In a nutshell, this is the start of the next phase and where 

the hard work really begins. We have been told that the 

EEIG was instrumental in bringing about this renewed 

ambition but that we need to continue to work together 

as an alliance and even broaden our coalition. This is our 

starting position and the EEIG’s strategy and actions over 

the next year will be vital to success. 

We already have a healthy head start, where the Minister 

has the aspiration and ambition, we have the vision 

and the practical steps on how to implement – through 

the EEIG commissioned Frontier Economics report, “Affordable 

Warmth, Clean Growth”. In this report, we clearly 

set out an ambitious yet practical action plan for the 

Government to make all homes energy efficient within 20 

years. Perry quite rightly said that there is not one silver 

bullet and everyone has to play their part. 

So as part of the EEIG alliance, we have worked hard with 

government to reach this stage and they are listening and 

engaged, but now we must move forward to focus on 

how to deliver and respond to the raft of government’s 

calls for evidence. To ensure we tick the government’s 

objective boxes – evidence how we bring the benefits to 

consumers, to business; how we can deliver innovation; 

be world-leading; how we can boost the UK economy 

and create jobs but most of all that everyone across the 

UK has the best chance of a warm and comfortable home 

with lower bills. 

Achieving this goal will require the adoption of world-leading 

quality standards for retrofitting and constructing 

homes, area-based schemes led by local authorities, additional 

funding sources that won’t raise energy bills 


19



and financial incentives to encourage households to take 

up energy-saving measures. A mix of measures, including 

pilots, demonstrators, research and detailed short to medium 

to longer term deliverables. 

There’s simply no 

silver bullet. 

The EEIG will not be stopping 

there – we will be 

grasping this opportunity 

with both hands, focusing 

on a strategy and activity 

plan for the year ahead 

to deliver for government 

and EEIG members, new 

and existing. We have 

started this journey with a 

successful media launch 

of of our report with coverage 

in The Guardian, The 

Sun, BBC News, Carbon 

Brief and Business Green 

and others. This was only topped by our recent Parliamentary 

launch event with a written endorsement from 

Minister, Claire Perry and with support from a great many 

MPs, including our sponsor, Eddisbury MP, Antoinette 

Sandbach and speaker contributions from Lord Deben, 

former Climate Change Committee Chief Executive and 

Frontier Economics Director, Matthew Bell and CBI’s Neil 

Carberry. 

We simply cannot ignore that energy efficiency formed a 

substantial focus in the Clean Growth Strategy, that it is 

firmly back on the political agenda. The Business, Energy 

and Industrial Strategy department (BEIS) clearly has 

more scope for ambition and 

more power to influence their 

colleagues across Whitehall. 

We have a government 

that needs to urgently deliver 

carbon reductions to 

deliver its carbon budgets. 

A government perceived to 

be weak on climate change 

and that needs to secure 

more and younger voters 

(with climate change second 

in importance only to health 

according to Conservative 

think tank, Bright Blue’s polling). 

Let’s also not forget that 

more energy-efficient homes 

will do so much more to cut 

energy costs in the long-run 

than a cap on energy prices will. 

So we have a big job ahead, no doubt about it. More ups 

and downs, a lot to do and a lot to achieve. We don’t 

have any guarantees, but government’s do deliver when 

people show they want change and come together with 

one voice. We need to stay focused, even to the point of 

obsession and we need to spread the word - one voice, 

one vision and make energy efficiency the new craze. 

We believe the EEIG and its members can play a 

crucial part in any future success and work closely with 

government to deliver a comprehensive Buildings 

Energy Infrastructure Programme. We can and will make 

this happen. 

p.s. Happy First Birthday to Insulate magazine! 

Sarah Kostense-Winterton is Executive Director of MIMA, 

the Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association and provides 

the secretariat to the Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group 

(EEIG). For further details of the EEIG or if you would like to 

join, please contact Sarah at sarah@mima.info 

20 


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Insulate Exclusive 

What is in a 

U-value Calculation? 

U-values are an important indicator of building performance. So why is there such limited understanding 

of what calculations show? By Insulate Magazine. 

