Insulate - The Essential Insulation Magazine - May 2018

Reflecting 

on Success 

The only independent 

insulation industry 

trade magazine 

Issue 18 May 2018 

Schooled in Insulation 

Urgent Action on Building Safety 

Sound Method of Construction 

Cavity Wall Insulation 

World Cup 2018 

Wall Planner




Insulation 

Outlook 2018 




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Issue 14 | January 2018 

Website: www.insulatenetwork.com 

Standing Out From the Crowd 

Email: sales@insulatenetwork.com 

NIA Conference Review 

Keeping Everything Moving 

Review, Reflect and Reset 

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Contents 

It is fitting that the sun begins to show its face again and 

growth is back on natures agenda. The growth and 

appreciation for this publication is equally as satisfying for 

our dedicated team as we bring you issue 18. Special thanks to 

the committed companies that are proud of what they do and 

continue to support a best practice sharing, industry celebrating 

publication for their industry. 

With Sadness 

Back in December 2016, when we were promoting the launch of 

Insulate Magazine, I spoke to Kiwa BDA about the possibility of 

working with them and sharing industry related content. My details 

were passed to Alan Thomas, a consultant looking to increase 

brand awareness for the Kiwa Agrément certification. 

Alan and I exchanged many emails discussing the benefits of the 

publication and potential routes to market for Kiwa. Alan wrote 

three article during the following months that were read extensively 

online and no doubt in print. Sadly Alan passed away on 

May 3 rd this year and our thoughts are with his family and friends 

at this time. 

Reflecting on Success - Huw Reese Isover 

6 

Over 100 Attend NIA Event 

15 

Alternative Insulation Materials 

16 

Cladding Solutions 18 

Urgent Action Over Building Safety 

22 

Schooled in Insulation 24 

Sound Advice for Hearing Protection 27 

Landlords and Energy Efficiency Regulations 29 

The Challenges of Surveying CWI 

30 

Vilvalda Cuts Recycling Costs by Three Quarters 33 

Can the New Eco3 Scheme Deliver on Promises 

34 

Sound Method of Sustainable Construction 

36 

Colin Heath 

Managing Editor 

colin@insulatenetwork.com 

@colin_insulate 

6 

22 

Jamie Street 

Head of Creative 

jamie@insulatenetwork.com 

@jamie_insulate 

18 28 

Paul Forrester 

Technical Editor 

Free Inside: Page 20-21 

World Cup 2018 Match Planner 

ROUND OF 16 

QUARTER FINALS 

SEMI FINALS 

The 

3 rd PLACE 

UK's 

FINALS - 14th July 3pm 

only dedicated 

trade journal for the 

THE FINAL - 

insulation 

15th July 4pm 

industry 



3

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine 

instant insulate 

A quick look at what is in store in this months issue of Insulate Magazine. 

Head over to page 27 for Landlords and Energy Efficiency 

I know that the insulation market is 

improving all the time and yes there are 

leaders out there and we are one of those. 

Read More: Page 6 

The association consists of 

polyurethane foam installers 

operating to high standards, together 

with material and equipment 

suppliers. 

Ecobuild Review: Page 16 

Many people have benefited from improved 

insulation within their cavity walls. Whilst 

others have suffered greatly from penetrating 

dampness, condensation and mould. 


Educating people of school age about the 

buildings they live, work and play in 

would be a fine addition to any curriculum. 

Whether they go on to work in the 

construction industry or not, they will be 

building owners, occupiers and users. 


This is not a “do nothing” approach whilst we 

await the outcomes of the Hackitt Review. We 

need very real and practical action in the short 

to medium term and Government must lead this 

action from the front. 


It’s vital that landlords have access to 

the most trusted and reliable of local 

specialists, and hopes that its online 

service will enable landlords to meet 

their obligations by making their 

properties more energy efficient. 


Of course, we need to ensure that one of the key 

opportunities isn’t missed and that is to ensure 

that the fabric of the building is as thermally 

efficient as it can be before installing 

other measures. 


By going beyond the call of duty to 

construct homes which excel in terms of 

thermal performance building, regulations 

regarding energy-efficiency have 

little relevance 


For Sound Advice for Hearing Insulation Turn to page 27 

4 

www.insulatenetwork.com

6 

Insulate Exclusive

Reflecting on 

Success 

Exclusive interview Huw Rees (Isover) with Colin Heath from Insulate Magazines 


7


Insulate Exclusive 

Huw Rees 

The Highs and Lows 

As he approaches retirement, 

Insulate Managing 

Editor sat down with Huw 

Rees to discuss his career in the 

insulation industry and the many 

changes that he has seen during 

that time. 

Huw, thanks for taking the time to 

talk to us, could you give me a brief 

overview of your career to date? 

Well, I started in 1988 working in 

sales. Then I was lucky as Andrew 

Handley, who was the Sales Director 

of British Gypsum, said there 

was a vacancy as Regional Sales Director 

in London, so I went and had 

a chat with them and sure enough, 

the opportunity turned into reality. 

It was fantastic for me because I 

knew a lot of the sub-contractors 

in the area. It was a great business 

to be with, and the opportunity 

to work for British Gypsum was a 

blessing, superb and the best time of 

my life. 

So how long in the Industry 

overall? 

Coming up to 30 years now. I was 

with British Gypsum for about 25 

years, and then with Isover. 

In that time what do you think the 

biggest shift has been in the Industry 

that you’ve seen? 

I think loyalty. You know in the 

past there was a lot of brand loyalty, 

then there was a move to low pricing 

dominating the market. However 

more recently, there’s been a move 

towards value added and performance. 

Don’t get me wrong, price is 

still an issue but so is performance 

and quality. 

Some of the main contractors, in 

order to win projects, are inclined to 

opt to use the cheapest material and 

not necessarily looking at quality. 

However the end consumers and 

specifiers in the market are feeding 

back up the chain that performance 

and quality are more than a luxury, 

but rather it’s been demanded and 

the norm. 

So one of the biggest things that 

I’ve seen is the move from loyalty to 

price, and now to quality and 

performance within system 

solutions. 

8 



I suppose the other thing is how innovation has changed 

as well in that period of time; we’ve gone from just a 

simple wall board to fireline, to duplex insulation and the 

move towards integrated systems that work together to 

deliver outstanding quality performance. 

Another major shift, is the move towards the benefits of 

sound insulation. Over the years many houses built suffer 

from poor sound insulation, particularly in semi-detached 

buildings and apartments. 

There are so many different types of insulation to keep 

up with the demands of the insulation 

market, and it is improving all the 

time - and yes there are leaders out 

there and we are one of those. 

playing Rugby League in Australia. I was flying home 

and I told one of the boys to keep a piece of paper for me 

from the job advertisements. I phoned up a guy called 

Mr Brown and said: “look, I’ve just arrived back in the 

UK any chance of an interview?” He answered with: 

“sorry mate, all the interviews are done and finished.” I 

said: “well look, when is the last day of interviews? He 

replied with tomorrow. I said: “right, where do you live?” 

To which he said St Ives Cambridge. Having established 

that he would have to travel through the Dartford Tunnel 

to get home, with about five hours of queues, I suggested 

So how would you say the technology 

has changed during your time within 

your role and within the wider 

industry 

Well, when I first started we didn’t 

have mobile phones we had the phone 

box! We’d phone in at the end of the 

day to see what was going on, then we 

had the ‘brick phone’ and that worked 

only in certain areas and then moving 

on from there, we had Kalamazoo as a 

reporting tool – it was a tick box basically 

and then that started evolving. 

