Polar Foam Insulation Tech
Modern Insulation Basics...
​
Modern building has changed a lot since the old days of sticks and fluff. Heres some things to know:
​
1/ R Value, this measures the thermal conduction of the insulation material. R values are measured in a lab under tightly defined conditions, so sometimes the R value claimed isn’t what gets delivered in the real world.
​
Theres no substitute for R. You want the highest you can, especially in the roof and upper parts of the structure. Spray Foam is rated at R4.7 per 100mm, and can be applied at any thickness
​
2/ Thermal Bridging refers to the parts of the structure that are not insulated, and can conduct heat. This typically means the structural frames of the house but can occur in many places. The best modern houses avoid excess bridging by good technical design and good insulation application.
​
3/ Air Tightness. It’s no good having great R values if the cold outside air leaks in, or the valuable heat escapes. Only a few types of insulation stop air leakage, and some loose efficiency dramatically when there’s air movement though them. Poor design allows air flow around pipes and wires. Foam is airtight, does not sag, and sticks to the surfaces it’s applied to, so no air flow is permitted.
​
4/ Ventilation. The old adage was that a house needs to breath. That just means air leaks and heat loss making you cold and costing you money. Controlled ventilation solves this by extracting the stale damp air, but doing so without loosing heat
The best modern homes use a heat exchanger ventilation solution to cycle the air while recovering the heat from the waste air. Remember a powerful bathroom fan or rangehood can empty your hard earned heat to the outside.
​
5/ Longevity. Some insulation sags and degrades over tome, and can make a great home for vermin. When moisture soaks into the insulation toxic mould grows.
​
6/ Sustainability. Modern homes are expected to last a minimum of 50 years, and many will be staying for much longer. The largest energy user in any home’s construction or use is it’s heating long term. Therefore there is no better investing than high quality insulation