Mainly because the standards describing how to calculate U-values are complex and inaccessible. For the majority, 

there is no reason to try and understand them - but the knock-on effect of that is assumptions. Assumptions that any 

calculation committed to paper has been done accurately; that the piece of paper is automatically correct. If the result 

is the right number then all is well. If it shows a higher number then suddenly there are problems to solve. 

There are a variety of software packages for calculating U-values. In theory, they are all created equal as they are 

based on the same standards and calculation methods, but their user- and reader-friendliness can vary. The images 

accompanying this article are from one widely used program and illustrate what a good level of information looks like. 

Other software will display it differently, but the important thing is knowing what to look for. 

1 Project details and construction type 

In an ideal world, every U-value calculation should be for a 

particular project. Of course, specifications get repeated 

from one job to the next, so it’s easy to understand why 

generic calculations might be relied upon, but relating the 

calculation to a project leaves no room for doubt as to 

what has been specified and what should be constructed 

on site. 

Stating the application or type of construction also makes 

clear to the reader what exactly is being calculated - just 

in case a lack of detail or confusing terminology elsewhere 

means it is not entirely obvious. 

2 Material layers 

This section provides the greatest scope for ensuring the 

proposed construction can be well understood. The build 

up is listed layer by layer, with a description of the material 

and/or a product reference where necessary. If proprietary 

products are not being used then the description should 

reference a formal standard from which acceptable material 

data has been obtained. 

3 Material data 

Although insulation materials contribute the bulk of thermal 

performance in any calculation, it’s still necessary to 

take account of every layer in the build up. The calculation 

also has to factor in the direction of heat flow (i.e. downwards, 

horizontal, upwards) for the purposes of establishing 

surface and airspace thermal resistances. 

Working out the thermal resistances of materials requires 

their thickness and thermal conductivity. Sometimes a 

calculation doesn’t display these values - such as when 

the layer is a very thin membrane that has no meaningful 

thickness and no declared thermal conductivity. 

The order in which materials are listed is not important 

for calculating the U-value. It does matter, however, for 

the accuracy of any accompanying condensation risk 

analysis - and for aiding the readability of the 

calculation. For anybody comparing the calculation 

to a design specification or on-site construction, it is 

common sense and good practice that calculations reflect the 

correct sequencing of layers. 

22 


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4 Bridging details 

Calculating U-values is easiest when a construction 

comprises simple, uninterrupted material layers of consistent 

thickness - but layers often have to be interrupted 

by other materials. Accounting for bridging is important, 

especially when it’s an insulation layer and the disparity 

in thermal performance of the two materials is significant. 

This section states what percentage of the layer is 

bridged and by what material. But it might not mean anything 

to the reader. It’s not obvious what “12.5% timber 

bridging” represents in reality, but if the layer description 

says the material is bridged by 50mm wide timber joists 

or studs at 400mm centres, then the world suddenly 

makes more sense! 

5 Result and corrections 

And so we reach the headline of the whole document! A 

figure for the predicted loss of heat energy (in Watts, W), 

per square metre of the construction fabric, per degree 

of temperature difference (in Kelvin, K) between inside 

and outside. 

But what are the numbers that accompany the result? 

Upper and lower limit thermal resistances refer to the 

two methods of calculating heat paths through the construction, 

as described by the Combined Method. These 

two values are averaged, then a reciprocal taken, to give 

the U-value. 

Within the confines of mathematically modelling construction 

build ups, certain corrections can be applied to 

reflect the realities of installing insulation. In any calculation, 

you may see values associated with the following: 

Uf - corrections for mechanical fixings penetrating the 

insulation layer. 

Ug - corrections for air gaps in the insulation layer 

Up - correction for compression of insulation in built up 

metal roofing and cladding. 

Ur - correction for rainwater cooling on inverted roofs. 

Urc - corrections for rails and/or brackets supporting 

rainscreen cladding. 