When I started, we had three calls to 

make a day you’d write down what 

you had discussed in the car, what 

materials the customer was interested 

in purchasing and you would just send it in, on a weekly 

basis - not every day! The customer wouldn’t necessarily 

place an order with you but what they were intending to 

order. 

Another major shift, is the move towards the benefits of 

sound insulation. Over the years many houses built suffer 

from poor sound insulation, particularly in semi-detached 

buildings and apartments. There are so many different 

types of insulation to keep up with the demands of the 

insulation market, and it is improving all the time - and 

yes there are leaders out there and we are one of those. 

In those days the geography was so much smaller; my 

first patch was North West London as a Sales Representative. 

I got the job actually having come back from 

to see him at 4 o’clock, have an interview and see how it 

goes. I found out a lot about British Gypsum at the time 

and at the end of the interview, he asked if I had anymore 

questions to which I said: “When do I start?” And 

that was it, that’s how I started. But going back to your 

question, it’s gone from those days of having paper and 

just writing one or two reports, to now touching a button 

with laptops and iPads, and having the sales figures up in 

front of you in a nanosecond. 

In real time? 

Yes real-time. It’s quite incredible how it’s all changed 

and who knows what’s going to happen in the next ten 

years. 


9


If you were going to go back and 

give advice to your pre-insulation 

industry self, what advice would you 

give somebody that was coming into 

the industry right now 

I think first of 

all you have to 

understand the 

business and 

understand the 

infrastructure - 

don’t go around 

like a headless 

chicken trying 

to see every 

customer, get 

the backroom in 

order first of all 

and be organised. 

Get a firm 

structure in place 

and then look at 

working with the 

Regional Sales 

Directors to 

develop certain 

areas, key accounts 

and have 

a firm strategy 

going forward. 

Always have an 

eye on the horizon, 

that’s where 

the innovation is, 

that’s the future. 

For example, look 

how the market is now demanding 

high performance sound insulation, 

which is something that hardly 

featured ten years ago! 

When I joined the business in 

Isover, I did a survey across the 

contractors, sub-contractors and 

distributors to find out what they 

wanted from Isover going forward; 

they said value, innovation and clear 

communication. 

I knew it was important to get the 

brand name out there, so I just got 

out and saw as many people as I 

could and put Isover cards in front 

of them saying: “look I’ve moved 

over from British Gypsum with 

David Travill, to Isover - still the 

same business, Saint-Gobain.” I 

wanted to remind them that we’re 

[Isover] here and if there were any 

opportunities that we can capitalise 

on. We had some great success with 

a number of key distributors who 

were able to support us. 

And leveraging a whole other skillset 

probably, I’d say as well, because obviously 

you’ve been in that BG bubble 

as being a market leader, obviously 

you were going to leverage contacts 

because that is what everybody does, 

but it’s a different skillset getting 

products into store than it is when 

you are BG because obviously they’ve 

already got that. 

Yes that’s right, and the key to us as 

Saint-Gobain and Isover, we need 

to continue to work closely with 

British Gypsum for the specification 

of full system solutions. 

Would you say that your retirement is 

coming too early or too late? 

Well, do you know I think it’s 

coming at the right time for me. 

As I’ve said, I’ve worked for British 

Gypsum and Isover for thirty years, 

much of that time I’ve been away 

from home. I’ve still got a young 

family so it’s an opportunity to 

spend more time with them. My 

wife, Sian had a very good job 

working for Michael Heseltine, she 

was number three in his business in 

market publishing. 

10 



So we decided she should concentrate on doing that 

before we started having children. 

We bought a house in Swansea 20 years ago, lovely house 

looking over the bay and it’s just great for me with this 

opportunity knowing that I would be at home seeing the 

family being able to run around to netball and football. 

Being able to support Sian is important, as she’s a Lecturer 

at the University as well now, so she’s been juggling 

so much - she was also a netball coach, so it was full on 

for her. I’m sure you know, wives and girlfriends seem to 

be able to do everything – you just don’t know how they 

do it! 

So back to the industry, what challenges do you think the 

industry has got to overcome right now and to continue to 

promote what we do? 

I think we spoke about it earlier; the challenges are first 

of all producing quality material and being able to offer a 

quality service. 

I think the other thing is getting the mind-set right with 

the customers, so that they fully understand that we 

operate in systems and therefore, have robust warranties 

in place. We want to make sure our customers are 

working with the right systems and materials so we can 

support them 100%. 

So the final question… You have open dialogue with the 

industry now, the wider industry I’m talking about, so 

the entire insulation industry across all types, systems etc., 

what would be your closing message as you were leaving 

the industry? 

Tricky question that Colin! 

We need to embrace the philosophy of the right system 

solution for the build challenge, rather than a narrow 

focus on one product that may only deliver a fraction of 

the quality. 

I think as an industry, we must remember that it’s not 

just about the ‘build spec’ or the margin, it’s about the 

end users as well. Insulation isn’t just about keeping 

homes and offices quiet and warm, it’s about creating a 

home or office space that’s good to live and work in; in 

other words we have a chance to add to peoples’ quality 

of life. 


11

The challenges are first of all 

producing quality material and 

being able to offer a 

quality service.


I think you have to understand the 

business and understand the 

infrastructure - don’t go around like 

a headless chicken trying to see every 

customer, get the backroom in order 

first of all and be organised. 

Get a firm structure in place and 

then look at working with the 

Regional Sales Directors to develop 

certain areas, key accounts and have 

a firm strategy going forward. 

Thanks for taking the time once again Huw, we really 

appreciate it and wish you all the very best in your 

retirement. 

Thanks Colin, working for companies like British 

Gypsum, Isover, Saint-Gobain - it’s the biggest family 

that I have ever been involved with. It’s been fantastic; 

if you are prepared to help people, then people will help 

you back and from that point of view I would never 

have wished to work for anybody else. It’s been just the 

best thirty years, the people are so generous, supportive, 

fantastic you know…! 

Excellent thank you very much 

More from Isover 

For more information about Isover’s insulation 

products and solutions: 

https://www.isover.co.uk/ 

twitter: IsoverUK 


13

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Insulate News 

Over 100 attend NIA 

Special Insulation Industry Event 

The National Insulation Association (NIA), with 

external speakers, recently addressed over 100 

industry delegates at its special briefing event 

on Thursday 26th April in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The 

event provided attendees with comprehensive details 

of a number of key developments 

that will impact their 

businesses over the next year. 

After lunch Simon Ayers, Trustmarks CEO gave an 

interesting and informative presentation on the new 

Each Home Counts Quality Mark that will be specified 

for all funded work. Adrian Hull from THS Inspection 

The day kicked off with an 

opening address from Derek 

Horrocks, NIA Chair. He 

stated that “important developments 

are on the horizon” and 

that it was the NIA’s aim to 

ensure its members had the 

most up to date information 

to aid their business planning. 

He also said that now is the 

time to influence the outcomes 

too. 

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive 

of the NIA, followed up 

by setting out details of the 

NIA’s new strategy and plans 

which are focussed on four 

key areas; Policies and Funded Schemes; Quality and 

Standards; New Markets and Business Development/ 

Lead Generation. 

Richard Mellish and Alice Hunter from the Department 

for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 

provided an update on the ECO3 consultation and Neil 

Marshall then responded by setting out NIA member’s 

views on the proposals. Neil urged all members to 

respond to the consultation to ensure their views and 

opinions are taken into account. 

