nihousebuilder hb
INSULATION
KNAUF INSULATION SUPPLIES A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS COMPATIBLE WITH TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING FLEXIBLE, NON-COMBUSTIBLE ACOUSTIC AND LOW-CARBON OPTIONS…
Insulation for timber frames
Timber frame construction has seen a steady rise in popularity over the past decade. It now makes up approximately 30% of new homes built in Northern Ireland. Using factory-assembled timber panels to provide the load-bearing structure means housebuilders can erect a weather-tight shell in a matter of days. But insulating a timber frame building requires a different approach.
“Timber frame offers clear advantages but realising them depends on choosing insulation that complements the system.”
Favourable thermal performance
Timber is less conductive than masonry or stone, so a timber frame wall will generally provide better thermal performance than a masonry wall of the same thickness. Buildability is also crucial to the building’s actual performance. Flexible insulation, such as glass mineral wool, can be friction-fitted between timber studs and will move with the natural settlement of the building, minimising air gaps and maximising thermal performance. Fire safety Fire safety is crucial in timber frame homes, which rely on approved details and tested approaches to manage risk. Another way to mitigate risk and reassure third parties and occupants is to use non- combustible insulation throughout the building. FrameTherm® Roll 32, for example, is a non-combustible
glass mineral wool product that achieves the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. Reducing the noise The lower mass of timber frame buildings means adequate acoustic insulation is even more important. Conventional wisdom might suggest using rock mineral wool for this purpose, but glass mineral wool can also deliver the required performance. OmniFit® Thermal and Sound Slab, for example, can achieve the best possible Sound Absorption Class A while being easier to handle and having lower embodied carbon. Cutting carbon One of the key benefits of timber frame construction is its lower embodied carbon, an increasingly important metric for third parties. Glass mineral wool has the
lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation in the UK, which means it can help keep the carbon impact of the building as low as possible. Making timber work harder Timber frame offers clear advantages but realising them depends on choosing insulation that complements the system. Flexible, non-combustible glass mineral wool supports thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance, while helping housebuilders preserve timber frame’s lower-carbon credentials from specification through to completion.
T: +44 (0)844 800 0135 E: info.uk@knaufinsulation.com www.knaufinsulation.co.uk WANT TO KNOW MORE?
www.nibuilder.co.uk
FOLLOW US ON:
NI BUILDER | 73
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online