6 Application-specific information 

In the last issue of Insulate we looked at standards that 

define how U-values are calculated. The Combined 

Method is fairly limited in scope, so other standards 

supplement it with calculation methods for ground 

floors, anything involving steel components etc. Where 

these other standards are employed by the calculation 

software, the relevant information is displayed in this 

section. 

One point worth noting for ground floor constructions: 

while it’s tempting to think that perimeter upstand insulation 

provided to screeds and slabs would be classed 

as edge insulation, for the purposes of a U-value calculation 

it isn’t. It is there to treat the thermal bridge, so 

could be referenced in the layer description to show it 

has been thought about (e.g. ‘Reinforced concrete slab 

with perimeter upstand insulation to address thermal 

bridging’). 

In Conclusion 

Anybody calculating U-values should be armed 

with as much information as possible about 

the intended materials, and should ask lots of 

questions where relevant information is missing. 

Judging the veracity of calculations is difficult for 

many, but communication is key. Knowing that 

a design has been accurately calculated, or that 

what is being constructed reflects what a calculation 

shows, can go a long way to helping address 

performance gap issues. 

We don’t have the space to delve into these corrections, 

but if they impact on the calculation sufficiently then they 

cause the result to be changed. It’s important to ensure 

that comparable corrections have been included when 

judging one calculation against another, otherwise the 

comparison is not a fair one. 

24 


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Insulation news 

Home is where 

the Hearth is 

New BBA tested composite doors keep the warmth inside. 

The BBA talks about innovative new testing 

procedures that monitor the thermal values 

of composite door products, designed to 

improve the insulation of buildings, keeping the 

occupants nice and warm. 

There’s a lot of talk about various forms of building insulation, 

from Cavity Wall Insulation and external cladding to 

underfloor and roof insulation systems. But let’s not forget 

the importance of the good old everyday door. Doors in 

regular use need to be efficient to do their part in keeping 

the home at a constant comfortable temperature. 

According to the West Midlands Public Health Observatory 

(UK), an adequate level of wintertime warmth is 21 

°C for a living room, and a minimum of 18 °C for other 

occupied rooms, giving 24 °C as a maximum comfortable 

room temperature for sedentary adults. 

Records for last year (winter summer 2016) show the average 

household internal temperature to be 21°C, with 

the external temperature ranging from -9.7°C to 33.9°C. 

26 



The coldest recorded temperature in November last year 

(UK)is -9.7°C and the hottest recorded day in 2016 (UK) 

is 33.9°C. 

The complete 48-hour cycle is 

shown in the graph below: 

These temperature changes can lead to a door leaf bowing 

in its frame, which has an effect on the way it operates, 

and in extreme circumstances it will allow draughts 

to enter the home. 

Choosing the right material can have an enormous 

effect on the door’s performance. Different types of 

insulation infill can influence how the door reacts to 

changes in differential temperatures, so it’s important to 

test the product before it goes on the market. 

Test Services at the BBA has been using procedures 

that have been devised to determine the effect of thermal 

stress in the material build-up of doors, looking at 

the infill medium, thickness of reinforcement or PVC-U 

skin of a door leaf. 

As you’d expect, this involves Summer time testing and 

Winter time testing environments, to measure bow and 

defection of a door leaf inside its frame at different internal 

versus external temperature differentials. 

This helps to determine permanent defection of the door 

after extreme exposures, and to monitor any damage 

like cracking or splitting for example. The effort required 

to open and close the door, (operating forces), 

are recorded before and after exposure to ensure all the 

hardware functions correctly. 

The sample will then be allowed to return to ambient 

conditions before the operating forces are measured. 

As you’ll have gathered, the testing is extremely thorough 

with rigorous temperature applications applied in 

carefully simulated, real life conditions. It’s important to 

remember there’s a lot more to putting the wood in the 

hole than meets the eye. The good news is properly tested 

composite doors can contribute significantly to better 

and more sustainable insulation in homes up and down 

the country. 

Something to celebrate this Christmas 

The specimens are installed with their external face in 

an environmental chamber that is set to cycle between 

-10°C to +10°C. The internal face of the door leaf remains 

in the test laboratory ambient conditions. At periods 

of one hour during the positive temperature parts of 

the cycle, a 30 second water spray will be applied to the 

external face of the door. 