Services and Chair of the Association of Technical 

Monitoring Agents rounded off the day by providing 

insights into technical monitoring and future 

developments that would impact insulation companies. 

Specialist events such as these are just one of the many 

benefits of becoming a member of the NIA. 

Companies wishing to join the NIA should contact the 

NIA on 01525383313 or email info@nia-uk.org 


15


Insulate Columnist 

Alternative Insulation Materials 

Polyurethane foam for better insulation 

By Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, British Urethane Foam Contractors Association 

Polyurethane foam can be used as a high performing insulant for all types of building projects to meet or 

exceed today’s standards. It is also widely used for remodelling purposes, for instance in barn conversions. 

When used for airtightness or stabilisation under the roof or within the cavity it outperforms most other 

materials. 

The sprayed or injected foam is not 

just an insulant – it can be used for 

stabilisation purposes, for instance 

to hold tiles in place for a stronger 

roof structure or to take the place of 

failing cavity wall ties. The material 

can often be used when other materials 

are simply not suitable. The 

material is so versatile that it can 

be used in many different situations 

from buildings to boats! 

The polyurethane foam insulant is a 

two-component liquid system which 

produces a highly-efficient blanket 

of insulation with an exceptional 

thermal conductivity figure. Systems 

can be applied to various depths and 

have K-values in the range of 0.025 

to 0.028W/mK. 

The trade association for the sprayed 

and injected polyurethane foam industry 

is the British Urethane Foam 

Contractors Association. BUFCA is 

a central resource for the application 

of polyurethane foam systems. The 

association consists of polyurethane 

foam installers operating to high 

standards, together with material 

and equipment suppliers. 

Polyurethane foam can be installed 

to help meet Building Regulations 

as wall insulation, roof insulation, 

floor insulation or to fill voids and 

other areas providing a seamless, 

thermal insulation barrier. Other 

jointed systems give rise to a 

potentially weak point, leading to 

asignificant loss of insulation value. 

For wall insulation, injected polyurethane 

foam can be used in the 

cavity to provide a superior performing 

insulant which also helps 

to bond the inner and outer leaves 

providing strength to the building. 

Air leakage through the cavity can 

be reduced to zero. Because of the 

greater thermal performance and 

16 



Also read in this months insulate: 

Educating people of school age about 

the buildings they live, work and play 

in would be a fine addition to any 

curriculum. 

Continue Reading: 

Page 24 

This is not a “do nothing” approach 

whilst we await the outcomes of the 

Hackitt Review. We need very real 

and practical action in the short to 

medium term 


Page 22 



thermal performance building, 

regulations regarding energy-efficiency 

have little relevance 


Page 36 

The trade association for the sprayed 

and injected polyurethane foam 

industry is the British Urethane Foam 

Contractors Association. BUFCA is a 

central resource for the application of 

polyurethane foam systems. 

The association consists of 

polyurethane foam installers operating 

to high standards, together with 

material and equipment suppliers. 

the reduced air leakage PU foam outperforms all other 

forms of cavity fill. 

It is a much less costly alternative to re-roofing and can be 

applied to slates, tiles and other various roof coverings. It 

permanently cures the problems of nail fatigue and makes 

the roof much more resistant to storm or impact damage. 

Because it is liquid when it is applied, it seeks and seals any 

unwanted air leakage that may occur preventing the ingress 

of wind-driven rain, snow and dust and dramatically reducing 

heat loss. 

The foam also slows the deterioration of tile/slates by frost. 

On the underside of the covering frost damage is 

eliminated. 

On the weather side the frequency of the 

freezing/thawing cycle is reduced. Slates 

and tiles will be less prone to damage by 

impact as the foam distributes the forces. 

When choosing a BUFCA registered installer, customers 

can be assured of the highest standards of quality and 

service. www.bufca.co.uk. 


17


Cladding Solutions 

Adrian Pargeter, Head of Technical and Marketing, Kingspan Insulation Limited 

Latest Guidance 

Following the completion of 

the Ministry of Housing, 

Communities and Local 

Government (MHCLG) largescale 

testing programme last 

summer, the Ministry issued a consolidated 

guidance note clarifying 

which cladding systems could be 

considered acceptable for use on 

buildings above 18 metres. This 

guidance has now been updated, 

acknowledging that additional 

systems have completed large-scale 

BS8414 tests and achieve a BR-135 

classification. This may mean that 

some buildings no longer require 

remedial work or that there are alternative 

solutions where re-cladding 

is required. 

Current Guidance 

The broad guidance remains that 

any wall system containing a PE 

cored ACM cladding panel (such as 

was on Grenfell Tower), even when 

combined with non-combustible 

insulation, would not be considered 

compliant. 

At the other end of the scale, systems 

with an A2 rated, solid-cored 

ACM, are deemed to have passed 

the test, regardless of whether they 

are combined with rock fibre, PIR 

or phenolic insulation, with the 

proviso that different products from 

different manufacturers will vary, 

which may affect fire performance. 

It is those cladding systems with FR 

cored ACMs that present the greatest 

complexity. The Government 

tests on these systems yielded a pass 

result for rock fibre and a marginal 

fail for PIR and phenolic. 

The most recent advice note for 

building owners which was updated 

on 28 March 2018 states: 

“However, it is important to note that 

there are many different variants of 

this cladding and insulation and it is 

possible that products from different 

manufacturers may behave differently 

in a fire.” 

It should not be assumed therefore, 

that FR cored ACMs in combination 

with any rock fibre are automatically 

compliant. The guidance 

goes on to note that two cladding 

systems using FR cored ACMs and 

one brand of phenolic insulation, 

have been tested to BS 8414-1 and 

have achieved BR 135 classification. 

This means that some buildings, 

which are insulated with that brand 

of phenolic insulation, may not require 

remedial work, or may require 

less than was originally estimated. 

The BRE holds a register of all 

cladding configurations which have 

been successfully tested to BS8414 

at: www.bre.co.uk/regulatory-testing. 

Remember that BS 8414 results 

only apply to the specific design 

tested and seek professional advice 

and guidance as to whether your 

system complies. Note also that 

recent tests may not yet be listed on 

the BRE website. You can refer to 

the manufacturers and/or designer 

of your current system to get the 

latest information. 

This means that 

some buildings, 

which are insulated 

with that brand of 

phenolic insulation, 

may not require 

remedial work, or 

may require less 

than was 

originally 

estimated. 

Find out More: 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

twitter: @KingspanIns_UK 

18 


News Recap 

With Sadness: Alan Thomas 

It is with great sadness that we report the passing away of 

Alan Thomas. 

KIWA BDA have released 

the following statement: 

It is with great regret that we share the sad news of the 

passing of our colleague Alan Thomas. Alan was a fine 

man, committed to his industry that he had worked in 

for so many years, and was a delight to work with. A 

consummate professional with a gentle and humorous 

manner, his 

contribution to Kiwa will be 

remembered by those of us who had the pleasure to work 

with him. 

During this time, our thoughts and prayers are with his 

family and friends. 

Labour’s Plans to Save Household’s 

Over £1bn a Year on Energy Bills 

The next Labour government will save 4 million households 

at least £270 per year by funding local authorities 

to deliver ‘street by street’ home insulation schemes. 

