2. CONTENTS
• THERMAL INSULATION
• MATERIALS AND METHODS OF THERMAL INSULATION OF BUILDINGS
• PROPERTIES OF INSULATING MATERIALS
• METHODS OF HEAT INSULATION
• THERMAL INSULATION MATERIAL AND ITS CLASSIFICATION
3. THERMAL INSULATION
• Thermal insulation is the process of insulating material from transferring heat
between the materials that are in thermal contact. Thermal insulation is measured
by its thermal conductivity.
• Thermal insulation is an important technology to reduce energy consumption in
buildings by preventing heat gain/loss through the building envelope. Thermal
insulation is a construction material with low thermal conductivity.
• We know that the heat transfer takes place from hotter to colder areas. As a result,
heat loss happens. To overcome this loss in buildings thermal insulation is provided
to maintain required temperature inside the building.
• In general, people living in hot regions wants to make their inside atmosphere very
cool similarly people living in cold regions, wants warmer atmosphere inside
4. TRANSMISSION OF HEAT
Conduction :Transmission of heat
through direct contact
Convection: the transfer of heat by
another agent, such as air or water.
Radiation: the transmission of heat
through a wave motion, similar to
the way light is transmitted.
5. MATERIALS AND METHODS OF THERMAL
INSULATION OF BUILDINGS
• Slab or block insulation
• Blanket insulation
• Loose fill insulation
• Bat insulating materials
• Insulating boards
• Reflective sheet materials
• Lightweight materials
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10. METHODS OF HEAT INSULATION OR THERMAL
INSULATION
Methods of Heat Insulation of Roofs :
• (a) Heat insulating materials may be applied
externally or internally to the roofs. In case of
internal application, heat insulating materials
may be fixed by adhesive or otherwise on the
underside of roofs from within the rooms. In case
of external application, heat insulating materials
may be installed over the roof but below a
waterproof course.
• For flat roofs, external insulation may also be
done by arranging asbestos sheets or
corrugated galvanised iron sheets or bricks.
Suspended False Ceiling
11. METHODS OF INSULATION OF EXPOSED WINDOWS
DOORS VENTILATORS ETC
• All the windows, doors, ventilators etc. which are exposed, transmit heat to a
considerable extent. In dealing with heat insulation of exposed windows and doors,
suitable methods should be adopted to reduce.
• (a) Reduction of Incidence of solar heat : The incidence of solar heat on exposed
doors and windows can be reduced by the following means.
• (i) External shading, such as louvered shutters, sun breakers chajjas and
• (ii) Internal shading, such as curtains and ventilation blinds.
• (b) Reduction of heat transmission : Where glazed window and doors are provided,
the reduction of heat transmission may be achieved by insulating glass or double
glass with air space in between or by any other suitable means.
12. METHOD OF HEAT INSULATING THE ROOFS
• Shining and reflecting materials may be fixed
on the top of the roof.
• (d) Roofs may be flooded with water in the
form of sprays or otherwise. Loss due to
evaporation may be compensated by make up
arrangements.
• (e) Roofs may be white washed before on-set
each summer.
• (f) Top exposed surface of roof may be
covered by 2.5 cm thick layer of coconut pitch
cement concretes. Such a concrete is prepared
by mixing coconut pitch with cement and water.
After laying, it is covered with an impermeable
layer and then allowed to dry for 20 to 30
days.
Air Space for Flat Roof
13. METHOD OF HEAT INSULATING THE EXPOSED
WALLS
• The thickness of the walls may be increased depending upon the extent of insulation
derived
• Hollow walls or cavity wall construction may be adopted
• For partition walls, air space may be adopted by fixing the sheathing of hard boards or
battens on either side of the wall.
• White wash or distemper of light colour may be applied on the exposed surface of the wall
to incense thermal insulating value.
• The wall may be constructed out of suitable heat insulating material, provide structure
requirements are met like cement concrete, fibre class sand stone, granite, timber and other
which should have high thermal resistivity and low thermal conductivity.