During the test, the deflection of the internal face of the 

door leaf is measured at the top and bottom corners of 

the locking edge. 


27


BREEAM Insulation Awards 

Judges Deliver Verdict 

Insulation Awards 2017 Preview 

A 

night of celebration approaches as the Insulation Industry looks forward to the inaugural Insulation 

Awards supported by BREEAM on 30 th November. Hosted at the East Midlands Conference Centre in 

Nottigham, the evening will recognise the very best in insulation, with eleven awards to be received on 

the evening. The expert judging panel have cast their votes ready for the big announcements on the evening. 

Speaking ahead of the judging day here is what Creative 

Director Jamie Street had to say regarding the build up 

towards the Insulation Awards and what it meant to have 

such a presitigious judging panel in attendance to decide 

the winners of the awards: 

“The judges have come from all corners of the Country 

and all different aspects of the industry. We have 

representatives from different manufacturers and 

associations, lecturers and speakers and we also 

welcome Lord Deben. It’s a pleasure to have them here to 

be involved with this first Insulation Awards Event. 

We are really excited about the Insulation Awards, it’s 

been a long process and a lot of work has gone on 

behind the scenes. To have the judging today really brings 

it all together and we’re excited to be choosing the 

winners and celebrating all the good things that are going 

on in the insulation industry.” 

Judges Reflect 

Having casted their votes here is what the judges at to 

say regarding their 

participation, the 

importance of the 

awards and the calibur 

of entries received: 

Mike Easdon, 

MD InBuild 

“Insulation is a very very 

important element that 

people sometimes overlook, it can be a small part of the 

construction process when you are looking at energy 

efficiency, you’re looking at fuel saving, liveability factors 

and all these other various elements then you realise that 

it comes down to a fabric first approach which is where 

insulation nicely fits and the Insulation Awards is ideally 

placed to promote that.” 

Keira Proctor, MD A.Proctor Group 

“I’ve been really impressed by the submissions, they’re 

very diverse across a lot of different sectors so 

commercial, residential, new build, social housing, a lot of 

interesting buildings and delving into the different 

properties of the insulation and how they are adding 

value to the building or 

to the individuals within 

that building has been 

really interesting for me.” 

Simon Storer, Chief 

Executive, IMA 

“Having an Awards 

Ceremony excites the 

industry it’s very 

important that we’re 

seen not just as 

providing materials, but it’s really what those materials do 

to buildings and people’s lives. 

There is a human aspect to it which I think is very 

important, and the categories cover a whole range of 

different criteria from the graduate to projects to installers 

and I think that is also important because it’s that variety 

28 



BREEAM Insulation Awards 

Well the thing that has to happen in the 

industry is that what is now the average 

reaches to be the best and then the best 

then reaches beyond that, I think what the 

Award does is to remind people that sometimes 

people are doing better than they are in 

terms of sustainability, in terms of energy efficiency, 

in terms of speed and accuracy of installation, 

all those things we need to improve 

all the time and Awards encourage people 

to see that their businesses could do better. 

One of the troubles is that we all get rather 

complacent about the quality of what our 

work is and if we are shocked to discover that 

others are doing much better well then perhaps 

we will start to improve ourselves. 

which makes the industry interesting so it’s not just the 

product but it’s what the product does and also the 

people that work in it and make them part of the wider 

aspect of making those 

buildings better in so 

many different aspects.” 

Dr Jolyon Berg, 

Head of Technical, 

Isover UK 

“For me there were quite 

a few entrants around 

external wall 

insulation (EWI) which is 

important because there is a lot to do on EWI and it’s a 

challenging application and to see new entrants coming 

with new ideas about how to tackle that in a better way I 

think is really encouraging” 

Richard Hillman – SOUND-IS 

it just reinforces what 

people are trying to do 

in giving people 

recognitions for the 

efforts that they have 

been putting in.” 