Through an investment of £2.3bn per year to provide 

financial support for households to insulate their homes, 

and for local authorities to drive take up and delivery of 

insulation schemes, the next Labour government will 

drastically improve energy efficiency, bringing 4 million 

homes up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C 

by the end of a 

parliamentary term. 

Read more at: www.insulatenetwork.com 

Kingspan Kooltherm K15 phenolic rainscreen board has been 

successfully tested to BS 8414 in combination with FR cored 

ACMs. Please contact Kingspan for details of the test reports. 

For all the latest insulation news 

and insight visit our website: 


19 19

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5th July 4pm 




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Insulate insulate Columnist columnist 

MIMA Calls for Urgent Action 

from Prime Minister Over Building Safety 

Sarah Kostense-Winterton Executive Director, MIMA 

Official reviews may be underway 

and will run their 

courses, but ten months on 

from the tragedy of Grenfell and the 

anniversary looming on 14 June, the 

UK remains no closer to a safer system 

of fire safety regulation and little 

has been done to prevent another fire. 

This situation is not one which can 

wait for outcomes. The Government 

must act and act now to protect the 

public and especially those most vulnerable 

in society. The Government 

must lead from the front. 

Deep-rooted concerns have prompted 

an open letter to the Prime Minister, 

Theresa May from MIMA with a 

group of united leading fire safety 

experts and advocates urging the 

government to implement three important 

regulatory changes with immediate 

effect that will significantly 

improve fire safety for high-rise and 

high-risk buildings, such as schools, 

hospitals, care homes, sheltered housing 

and residential blocks. 

These three common-sense measures 

will help protect people’s lives and the 

buildings in which they live, work, 

learn, and recover. The fire safety experts 

urge the government to require 

immediately that: 

• Only non-combustible cladding 

and insulation be installed; 

• They be fitted with sprinklers; 

and, 

• All new buildings of these types 

have alternative escape routes. 

Alongside MIMA, signatories include 

prominent architect, television 

presenter, lecturer and writer, George 

Clarke; European Fire Sprinkler 

Network (EFSN); Jane Duncan, 

Chair, RIBA Expert Advisory Group 

on Fire 

Safety and former President of the 

RIBA; Mineral Wool Manufacturers 

Association (MIMA); Ronnie King 

OBE, Honorary Administrative 

Secretary and Principal Adviser to the 

All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety 

& Rescue 

Group and former Chief Fire Officer; 

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler 

Association (BAFSA); Professor 

Richard Hull and Professor Anna 

Stec from the University of Central 

Lancashire; Professor Anne Power 

from the London School of Economics; 

and Sam Webb, Architect and 

RIBA Expert Advisory Group on 

Fire Safety member. so thermal resistance 

(R-value, units: m2K/W) is a 

more accurate measure of a material’s 

ability, at a specific thickness, to resist 

heat transfer. 

The signatories acknowledge official 

reviews are underway, but these steps 

would substantially reduce the risk 

still facing many buildings in the UK, 

and reassure the many families and 

individuals living and working in high 

risk buildings across the country. 

George Clarke personally supports 

this approach and has commented: 

Sarah Kostense-Winterton 

is Executive Director of 

MIMA, the Mineral Wool 

Insulation Manufacturers 

Association, the industry 

trade body for non-combustible, 

breathable insulation 

which provides an authoritative 

source of independent 

information and advice 

on glass and stone wool 

insulation. 

MIMA represents four 

of the leading insulation 

companies in the UK - 

Isover Saint-Gobain, Knauf 

Insulation, ROCKWOOL 

and Superglass. 

For further details of the 

guidance, please visit 

MIMA’s website at http:// 

mima.info/info-centre/ 

news/ or contact Sarah at 

sarah@mima.info 

“The rules for how we build safe homes, 

offices, schools and hospitals have for 

many years been far too open to 

interpretation. This has led to poor 

design decisions that have compromised 

fire safety and put lives at risk. What 

we are arguing for could be implemented 

tomorrow, would be extremely effective 

in making buildings safer, and help 

22 



prevent compromised fire safety and put lives at risk. What 

we are arguing for could be implemented tomorrow, would be 

extremely effective in making buildings safer, and help prevent 

a tragedy such as Grenfell ever happening again.” 

Professor Richard Hull, Professor of Chemistry and Fire 

Science at University of Central Lancashire said: “Grenfell 

has left no doubt about the dangers of combustible facades on 

tall buildings. The recent ABI report shows the problems with 

the current testing regime. Until they are resolved, we cannot 

endanger more people by allowing combustible materials to be 

put on the outside of high rise and high risk buildings.” 

Alan Brinson, Executive Director, European Fire Sprinkler 

Network said: “Sprinklers are highly effective fire safety 

systems. They are not expensive and have been fitted in many 

existing buildings. The public recognises all this and supports 

their wider use. Wales already requires sprinklers in all new 

housing and in Scotland there is a proposal to require them in 

more buildings. All eyes are now on England.” 

The Local Government Association (LGA) has more 

specifically come out in support of using non-combustible 

cladding and insulation only saying “The LGA strongly 

supports the view that only non-combustible materials should 

be used in cladding systems on these buildings”. 

MIMA has pressed for years in support of using 

non-combustible cladding and insulation that can inhibit 

the spread of fire and won’t emit any significant amounts 

of toxic smoke. Non-combustible materials can help 

contain a fire, making the difference between a fire in a 

building and a building on fire. The Government’s review 

and inquiry will run their courses but will take significant 

time so there is every reason to make these crucial and 

logical changes straightaway to ensure that buildings are 

being constructed in a safe manner. 

This is not a “do nothing” approach whilst we await the 

outcomes of the Hackitt Review. We need very real and 

practical action in the short to medium term and 

Government must lead this action from the front. 

More from MIMA: 

For more compelling articles from Sarah Kostense-Winterton why not read the following online now: 

• The Key to Housing Industry’s Success 

• Safety and Quality Priority in 2018 

• Ambition for Energy Efficiency 

• How the Government can make our Buildings Great Again 

This is not a “do 

nothing” approach whilst 

we await the outcomes of 

the Hackitt Review. 

We need very real and 

practical action in the 

short to medium term and 

Government must lead 

this action from the front. 


23

Exclusive Insulate Column 

Schooled 

We can all reel off topics 

we think should have 

been taught at school. 

Subjects that might have made 

finding our way in the world that 

little bit easier; that would have 

been more relevant to our everyday 

lives. 

Mortgage interest rates over 

quadratic equations, that kind of 

thing. Is it time building performance 

became one of those subjects? 

By Paul Forrester 

• What year was the battle of 

Hastings? 

• Who were the wives of Henry 

VIII? 

• How long was the reign of 

Queen Victoria? 

Questions like these might bring you 

out in a cold sweat, remembering 

school days long since passed, spent 

being forced to recite facts you were 

happy to forget again. 

Educating people of 

school age about the 

buildings they live, 

work and play in would 

be a fine addition to any 

curriculum. Whether 

they go on to work in the 

construction industry or 

not, they will be 

building owners, 

occupiers and users. 

Or you simply might not care. 

Though, ironically, those questions 

are such clichéd examples of ‘old 

school’ schooling that it’s likely you 

could have a good stab at answering 

them! 

They are clichés for a reason; because 

they typify a style of learning that is 

how people used to think education 

should be done, but which is now 

generally considered to be outmoded 

and having little relevance to the 

modern world. 

