October 2020

Insulation Updates
For further info on these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
MAKE SAVINGS WITH TAPERED SYSTEMS
A new white paper has highlighted that
tapered roof insulation systems, which
combine flat roof insulation and drainage in
a single product, can achieve considerable
savings when compared with other common
methods for creating a fall on a flat roof.
The report shows the tapered insulation systems
require no drying time, can be as little as around
3% the weight of screed to fall systems and
deliver cost savings of as much as £58 per m²
(43%) on the roof build-up above the deck.
The Flat Roof Drainage white paper from
Kingspan Insulation examines three commonly
used methods of achieving a fall on a warm deck
flat roof: screed laid to falls; timber firrings under
a plywood deck; and tapered roof insulation
(specifically Kingspan Thermataper Systems)
It features a comparative cost analysis from
Currie & Brown, looking at the three approaches
across four new build non-residential buildings
with concrete decks. These included a hospital
extension and office blocks, with roof areas of
between 192m² and 3,073m². All of the
constructions use Kingspan Therma range
insulation and are designed to achieve identical
U-values of 0.16 W/m²K.
The results showed that the Kingspan
Thermataper Systems provided the most costeffective
option across all four case studies. The
system provided savings of £43 – 58 per m² (up
to 43%) on the roof build-up above deck when
compared with screed to falls and £15 – 32 per
m² (up to 23%) when compared with the timber
firrings. The analysis concluded that Kingspan
Thermataper Systems would also provide cost
savings on timber and metal deck roofs when
compared with timber firings.
The white paper also highlights that a standard
cement: sand screed dries at approximately one
month per 25mm thickness. This means that the
drying time can be as much
as 195 days or more on
larger surfaces – greatly
extending project
timescales. Whilst this can
be reduced with a quick-drying screed, this will
raise system costs by between 40-50%.
Weight is also identified as an issue, with
standard cement: sand screed weighing around
2000 kg/m³. When applied to the 3,073m² case
study roof this led to a total above deck system
weight of 1,005,000 kg, compared with just
23,000 kg for the Kingspan Thermataper
System. This added weight will have clear
structural implications for the building
foundations and frame along with additional
costs beyond those highlighted in the Currie &
Brown analysis.
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/
flatroofdrainage
RAVATHERM XPS X 200 SB TAKES TO THE FLOOR
Have you considered XPS as an affordable and
effective alternative for residential floor
insulation as opposed to traditional PIR
products?
Ravago Building Solutions, Europe’s largest
manufacturer of XPS insulation, says Extruded
Polystyrene (XPS) offers a cost-effective alternative
to PIR products where escalating raw material
prices and potential availability issues are beginning
durable meaning it can endure foot traffic on site.
Capable of withstanding 200 kPa, the boards meet
all requirements regarding compressive loads in the
domestic/residential market.
Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB products offer exceptional
thermal performance. The 50mm boards have a
declared lambda of 0.030 W/mK, and the 75mm,
100mm, and 125mm thicknesses achieve 0.031
W/mK.
cut easily and accurately using hand tools, offering
simple and quick installation with minimal waste.
These lightweight boards can easily be positioned
on-site for installation below the slab or below the
floor screed, as well as in beam and block floors.
Manufactured at Ravago’s UK plant in King’s Lynn,
Norfolk, Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB has a lead-time of
just three to four days from order to delivery.
Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB can be supplied in
to impact the market.
individual packs or a 15m3 bulk unit (2.5 x 2.5 x
With low water absorption Ravatherm XPS X 200
2.4m) on foam bearers. Bulk units can be broken
The manufacturer
SB has a natural
down on-site into 4 pre-wrapped units or split into
launched
resistance to rain,
individual packs, offering a variety of easy ways to
Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB
frost, snow, and water
transport material around a busy construction site.
earlier this year.
vapour, making it an
Ravatherm XPS X
200 SB is a highperformance
thermal insulation
ideal choice of product
for residential flooring
applications.
www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk. Contact
Natalie Sutton on Natalie.sutton@ravago.com for
the enquiries in South of England and
board specifically designed for the
Adam.hilmi@ravago.com for the North.
Steel grey in colour and with a butt
residential market. The product is robust and
edge finish, Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB boards can be Left: The build-up for Ravatherm XPS X 200 SB.
58 TC OCTOBER 2020