Kevin Bohea, 

President IMA 

“I think the Awards add 

creditability to a very 

hard working high performing industry that really is in 

the background of building performance but with these 

Awards what it does is bring to light the great work that 

goes on within the insulation industry” 

For more information about the Insulation Awards 

supported by BREEAM visit www.inslationawards.co.uk 

“It’s good because it will reward people who have made 

outstanding contributions over a period of time or 

highlighting new systems that have been brought to the 

market in the last twelve/eighteen months, so yes, I think 


29



The Benefits of Independently 

Assessed Psi Values 

Insulate Magazine columnist Brandon Wipperfurth, Sustainability and Energy Consultant, Darren Evans Assessments 

The heat loss through junctions is known as thermal bridging and can be one of the most significant 

sources of heat loss within a building. In a building which has poor insulation, thermal bridging will 

be less significant, but in a modern new building, that has a highly insulated fabric, the heat will pass 

through these junctions much faster relative to the surrounding materials. While these junctions cannot be 

eliminated, properly designed details can drastically reduce this effect. It’s absolutely critical we 

understand the heat loss through these important parts of a building and use a qualified assessor to 

calculate the PSI value of a junction to better inform the design. 

The effect of thermal bridging can vary drastically 

between buildings depending on design, with anywhere 

between a realised 5-50% of a building’s heat loss 

coming through these thermal junctions. The rate of heat 

loss between these thermal junctions is measured as a 

PSI values (pronounced ‘si’). Calculating them will make 

the thermal model much more accurate and feed back 

into the design creating a real difference to the end client 

and in terms of energy savings, or even more floor area if 

radiators don’t need to be as big. 

When standardised details are being used, the cost for 

each individual PSI value across each building is exceptionally 

low in comparison to other options. The value the 

client gains from putting in the calculated PSI values is 

extremely cost effective. So, in situations where developers 

are using the same corner detail on several projects 

(i.e five houses in one location), it starts to add up quickly. 

30 



Independently assessed PSI Values will always be cost effective on every 

medium scale and larger residential development 

SAP calculation methodology assumes default values 

that are very poor or estimates how much heat is going 

through those areas. By calculating that specific PSI 

value, you are actually measuring how much heat is 

going through at that point. The assessor can input a 

nd overwrite that poor value with something that’s 

realistic and can make 5-10% and sometimes 15% of 

carbon savings for the entire building. On a standard 

detached or terraced house, the assessor can expect to 

make 5-6% carbon savings over ACDs. 

If the thermal junctions are not measured, then a 

default PSI Value is applied to the calculation. The 

problem in the industry is these default values or dated sets of 

values such as Accredited Construction Details (ACDs) 

and Enhanced Construction Details (ECDs) can be 

inaccurate. At Darren Evans Assessments we will carry 

out an independently assessed thermal model to cover all 

of the places where the default values or ACD values are 

worse than in reality. 

As a PSI value assessor, we are essentially tightening 

down the design and making it more accurate by inputting 

correct and supported heat loss calculations. 

This improved accuracy in the building model will lead 

to design improvements. By taking the time to look at 

and feed that specific information into the calculation, the 

assessor is able to provide advice on how to help build 

these details. While there are some in the industry who 

create thermal models that are completely unbuildable, 

we are able to come on board and simplify the whole 

thing to make sure it is correct. 

Independently assessed PSI Values will always be 

cost effective on every medium scale and larger 

residential development. When you have more than 10 

units employing these details (over even multiple sites with 

standard details), the larger design and build contractors 

can focus too much on big ticket items such as expensive 

renewables and thermal bridging can be overlooked. 

If you can make a difference over whether or not the 

PV sits on the roof, the small cost to do the PSI value 

calculations versus, say, £70k worth of PV, would seem 

like a no-brainer. If you are not using independently assessed 

PSI Values in your SAP calculation you are five or 

10 years behind everyone else. 


31



The Importance of Insulation 

in Reducing Fuel Bills 

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive, National Insulation Association (NIA) 

Responding to the news of the proposed energy price cap the National Insulation 

Association (NIA) is advising that there is still more that can be done to reduce fuel bills and help the 

most vulnerable households, especially those in fuel poverty. 