Down With the Kids 

In my write up of ecobuild for April’s 

issue of Insulate, I mentioned that 

school groups seemed more prevalent 

in 2018, and people I spoke to made 

a similar remark. It’s good to know 

that young adults making decisions 

about shaping their lives are being 

exposed to the changing face of a 

dynamic industry. 

In theory. 

While I took a breather in the 

ExCel’s central atrium, a group of 

school pupils occupied the table next 

to me and began rifling through their 

bags of freebies. One picked out an 

insulation sample and threw it on to 

the table. 

“What’s that?” he said, 

somewhat dismissively. 

“Insulation,” replied a friend. 

24 

24 


in Insulation 

Paul Forrester Technical Editor, Insulate Magazine 

Any chance of further insight into 

their attitude towards insulation 

was quickly lost to a block of 

post-it notes that captured their 

attention instead. It was a disappointing 

scene. 

and play in would be a fine 

addition to any curriculum. 

Whether they go on to work in 

the construction industry or not, 

they will be building owners, occupiers 

and users. 

Back to School 

What’s the motivation behind 

school visits to a show like ecobuild? 

What do teachers want the 

pupils to get out of it? Do they 

discuss what was exhibited at the 

event? ecobuild’s organisers have 

already signalled their intent to 

change the exhibition’s name to 

futurebuild in 2019; these children 

are the ‘future’ part of that name. 

Educating people of school age 

about the buildings they live, work 

They stand to inherit the existing 

building stock which is responsible 

for high levels of energy consumption 

and carbon emissions, and 

low levels of occupant comfort and 

wellbeing. 

Should exhibitions, or even 

individual exhibitors, make more 

effort to engage with schools and 

visiting pupils? Or is long term 

thinking incompatible with being 

there to sell to current customers? 

“What’s that?” he said, somewhat dismissively. 

“Insulation,” replied a friend. 

Any chance of further insight into their 

attitude towards insulation was quickly lost to a block of postit 

notes that captured their attention instead. 

More from Paul Forrester: 

For more Insulation articles from 

Paul Forrester why not read the 

following online now: 

• Stranger Uses of Insulation 

• Comparing the Car and 

Insulation Industry 

• The Issue of Insulation 

Supply and Demand 

• Is Innovation embraced in the 

Insulation Industry? 


25 

25






insulatenetwork



Sound Advice for 

Hearing Protection 

Insulate Magazine columnist George Elliott, a 3M technical specialist 

Within the insulation 

industry, workers are 

often surrounded 

by potentially hazardous noise, 

whether on construction sites or in 

manufacturing plants. 

Without proper protection, this can 

cause various ear conditions, including 

deafness and tinnitus, as well as 

associated health problems such as 

insomnia. Many of these conditions 

are entirely preventable, but incurable 

once they have arisen. 

In the UK alone, an estimated 

20,000 people suffer from work-related 

hearing problems, both new 

and 

longstanding, according to the 

Health and Safety 

Executive (HSE)[1]. 

For these reasons, employers have a 

duty to protect their workers from 

exposure to hazardous noise. The 

Control of Noise at Work Regulations 

2005 require them to eliminate 

or reduce such risks. 

However, with such a variety of 

hearing protection equipment 

(HPE) available, it can be difficult 

to know which to choose. Furthermore, 

hearing protection is about 

more than simply picking the right 

equipment. 

To help employers, as well as 

self-employed individuals, 3M has 

devised a simple four-step approach 

to protecting workers against hazardous 

noise, involving detection, 

protection, training and validation. 

Detection 

Before anything else, employers 

should carry out a workplace assessment 

to determine whether there is 

a problem with hazardous noise to 

begin with. 

As a rule of thumb, if employees 

need to raise their voices to speak 

with one another, or if the noise is 

otherwise intrusive, it is likely that 

sound levels are too high. 

In areas where this is the case, 

accurate noise measurements should 

be taken, by either a competent 

person in-house or a hired 

consultant. 


27


Protection 

The assessment results should 

inform employers’ decisions about 

which control methods to use, 

including which HPE to select, if it 

is required. 

As with any other workplace hazard, 

those responsible for maintaining 

workers’ safety should also follow 

the established hierarchy of controls 

when making these decisions. 

The first step in this hierarchy is to 

seek to implement ‘control at source’ 

measures. This can mean using less 

noisy equipment or ensuring that 

employees carry out their work away 

from loud automated machines, for 

instance. 

In some cases, this may not be practicable. 

In others, such measures may 

reduce noise levels, but not enough 

to eliminate the need for HPE. 

Where HPE is needed, there are 

two main things to consider regarding 

the selection process. First, the 

equipment must provide adequate 

protection for the noise hazard 

being faced. Second, it must be suitable 

for the individual wearer, the 

environment and the task at hand. 

As with the hierarchy of controls, 

these requirements apply to all types 

of personal protective equipment 

(PPE). 

When considering HPE’s adequacy, 

it may seem intuitive that the higher 

the attenuation, the better. However, 

this is not necessarily the case. If the 

noise attenuation is too high, the 

HPE may stop the wearer from being 

able to communicate effectively, 

or from hearing alarms and warning 

sounds. 

Suitability is important because it 

makes the wearer more likely to use 

their HPE properly. For example, if 

ear defenders are too tight, workers 

may find them uncomfortable, 

making it more likely that they will 

frequently remove or adjust them. 

This can leave them exposed to 

potentially hazardous noise. 

To help select suitable HPE, employers 

should offer a wide range 

of products. Employees should also 

be heavily involved in the selection 

process. This can involve feedback 

sessions, questionnaires, focus 

groups and similar means. 

Training 

The assessment results should 

inform employers’ decisions about 

which control methods to use, 

including which HPE to select, if it 

is required. 

As with any other workplace hazard, 

those responsible for maintaining 

workers’ safety should also follow 

the established hierarchy of controls 

when making these decisions. 

The first step in this hierarchy is to 

seek to implement ‘control at source’ 

measures. This can mean using less 

noisy equipment or ensuring that 

employees carry out their work away 

from loud automated machines, for 

instance. 

Validation 

The final step towards protecting 

workers’ hearing is validation. This 

means ensuring that the HPE works 

as well in practice as it does on 

paper. 

Although manufacturers provide 

data for their products’ attenuation 

levels, protection will vary between 

users, owing largely to their physical 

differences and how they wear the 

equipment. For example, those with 

wider ear canals may receive less 

attenuation than others with narrower 

ones. Those who insert their 

ear plugs incorrectly may also face 

greater exposure to hazardous noise. 

Fit testing equipment, such as the 

E-A-Rfit Dual-Ear Validation 

System by 3M, can quantify the 

level of protection achieved by each 

worker, accounting for all these factors. 

To use it, the individual simply 

inserts ear plugs that are wired to a 

computer or laptop equipped with 

easy-to-use software. After responding 

to input sounds, the system gives 

accurate results within seconds. 

By adopting this simple four-step 

method, employers can ensure that 

they have covered all bases needed 

to protect their workers from potential 

noise hazards. 

For more information about 

hearing conservation, or to ask 

questions about any other type of 

PPE, call the 3M helpline on 0870 

608 0060. 

News from Insulate Network 

Energy Efficiency 

Awards Success for 

Rilmac Insulation 

At the 2018 East Midlands Energy 

Efficiency Awards Rilmac insulation 

were announced winners in the category 

of insulation & fabric installer / 

Contractor of the year. 

Presented with the trophy at the 

official awards dinner on Wednesday 

night, Rilmac Insulation were worthy 

winners for the professionalism 

of their installation and the quality 

of their insulation work on projects 

throughout the year. 

