Insulate Magazine Issue 13

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
Q-Bot Insulation Evolution
Mathew Holloway from innovators Q-Bot talks about their robot for insulating under floors
- and how BBA Certification will help them gain prominence in the market place.
Introducing an impressive new product that considerably reduces the cost outlay when people are considering
underfloor insulation. Such an operation traditionally necessitates the complete removal of the
flooring so that insulation materials can be installed and then the floor re- laid afterwards. This can be a
nightmare for Housing Associations commissioning this kind of work as residents often need to be
temporarily rehoused, which amounts to another not inconsiderable cost implication.
Q-Bot Chief Executive Mathew Holloway explains:
“To insulate underfloor space in the UK you need to remove
all carpets and flooring to access the void, then cut
insulation panels by hand between the joists and roll mats
of insulation in between, working to a degree of accuracy
of 1mm, which is really quite difficult. If there are any gaps
left between the insulation and the joists the insulation is
not effective.
“The method is very disruptive and difficult to do well.
And of course, once it’s done you have to put your
home back together and redecorate. It’s usually enough
of a barrier to stop anyone wanting to do it.”
The new procedure takes one or two days at a fraction of
the cost and performs just as well as traditional methods.
This is a particularly welcome innovation for Housing Associations
as it minimises disruption to residents who also
benefit from lower heating bills.
“Specifically, costs are typically half the alternatives and
£150 per year is saved on heating bills. It also reduces the
temperature stratification – the difference from your feet to
your head, creating warm feet, which is a significant factor
in keeping warm.
“An independent case study with the Leeds Beckett University
showed that the heat loss in the building was reduced
by 25% - that’s a huge amount – meaning more
than a quarter of heat loss was from the
floor.”
Another feature of the robot is that it records
the whole process and provides
real time feedback of the thickness of
the insulation, so that the operator can
make sure the job is completed correctly
and the required depth of insulation is
applied. The fact that the process can be
monitored and recorded also incentivises
installers to take pride in their work and
removes the temptation to cut corners.
“Generally, the built environment has got
a problem with accountability and quality
control. The BBA is trying to address this,
and Q-Bot is bringing smarter tools that
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