New analysis released by the Big Deal collective switching 

site, shows that customers on standard deals with the 

big six energy providers can pay as much as £225 more 

than their cheapest deal. It is estimated that there are 8m 

households on a standard variable tariff that have been 

with the big six for more than three years. 

The NIA says that whilst the price cap will help many 

people it is important to stress that energy efficiency upgrades 

to homes can also make a real difference. For example 

a study by UK Energy Research Council (UKERC) 

published this year highlighted that improved energy 

efficiency since 2004 means that the average dual fuel 

household bill was £490 lower in 2015 than it otherwise 

would have been but more still needs to be done. 

Therefore insulation has a key role to play in helping to 

reduce future energy costs and the NIA is keen to 

continue to raise awareness of the huge savings householders 

can make by simply improving their home insulation. 

In fact insulating solid walls can save as much as 

£455 per year. 

As well as the price cap the Government has 

recently launched its clean growth strategy that marks out 

investment in energy efficiency including insulation which 

will help; provide economic growth, reduce carbon 

emissions, tackle fuel poverty, reduce energy bills and 

create jobs – The NIA welcome this move. 

32 



Insulation News 

Taking Winning To The Next Level 

Our first ever L3 Apprentice of the Year is 

Derrick Rodger! Del, who works for Actavo 

Ltd, was chosen from the five apprentices 

who were the first to complete the new 

qualification with TICA. 

“Del excelled throughout the apprenticeship,” explains 

Assessor Kevin Fleetham. “All the candidates really 

took to the new course and the challenges of the higher 

level qualification, but we chose Del due to his skills, 

knowledge and the high quality of his finished work.” 

TICA’s Marion Marsland said “It was a pleasure to 

present our first ever Level 3 Apprentice Award to Derek 

Rogers of Actavo. Our Level 3 certificate is focused on 

sheet metal fabrication, so it was fitting that the award 

was generously sponsored by SSAB” 

“SSAB/Aluzinc will continue to sponsor this award in the 

coming years” said Phil Lancaster of SSAB, “the skills 

training that TICA provide is so important for the industry, 

I was really impressed with the fabrication skills of 

students I met during a recent visit to TICA’s training 

facility in Darlington” 

We would like to thank SSAB for 

sponsoring this award. 


33


Insulation News 

Trevor Moves on from TICA 

In December Trevor Horsley steps down as TICA 

President, after three years at the helm Trevor 

started his career as a 17 year old Asbestos 

Remover with York Linings, working at Ferrybridge 

Power Station. After 12 years as an Insulator he 

took the opportunity to form his own company; 

and Western Thermal was born. Now, 30 years 

later, he’s sold his business and will start the process 

of stepping down from a long career within thermal 

insulation. 

“Trevor has been an amazingly active member of 

TICA; he’s gone out of his way to take on duties and 

responsibilities which benefit the whole industry, 

not simply his own company,” explains TICA Chief 

Executive Marion Marsland. “It’s been an amazing 

commitment. All trade associations have many members 

but there are very few of them who are willing to 

give such depth of commitment, over such a long period 

of time. Trevor’s appetite to get involved and drive things 

forward has been hugely significant to our organisation.” 

Over the years Trevor held a range of posts prior to 

becoming President. He was also the Chair of Trustees 

within the IETTL Insulation and Environmental Training 

Agency, as well as taking other active roles; in particular 

TICA’s wage negotiation panels and National Joint Council. 

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together,” 

says Trevor, who will be taking a gradual back seat 

at Western Thermal over the next two years “When 

I first joined, TICA was dominated by the engineering 

sector; now there’s a much better balance. The diversity 

of the membership is really healthy as it gives all parts 

of the industry the chance to engage for the good of 

the whole sector. The continued development of the 

National Training Centre and the quality of the teaching 

that’s available is something I feel immensely proud of.” 

Looking to the future, Trevor expects continued 

uncertainty over the shape of Brexit to have an impact, 

but that there are also 

huge opportunities. 