28 




Just 4% of Private Landlords 

aware of new energy efficiency regulations 

Insulate Magazine columnist Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the National Insulation Association 

A 

recent study from landlord insurance specialist, 

Just Landlords, reveals a worrying level 

of awareness of the new Minimum Energy 

Efficiency Standard (MEES) which came into 

effect on 1st April 2018. 

NIA Installer members free of charge through the 

installer postcode locator tool on its website www.nia-uk. 

org to obtain a survey and quotation. By using an NIA 

member, landlords will be safe in the knowledge that the 

installer meets stringent criteria and has signed up to 

the NIA’s Code of Professional Practice providing added 

assurance and recourse. 

The NIA believes it’s vital that 

landlords have access to the most 

trusted and reliable of local specialists, 

and hopes that its online service 

will enable landlords to meet 

their obligations by making their 

properties more energy efficient. 

Additionally, when asked what changes they could make 

to ensure that their property’s EPC rating is improved, 

only just over half (52%) know that enhancing the insulation 

of a home could have a large impact. 

The new regulations in England and Wales now require 

private landlord’s with premises that are rated EPC band 

F or G to upgrade them to band E by installing insulation 

measures before they can renew tenancies or re-let 

the properties. 

The National Insulation Association (NIA) is providing 

assistance to private landlords to help them meet the new 

regulations by providing access to NIA installer members 

to carry out work. 

According to the latest figures 

from the Office for National 

Statistics (ONS), last year, 64,092 

EPCs were rated a grade F or 

G – the two lowest ratings. This 

indicates that many rental properties 

will require improvements in order to comply with 

the new energy efficiency laws. 

Landlords need to ensure that they are complying with 

the new energy efficiency laws, and understand how it 

affects them and their tenants. 

Landlords looking for help to 

compile with MEES should 

contact an NIA member via 

www.nia-uk.org 

or call 08451 636363 

The NIA advises that Landlords can contact their local 


29



The Challenges of Surveying 

Cavity Wall Insulation 

Ben Gardiner MRICS, Director of Egerton Surveying Ltd 

Chartered building surveyors working in the residential property sector undertake a range of different 

instructions and services for clients. Many chartered building surveyors are now working with clients to 

provide technical assistance in relation to retro-fit insulation measures. Few insulation measures polarise 

opinion as much as cavity wall insulation (CWI). Many people have benefited from improved insulation within 

their cavity walls. Whilst others have suffered greatly from penetrating dampness, condensation and mould. Where 

damage has allegedly been caused, surveyors such as myself specialising in this field face a problem that is often 

complex to evaluate. 

As a member of the Royal Institution 

of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), I am 

governed by professional and ethical 

standards in all work I undertake. 

I am duty-bound to undertake all 

surveys in an unbiased manner regardless 

of how the occupant, claims 

company, solicitor etc, may wish 

to influence proceedings. Specific 

CWI surveys and reports form a 

large proportion of the instructions I 

personally receive. However, for most 

residential surveyors carrying RICS 

HomeBuyer Surveys (Level 2 survey) 

and Building Surveys (Level 3 

survey), it is an area in which they 

have limited experience. As a consequence, 

it can be difficult for CWI 

to be adequately assessed and home 

buyers properly advised. 

A specific CWI survey involves a 

thorough whole-building inspection, 

similar to a RICS Building Survey. 

For example, it requires a similar 

amount of time spent at the property, 

an in-depth assessment of the building’s 

performance and defects and a 

carefully crafted report. The difference 

is that neither a RICS Building 

Survey nor a RICS HomeBuyer 

Survey allow for intrusive investigations. 

The ability to drill into a 

cavity in multiple locations provides a 

surveyor with valuable information as 

to the performance of the CWI and 

condition of the cavity. That being 

said, there is a wealth of information 

a residential surveyor can collect by 

visual means only. When a surveyor 

suspects that the performance of the 

CWI may be compromised, the 

following points should be 

considered: 

• Exposure to walls to wind driven rain (British Standard 8104:1992, Approved Document Part C of the Building Regulations) 

• Drill pattern 

• Size and condition of drill holes 

• Cavity trays and weep holes 

• Blocked or open air vents 

• Location of internal dampness, mould and/or condensation 

• Type of insulation (i.e. overspill in meter cupboards, roof voids, wall vents) 

• Overall wall thickness 

• Location and condition of damp proof course 

• Internal temperature and relative humidity 

30 







curriculum. 


Page 24 





medium term 


Page 22 



thermal performance building, regulations 

regarding energy-efficiency have 

little relevance 


Page 36 

So, even where a surveyor is unable 

to view the cavity and identify any 

voids, rubble or other issues, a 

judgement can be made on the 

performance of the CWI. With 

reference to technical documents (e.g. 

BBA system certificate), the subsequent 

report can direct home buyers 

with specific advice. Even where the 

is the ‘ECO’ stampede. Installers 

rushed to fill as many cavity walls, 

as quickly as possible with disregard 

for the suitability of properties. The 

role of the guarantee agency CIGA 

in this and their current approach to 

‘CWI claims’ has been discussed at 

government level. Indeed, the Cavity 

Wall Insulation Victims Alliance 

internal ‘making good’ works were 

carried out. Unfortunately, whilst 

there are many good contractors now 

carrying out these extractions, there 

are also poor examples, including 

those by contractors who prospered 

filling the cavities in the first place. 

CWI may seem to be performing 

without any problems, home buyers 

will often request guidance on living 

with CWI now and in the future. 

Where the surveyor suspects that 

CWI has been incorrectly installed, 

intrusive investigations will then 

need to be carried out to establish a 

clear cause. It is always surprising as 

to what is present within a cavity, or 

more likely, what is not there. One 

of the main causes of failed CWI in 

residential properties in recent years 

(CIVALLI) continue to campaign 

against poor CWI installations and 

support those people affected. 

Finally, residential surveyors are now 

also being faced with properties that 

have now had CWI extracted. A considerable 

amount of disruption can 

often be found to external walls and 

a surveyor will need to make specific 

enquiries in relation to the removal 

of any CWI. This should include 

whether the extraction was independently 

verified and what, if any, 

Even where the CWI may seem to 

be performing without any 

problems, home buyers will often 

request guidance on living with 

CWI now and in the future. 

www.egertonsurveying.co.uk 

ben@egertonsurveying.co.uk 


31

A site for 

sore eyes 

Looking at the advantages of BBA Certification 

As you well know, major construction work on building sites 

involves a huge amount of product and materials checking, not 

least to make sure everything meets the exacting requirements 

of building regulations. This can be stressful at the best of times 

and a helping hand is always welcome. 

That’s why more and more people are coming to the BBA for 

off-site certification of their products. For many years now, our 

work in the offsite construction sector has brought peace of mind 

to hundreds of architects and manufacturers alike. 

BBA Agrément Certificates are widely read and respected by 

industry decision-makers who want to select innovative products 

that have been thoroughly assessed by the BBA. Our assessors 

have decades of experience in evaluating Offsite Construction, 

and we are currently assessing many new systems, adding to the 

many already approved including insulated concrete formwork, 

SIPs and framed systems. 

Of course, our main focus is on the requirements of Building 

Regulations — not just in England and Wales, but also in Scotland 

and Northern Ireland. But we go much further than that. We 

want to ensure that a system is not only waterproof, warm and 

structurally sound; it has to be durable, too. No-one wants to buy 

a system with a short life expectancy, so we seek to ensure that it 

will last for an appropriate period of time. 