• The heat insulating materials of different types as shown in fig, can be installed on the
inside of the exposed wall and inside/outside of ceiling I order to reduce the thermal
transmittance to the required limits
16. INORGANIC MATERIALS
Glass mineral wool
• Made from molten glass, usually with 20%
to 30% recycled industrial waste and post-
consumer content.
• The material is formed from fibres of glass
arranged using a binder into a texture
similar to wool. The process traps many
small pockets of air between the glass, and
these small air pockets result in high thermal
insulation properties. The density of the
material can be varied through pressure
and binder content.
17. INORGANIC MATERIALS
Stone mineral wool
• Stone mineral wool is a furnace product
of molten rock at a temperature of about
1600 °C, through which a stream of air
or steam is blown.
• More advanced production techniques
are based on spinning molten rock in
high-speed spinning heads somewhat like
the process used to produce candy floss.
• The final product is a mass of fine,
intertwined fibres with a typical diameter
of 2 to 6 micrometres.
• Mineral wool may contain a binder, often
a Ter-polymer, and an oil to reduce
dusting
18. INORGANIC MATERIALS
• Production process of mineral wool insulation
• Glass and stone wool insulation are fibre-based products that deliver outstanding
thermal performance.
• Both are made from plentiful, locally-sourced, renewable natural resources – sand
and basalt rock are the basic raw materials of mineral wool.
• Raw materials: The raw materials are measured and sent to a melting furnace. o
For stone wool à rock or recycled material plus energy o For glass wool à the raw
materials are sand, limestone and soda ash, as well as recycled off-cuts from the
production process.
19. ORGANIC MATERIALS
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
• It is a lightweight, rigid, closed-cell insulation material
manufactured in many different densities to resist compressive
loads.
• EPS is made from molten polystyrene beads that are formed into
blocks or boards.
• EPS can be cut with a saw and resists water absorption and vapor
penetration.
• EPS building insulation applications include roofs, attics,
foundations, wall insulation and slab insulation.
• The R-value of EPS is a relatively high value of R-4.6 per inch of
material, which does not degrade over time.
• Another benefit of EPS is that it does not support the growth of
mold or mildew. Extended exposure to the sun will degrade the
product. Expanded polystyrene is also commonly used for drinking
cups, packaging and coolers. It is commonly, and incorrectly,
referred to as StyrofoamTM.
20. ORGANIC MATERIALS
Extruded polystyrene (XPS)
• While extruded polystyrene (XPS) resembles EPS, it is
manufactured using a different process.
• XPS is sometimes referred to as Styrofoam, which is a
trademarked extruded polystyrene material owned
by The Dow Chemical Company.
• XPS is easily visually distinguished from EPS material by
its color.
• EPS is white, while XPS is blue, green or pink.
• XPS is recyclable and commonly used in below-grade
applications. It has a fairly high R-value of 5 per inch.
• XPS retards water but is not considered a water
barrier, and it does not support the growth of mold or
mildew. Extended exposure to the sun will degrade the
product.
21. ORGANIC MATERIALS
Cellulose insulation
• Cellulose insulation is a material made from recycled
newspaper.
• The paper is shredded and inorganic salts, such as
boric acid, are added for resistance to fire, mould,
insects and vermin.
• The insulation is installed either blown or damp-
sprayed depending on application
Wood fibre
• Industrially produced wood fibre insulation was
introduced around twenty years ago after engineers
from the timber producing areas of Europe devised
new ways of transforming timber waste from thinning
and factories into insulation boarding.
22. ORGANIC MATERIALS
Sheep’s Wool
• Wool insulation is made from sheep wool
fibres that are either mechanically held
together or bonded using between 5% and
15% recycled polyester adhesive to form
insulating batts and rolls.
• The wool used to manufacture insulation is
the wool discarded as waste by other
industries due to its colour or grade
23. ORGANIC MATERIALS
Hemp Fibres
• Hemp fibres are produced from hemp straw
of the hemp plant.
• Hemp grows up to a height of nearly 4 metres
within a period of 100-120 days.
• Because the plants shade the soil, no chemical
protection or toxic additives are required for
hemp cultivation.
• The product is composed of, usually, 85% hemp
fibre with the balance made up of polyester
binding and 3-5% soda added for fire
proofing