“I believe there will be an 

economic downturn as 

a direct result of the UK 

leaving the EU in 2019. I 

think there will be a lot of 

refurbishment contracts, 

but members must also 

make the most of the 

new nuclear and major 

infrastructure projects. In 

the wake of the Grenfell 

Tower tragedy, it’s also a 

chance to get involved in 

helping shape future fire 

safety strategy.” 

34 


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35 

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2017’s Unmissable 

Insulation Event 

NIA Annual Conference 

7 th December 2017 

JURYS INN HINCKLEY ISLAND HOTEL, HINCKLEY 

BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY 

Contact the team today to book your place at the 2017 National 

Insulation Association (NIA) Annual Conference and Black Tie Gala Dinner, 

receive more information on exhibition sponsorship opportunities or 

reserve a table at the Gala Dinner. We look forward to you joining us! 

maeva.robson@nia-uk.org | 01525 383 313 | www.nia-uk.org


NIA Conference 2017 

National Insulation Association 

Conference 2017 Preview 

The National Insulation Association’s (NIA) Annual 

Conference, Exhibition and Black Tie Gala 

Dinner will take place on Thursday 7th December 

2017 at the Jury’s Inn Hinckley Island Hotel, 

Leicestershire. The event which is now in its 9th 

year is firmly established in the calendar as a key 

event for the insulation industry. It promises to be 

an informative and enjoyable day and evening for 

everyone and offers excellent opportunities for 

participating exhibitors and sponsors to showcase 

their products, services and brands. 

The event will be attended by some 200 delegates from 

the insulation industry as well as Energy Companies, 

Government officials and other important industry stakeholders. 

This makes it the perfect place to discuss current 

issues affecting the sector 

as well as learn about and 

discuss plans and strategies 

for the year ahead. 

Energy at BEIS will reflect on the Government’s manifesto 

commitment on fuel poverty, the recent publication of the 

Clean Growth Strategy and what might be expected from 

future iterations of the Energy Company Obligation. 

Denise O’Leary of multi-award winning Purpol Marketing 

is an experienced bid professional across the manufacturing 

and construction sectors. She will share knowledge 

on how businesses can realise their potential and win critical 

bids. The presentation will focus on 3 key points – the 

attributes of consistently successful bids, how your team 

can recover from a lost bid and golden rules to deliver 

repeatable bid success. 

BEAMA will explain the minimum requirements and 

options for ventilation to enable insulation installers to 

Neil Marshall Chief Executive 

of the NIA commented: 

“The NIA represents 

the manufacturers, system 

suppliers, installers, fixing 

and component suppliers 

of insulation measures and 

this year we have some 

great presentations lined 

up including speakers 

from; Department for Business, 

Energy & Industrial 

Strategy (BEIS), PURPOL 

Marketing, BEAMA and the 

National Energy Foundation 

(NEF).” 

Richard Mellish, Deputy Director 

for Home and Local 


37


comply with the standards contained within PAS2030. 

A specialist Data Protection Consultancy will be delivering 

a presentation on the General Data Protection 

Regulations (GDPR) due to come into force in May 

2018 and explain to companies what the new regulations 

mean and how to ensure compliance. 

Dr Kerry J Mashford OBE CEng FIMechE FICE 

FIET FRSA, Chief Executive of the National 

Energy Foundation will be giving a presentation 

entitled - Is IWI an opportunity ripe for exploitation? 

Dr Mashford commented: 

“I’m looking forward to the event and to sharing rich 

and diverse ideas and insights with colleagues from 

across the sector.” 

The event also hosts a breakout exhibition area where 

some 20 exhibitors will be showcasing their products 

and services. 

Chris Forshaw, Business Development Manager 

Kiwa BDA commented: 

“Kiwa BDA is proud to be a member of the NIA, and 

the opportunity to exhibit at the Annual Conference 

is an excellent forum to engage fully with the rest of 

the membership. We are also pleased to have the 

opportunity to sponsor the refreshments and lunch 

during the day, ensuring the NIA members are fully 

provisioned for a successful conference. The NIA 

is at the forefront of representation of the insulation 

sector and Kiwa BDA is pleased to offer product 

and system testing and certification services to NIA’s 

manufacturer/system designer members.” 