Neither are our assessments simply desk exercises. As well as 

testing, we go out to the factory to check system documentation 

and control, making sure that the specification we approve is 

capable of being produced consistently. 

We also go out on site to see units being offloaded and installed. 

That’s because we know that what may seem simple when 

explained in a dry office or factory can turn out to be very 

different on a building site. 

Once we have gathered data from testing, factory inspections 

and site surveillance, we consider how we can use it to establish 

that the requirements of Building Regulations and other statutory 

or non-statutory documents have been met. 

BBA Agrément Certificates are regarded as quite simply the best 

assurances you can get for your off-site products. With BBA’s 50 

years of unrivalled expertise in building and construction 

certification, it’s easy to see why. 

clientservices@bba.star.co.uk 

www.bbacerts.co.uk 

01923 665300



Vilvalda Cuts Recycling 

Costs By Three Quarters 

V 

ivalda, the UK’s leading distributor of architectural cladding, has demonstrated the value that recycling can 

bring to manufacturers following a year-long pilot scheme at its Hull facility. Having embraced a new environmental 

policy in early 2017, the business’s north east operation has reduced its annual waste bills by more 

than £10,000 or 75 per cent. 

Concerned about the increasing cost 

of landfill charges and the volume of 

waste it was producing, the business 

was keen to explore ways it could 

divert its four main waste streams – 

plastic, panel board, insulation and 

metal – away from landfill. 

Liam Pickup is the driving force 

behind the initiative, which has 

completely changed the way Vivalda’s 

Hull site manages its waste. He 

explained: 

“Until January 2017, we simply threw 

all of our plastic wrapping, off-cuts of 

cladding and insulation into skips. It 

was a huge waste that was costing us 

around £1,400 per month in collection 

and landfill charges. And those costs were 

going to getting bigger, not smaller.” 

Having installed a bailing machine, 

courtesy of a local equipment 

provider, Vivalda Hull now has its 

plastic waste collected and recycled 

fee of charge. Similarly, off-cuts of 

insulation panels are now delivered to 

local building firms, who can use it as 

additional material for projects. Panel 

board off-cuts, which are generally 

made from glass reinforced concrete 

can be used as a valuable resource. 

Finally, Vivalda has installed an 

aluminium extraction unit, that turns 

waste metal into a valuable commodity 

that goes back into the manufacturing 

life cycle.” 

Commenting on the success of the 

pilot, Liam Pickup said: 

“We have had a lot of support and 

interest from the staff as well as local 

companies that are interested in using 

the materials that we previously threw 

away. In terms of capital cost, the only 

kit we’ve needed to acquire is the plastic 

bailer and the aluminium extractor.” 

Encouraged by the benefits of the 

recycling scheme, Vivalda is now 

looking to roll out a green policy 

across all of its eight UK facilities, 

hoping to reach out to local partners 

in the same way that has proved so 

successful in the North East. 

Liam Pickup concluded: 

“It’s been amazing what we’ve been 

able to achieve with just a little bit of 

planning and investment. To really 

make recycling work, we’re realised 

that it’s about good communication and 

educating both staff, suppliers and local 

businesses about the potential value that 

is hidden within waste materials.” 


33



Can the New Eco3 Scheme 

Deliver on its promises? 

Simon Storer, Chief Executive of Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) 

It seems that barely a week goes by without a consultation coming out of Westminster and this month has been no 

different. One of these has been the publication of the Government’s plans for the third round of funding under 

the Energy Company Obligation - informally known as ECO3. 

The ECO scheme initially began in 2013 and since then has delivered around two million energy 

efficiency measures. The current phase is due to end in September this year with ECO3 taking its 

place and running until 2022. 

So What’s New? Some of the Key Changes are: 

• Socussing entirely on low income and vulnerable households 

• Supporting low income vulnerable households not in receipt of means tested benefits 

• Focussing on first time central heating installations and removing funding for oil-fuelled systems 

• Ensuring that 15% of the delivery measures are to rural areas 

• The desire to introduce new and innovative energy saving measures 

It would be hard to argue against any 

of these changes; they are aspirational 

in trying to bring people out of fuel 

poverty and to provide a more 

comfortable and healthier environment 

for dwelling occupants. 

However, the key to success will be 

in taking a holistic approach to the 

energy efficiency of each building, 

installing more than one measure 

where appropriate and being able 

to offer installations by competent 

tradespeople backed up with 

guarantees. This is why the link to 

the Each Home Counts initiative is 

so important in order to ensure that 

precious resources are not wasted on 

shoddy installations resulting in poor 

performing homes which later need 

to be corrected. It is also important 

not to lose sight of the consumer in 

all of this. Multiple measures could 

mean multiple interruptions for 

surveys and installations, different 

people in and out of their homes 

which many may not be comfortable 

with. This all needs to be carefully 

managed and balanced and ways 

sought to minimise disruption whilst 

optimising the benefits. 

Of course, we need to ensure that 

one of the key opportunities isn’t 

missed and that is to ensure that the 

fabric of the building is as thermally 

efficient as it can be before installing 

other measures. So proposals, such 

as one to ensure insulation measures 

are installed when replacing broken 

heating systems seem very sensible. 

However, it is disappointing to see a 

proposed reduction in the number of 

solid wall insulation (SWI) installations 

of c4,000 per year, purely based 

on cost factors. Surely it’s better 

to ensure that more homes are well 

insulated rather than trading off on 

other measures? 

34 


News Recap 

KNAUF Insulation 

strengthens marketing 

team with new product 

manager 

Knauf Insulation has appointed a new 

product manager to lead the 

development of its Rock Mineral 

Wool range. 

Luke Davies joins from architectural 

aluminium manufacturer Kawneer and 

brings extensive product marketing 

experience in sectors including 

construction, retail and technology. 

But I do wonder if the scheme will become so 

bureaucratically difficult to navigate that social 

housing providers start to turn their backs on 

it because of its complexity and simply do their 

because they don’t have the resource to administer 

it? That would be a real shame. 

There are many good and credible targets in this 

consultation but does the initiative really have the 

teeth to deliver all that it promises? Let’s hope so. 

You can find the consultation here. 

For more information about the Insulation 

Manufacturers 

Association please visit: 

www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk 

Read the full article at : www.insulatenetwork.com 

Research links insulation to 

natural light levels 

A new whitepaper from Kingspan Insulation has revealed that 

insulation specification can have a significant impact of daylight 

levels within a building. 

The Daylighting White Paper features 

research from respected independent 

consultants, Peutz BV, assessing differences 

in the average daylighting factor 

(ADF) of a room when Kingspan 

Kooltherm K15 Rainscreen Board is 

used within the external façade compared 

with mineral fibre insulation 

Read the full article at : 


More from IMA: 

For more compelling articles from Simon 

Storer why not read the following online now: 

• Climate Change and Our 

Carbon Footprint 

• Healthier Happier Homes 

for Occupants 

• Construction Industry Must Improve 

and Respond to Challenges 

Turnover builds with 50% growth at £27m online 

construction materials firm 

Construction Materials Online (CMO), the rapidly expanding 

online retailer of building materials, has seen record growth, 

achieving revenues of £27m in the year to 31 December 2017, an 

increase of almost 50% since the previous year (2016: £18m) as 

e-commerce continues to win business in the sector from traditional 

builders merchants and physical stores. 