Martin Clayton, Managing Director of GTI Direct 

commented: 

“GTI Direct are delighted to be exhibiting once again 

at the National Insulation Association Conference 

2017, the only event of its kind that brings together 

the whole chain of industry professionals involved in 

delivering the UK Governments carbon reduction and 

fuel poverty targets through insulating homes and 

businesses.” 

“The NIA conference is a key event in the insulation 

industry calendar and we are delighted to be supporting 

it,” said Richard Beale, BBA Commercial 

Director. “It is a great opportunity to network with 

industry professionals and discuss issues affecting 

this sector.” 

38 www.insulatenetwork.com


James Ormerod Managing Director of ALIVA UK 

said: “We are very pleased to be a sponsor of this year’s 

NIA Conference – this is an important industry event as 

it provides attendees with advice and information to aid 

there business planning and a good platform for networking.” 

And finally Insulate Network’s Colin Heath, Managing 

director of Versanta, commented on the recent announcement 

as media partners for the event: “It’s exciting 

to be partnering with the NIA. Our organisations play such 

a crucial part in the insulation community, this partnership 

offers a great platform and we will be providing coverage 

before, during the day with live interviews and social media 

activity and a follow up review feature. We are very 

much looking forward to the event in December”. 

the insulation industry. 

- By booking a table at the black tie gala dinner to entertain 

clients and potential clients in informal surroundings. 

A table for 10 costs £1,200 and includes a pre-dinner 

drinks reception, 4 course meal, complimentary wine and 

entertainment.” 

To book a place at the conference, exhibition stand 

or sponsorship package or to find out more information 

please contact Maeva on 01525383313 or 

email Maeva.robson@nia-uk.org 

Neil Marshall said: “There are a number of ways companies 

and individuals can still get involved in this not to 

be missed industry event: 

- Non NIA member companies can attend the event by 

booking external delegate places at just £199. However, 

if companies join the NIA between now and the event they 

will automatically be entitled to one free delegate place. 

- We have a limited number of exhibition stands and 

sponsorship packages still available. Exhibiting and 

sponsorship provide an excellent opportunity for companies 

to promote their products, services and brands to 


39

Thank you for all your kind messages of support 

as we celebrate our first Birthday... 

“Happy first birthday Insulate! I applaud you for 

delivering informative industry features, debating 

hot topics and realising the National Insulation 

Industry Awards. The magazine has achieved so 

much in one year and I look forward to 

supporting Insulate for the onward and 

upward journey ahead.” 

CLAIRE CURTIS-THOMAS, 

BBA CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

“A publication for the insulation industry has been 

a long time coming, we now have it and wish the 

Insulate Magazine continued success in the future. 

It’s a pleasure to work with you in promoting the 

benefits of insulation together with the 

achievements and views 

of our industry.” 

NEIL MARSHALL, 

NIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

“Happy Birthday! The magazine is a 

great opportunity to raise the profile 

of our industry. We look forward to 

working with you over the coming 

year.” 

MARION MARSLAND, 

TICA 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

“Looking forward to supporting how 

as an industry we can raise more 

awareness of the role insulation has 

to address efficiency and comfort of 

our living and working spaces.” 

ANN FISHER, 

SIG INSULATION 

BRAND DIRECTOR 

“Happy 1st Birthday and many 

congratulations on creating a successful 

and progressive publication, 

highlighting our important energy 

saving industry!” 

KEVIN BOHEA, 

RECTICEL INSULATION 

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR 

“IMA sends best wishes and congratulation to everyone at Insulate Magazine to mark the publication’s first birthday. 

It has certainly been a hectic year and we are delighted that you have played such an important role for our sector, 

providing a valuable and informative source of information to the wider construction industry. We certainly look forward 

to continuing our work with you over the next 12 months and helping increase the knowledge and 

understanding of the insulation industry and its products across the UK and beyond.” 

SIMON STORER 

IMA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

Subscribe to Insulate Magazine for FREE : www.insulatenetwork.com

Insulate Magazine Issue 12 - November 2017

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