Read the full article at : 


For all the latest insulation news and 

insight visit our website: 


35



Sound Method 

of Sustainable Construction 

Sustainable, energy-efficient homes aren’t built on a whim, writes Ben Warren, Managing Director at global 

building materials manufacturer, Baumit UK. It requires intense planning and immense deliberation over 

every aspect of design and decoration to create a property which maximises occupant comfort without leaving 

an environmentally-damaging carbon footprint. 

It takes a sustainable mind-set to 

construct a sustainable home. A 

self-builder, for instance, should 

begin a project intent on creating a 

property that will be theirs to reside 

in for the rest of their lives. This 

attitude of domestic permanence is 

more prevalent in Europe than the 

UK. In Austria, where Baumit has 

its HQ, the sustainable mentality is 

ingrained in the culture – from the 

food they eat, to the properties they 

build. 

Many Austrian restaurants will 

not source food outside a 15-mile 

radius, whilst builders on average 

construct houses to a 0.2 W/m² 

U-value, a higher tightness level 

than the country’s 0.4 W/m² 

U-value regulation for new homes. 

Their housebuilders’ general view 

seems to be: ‘I’ll build my property 

with the right materials and employ 

the correct methods in order to 

minimise energy consumption’. 

By going beyond the call of duty 

to construct homes which excel 

in terms of thermal performance, 

building regulations regarding 

energy-efficiency have little 

relevance to the Austrian 

self-builder - they view 

sustainability as a matter of course. 

Austrain Example 

Having discussed the mentality, the 

question is: which materials make 

for a successful sustainable build? A 

timber-frame shell offers an established, 

quick and reasonably energy-efficient 

solution, but if we are to 

pursue the Austrian model and construct 

homes which exceed thermal 

regulations, alternative technology 

is worth considering. Porotherm, 

a clay block walling system, is a 

popular infrastructure choice in 

homes across 

Europe. It’s 

lightweight in 

construction 

and extremely 

thermally 

efficient. 

Porotherm 

only requires 

one course of 

bricks, rather 

than the two 

used in cavity wall construction - 

the favoured building method in 

about 90% of largescale building 

developments in the UK. 

A combination of high-spec 

external wall insulation and 

Porothem can produce a spectacular 

thermal envelope. At a development 

in Norwich, Baumit’s 

OpenSystem - a thermally-superior 

EWI solution which uses unique 

open-air technology to allow walls 

to breathe - was used in conjunction 

with Porotherm to achieve Passive 

House performance: 0.15 W/m², 

in all 14 homes. Thermal efficiency 

doesn’t guarantee a home’s 

comfort and wellbeing, however. 

(EPS) system to clay block walling 

may well result in good levels of 

airtightness, but limits the 

breathability of the system 



thermal performance, building 

regulations regarding energy-efficiency 

have little relevance to the Austrian 

self-builder - they view sustainability 

as a matter of course. 

restricting the thermal comfort of 

the property. The same can be said 

when an acrylic top coat is applied 

to an otherwise breathable system. 

To prevent such occurrences, the 

construction of the wall from the 

inside-out needs to be considered. 

36 







curriculum. 


Page 24 





medium term 


Page 22 

Many people have benefited from 

improved insulation within their 

cavity walls. Whilst others have 

suffered greatly from penetrating 

dampness, condensation and mould. 


Page 30 

OpenSystem’s perforations and the application of a breathable 

topcoat such as Nanapor, a mineralic and highly vapour-permeable 

technology found in Baumit paints and renders, offers 

free movement of water vapour through the wall and exits 

through the whole system. 

Good Sense 

‘Multi-comfort’ is a phrase currently applied to sustainable 

building which suggests sensory aspects such as sound, touch, 

light and colour are all important factors in increasing levels 

of wellbeing as well as thermal efficiency inside homes. In 

terms of paint, colour as well as consistency is important. As 

with oil paints, acrylic coverings can contain VOCs which 

emit a noxious vapour and strong odour that can lead to headaches 

and nausea for a building’s occupants. Baumit produces 

a number of mineral-based paint products that are kinder 

to the environment and the senses of those living within the 

walls to which it is applied. 

Embarking on a sustainable build requires a massive investment, 

and not just in monetary terms. Every detail, however 

small, should be pored over as if it were the most important: 

time should not be spared on any aspect of the project. 

Among the more lateral questions to consider at a building’s 

design stage might be: where does the sun rise and set? This 

will determine the amount of thermal gain through glass and 

help regulate comfort levels in a conservatory, for example, 

which can be unbearably hot in summer if the style or size of 

panes is left to chance. It’s a reminder that a home’s yearround 

interior comfort not only depends on its resistance to 

cold in winter; its ability to deflect heat in summer is just as 

important, particularly with climate change’s warming effect 

so reflective in current, global temperatures. 

Finally, once plans are drawn-up and approved and a programme 

of building works has been agreed, there’s only one 

thing a sustainable self-builder has in mind - get on with the 

job and get it done. Having highlighted the thermal benefits 

of Baumit’s OpenSystem when combined with a Porotherm 

clay block walling, aside from the comfort and wellbeing it 

creates, it’s also a rapid-build alternative to cavity wall construction 

methods. With only one course of bricks required 

and the EWI in place, work can begin on a building’s interior, 

which ultimately leads to reduced on-site working times and 

energy consumption. It’s a process that guarantees a project’s 

sustainability from beginning to end. 

News from Insulate Network 

Advanced Insulation 

Receives Innovation Award 

Advanced Insulation obtained the ‘innovation’ award for the third 

time in five years, reaching a milestone of five Queen’s Award. ContraFlame 

MS400 for underdeck of an oil platform system was the 

system recognised for Advanced Insulation’s success. 

Read the full article at : www.insulatenetwork.com 

For all the latest insulation news and 

insight visit our website: 



37

Next Month... 

Women in Insulation 

We get exclusive insight into the Insulation industry from Elaine Gardner 

at SIP Build, Gemma Harris at Actis, Louise Foody at Kingspan, 

Mel Price at IMA, Susanna Tykkä-Vedder at Paroc and more... 

Don’t miss the June issue of Insulate Magazine


Content Partners 

National Insulation Association (NIA) 

The NIA represents the insulation industry in the UK and our members include manufacturers and 

installers of a number of insulation solutions for your home or business. Both the NIA and its members are 

fully committed to maintaining and raising standards within the insulation industry. 

Contact Name: Neil Marshall Email: neil.marshall@nia-uk.org Website: http://www.nia-uk.org/ Social: 

@NIALtd 

Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association (MIMA) 

Established in 1962 (originally as ‘Eurisol’), the Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers 

Association (MIMA) provides an authoritative source of independent information and advice 

on glass and stone wool. MIMA actively promotes the benefits of mineral wool insulation and 

the contribution it makes to the energy efficiency of buildings and the comfort and wellbeing of 

their occupants. 

Contact Name: Sarah Kostense-Winterton Email: sarah@mima.info Website: www.mima.info/ Social: 

@MIMA_UK 

Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) 

Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) is the representative body for the PIR and PUR 

insulation industry in the UK. Known for 40 years as BRUFMA, IMA will continue to speak out 

on behalf of its members and seek to ensure it is the principal point of contact for all audiences 

relevant to the sector. 

Contact Name: Mel Price Email: mel.price@insulationmanufacturers.org.uk 

Website: www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk Social: @IMA_Org 

40 







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Insulate - The Essential Insulation Magazine - May 2018

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