CHAPTER THREE

3. Thermal and Sound Insulation.

3.1. Introduction.
Thermal insulation is the set of insulating materials and construction techniques whose
installation reduces heat transmission between two spaces (between the interior and exterior of
a home, or between spaces within the same home).
Thermal insulation in buildings involves the use of materials to minimize heat transfer,
maintaining the desired indoor temperature by reducing heat exchange between the interior
and exterior environments. Typically, individuals residing in warmer climates seek to create a
cooler indoor environment, while those in colder regions desire warmth inside.
However, the inherent principle of heat transfer involves the movement from hotter to colder
areas, resulting in heat loss. To counteract this loss in buildings, thermal insulation is
incorporated to uphold the desired temperature within the structure.
The primary purpose of thermal insulation in buildings is to control and minimize the transfer
of heat energy between the interior and exterior environments. By effectively reducing heat
flow, insulation helps maintain a stable and comfortable indoor temperature regardless of
external weather conditions.
During hot weather, insulation prevents excessive heat from entering the building, keeping it
cool, while in cold weather, it inhibits the escape of warmth, ensuring a cosy interior. Beyond
comfort, thermal insulation also contributes to energy efficiency, as it reduces the reliance on
heating and cooling systems, leading to lower energy consumption and associated cost savings.
Additionally, insulation plays an important role in environmental sustainability by promoting
responsible energy usage in buildings.

 Sound insulation VS Thermal insulation.

Sound insulation and thermal insulation are both methods used to improve the comfort and
functionality of buildings, but they serve different purposes and are designed to address distinct
issues. Here’s a comparison of sound insulation and thermal insulation:

Sound insulation:

 Purpose: sound insulation, also known as acoustic insulation, is designed to reduce or

block the transmission of sound from one area to another. It aims to minimize the
impact of noise, making an indoor environment quieter and more comfortable. It is
primarily focused on addressing noise-related issues.
 Materials: sound insulation materials are engineered to absorb, dampen, or block sound
waves. These materials can include fiberglass insulation, mineral wool, mass loaded
vinyl, acoustic foam, and acoustic panels.
 Applications: sound insulation is used in various areas, including residential and
commercial buildings, recording studios, theaters, and offices. It helps create quiet
spaces, reduce noise pollution, and improve acoustic quality.
 Effectiveness: the effectiveness of sound insulation is measured using Sound
Transmission Class (STC) ratings. Higher STC ratings indicate better soundproofing
capabilities.

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 Thermal insulation:

 Purpose: thermal insulation is primarily aimed at regulating and maintaining indoor

temperatures. It helps keep buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer by
reducing heat transfer. It focuses on energy efficiency and climate control.
 Materials: thermal insulation materials are designed to reduce heat flow by conduction,
convection, and radiation. Common thermal insulation materials include fiberglass,
foam board, spray foam, and reflective insulation.
 Applications: thermal insulation is used in walls, roofs, floors, and other parts of a
building to conserve energy, lower heating and cooling costs, and maintain indoor
comfort.
 Effectiveness: the effectiveness of thermal insulation is measured by its R-value. A
higher R-value indicates better thermal insulation properties.
In summary, sound insulation and thermal insulation serve different purposes and address
distinct issues. Sound insulation is all about reducing or blocking sound transmission to create
quieter and more comfortable indoor environments. Thermal insulation, on the other hand,
focuses on regulating temperature and improving energy efficiency by minimizing heat
transfer. Depending on the specific needs of a building, both types of insulation may be used in
combination to create a comfortable, energy-efficient, and quiet space.

 Benefits of using thermal insulation.

 There are many benefits for using thermal insulation in buildings, which can be
summarized as follows:
 Reduced energy bills: by limiting heat transfer, insulation helps reduce the need for
heating and cooling, leading to significant savings on energy bills.
 Improved comfort: insulated buildings maintain more stable indoor temperatures,
enhancing comfort for occupants. It prevents rooms from becoming too cold in winter
or too hot in summer.
 Soundproofing: many insulation materials, like mineral wool and fiberglass, provide
additional soundproofing benefits, making indoor environments quieter and more
peaceful.
 Environmental benefits: reduced energy consumption leads to lower carbon
footprints, helping buildings contribute to environmental sustainability.
 Increased property value: well-insulated buildings are more energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly, making them more attractive to potential buyers, thus
increasing property value.
 Economic benefits: an energy cost is an operating cost, and great energy savings can
be achieved by using thermal insulation.
 Customer satisfaction and national good: increased use of thermal insulation in
buildings will.
 Reduced noise levels: the use of thermal insulation can reduce disturbing noise from
neighboring spaces or from outside. This will enhance the acoustical comfort of
insulated buildings.
 Building structural integrity: high temperature changes may cause undesirable
thermal movements, which could damage building structure and contents.

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3.2. Thermal Insulation Materials.

 Insulation materials frequently utilized in residential and commercial applications:

1. Cellulose insulation - is quite combustible because it mainly

consists of shredded newspaper. You can find cellulose
insulation on the ceiling, walls, and attics of your house.
Please note that cellulose insulation is not fireproof, even
though people treat it with flame retardants.

2. Fiberglass Insulation - fiberglass insulation, found in

various structural components such as walls, air ducts, floors,
and pipes, is composed of two main subtypes: fiberglass loose-
fill and blanket insulation. The loose-fill variety is blown into
spaces, while the blanket insulation is available in rolls with
varying densities and dimensions. Comprising recycled glass
and sand, fiberglass insulation is inherently non-combustible.

3. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) - EPS consists of the fusion of

plastic beads of a small size and consists best in the list of
Thermal insulation materials. You can notice the use of EPS in
concrete tiles. On the other hand, molded EPS comes in small-
sized foam beads, and it is widely used for foam board
insulation.

4. Extruded Polystyrene - the production method sets extruded

polystyrene (EPS) apart from expanded polystyrene (EPS), as
covered in the preceding section. EPS originates as a molten
substance, molded into sheets. Primarily employed as foam
board insulation, EPS also finds application in various general
or specialized uses.

5. Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) - in the list of thermal

insulation materials spray Polyurethane foam is the best
material of insulation. SPF is insulating foam plastic. Spray
polyurethane foam is sprinkled as a liquid that dilates multifold.
Not only does it provide an air barrier and moisture control, but
it also provides a high R-value. This list of insulation
materials can also be transformed into roofing foam with
durability against foot traffic and water.

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 6. Reflective Insulation - reflective foil insulation, incorporating
an aluminum or similar reflective surface, offers versatility in
construction projects. This type of insulation allows for the
initiation of certain internal trades before applying tiles and
cladding, enhancing on-site workflow efficiency.

7. Radiant Barriers - are commonly installed in attics, primarily

designed to minimize heat gain in hot conditions, typically
during summer, and reduce heat loss in cold conditions,
typically in winter. Professionals usually install these thermal
insulation materials with the reflective side facing an open-air
space.

8. Cotton Insulation - in the list of thermal insulation

materials cotton insulation, crafted from recycled blue jeans,
showcases the versatility of repurposing denim. Beyond its
environmental and hygienic safety, it excels in sound absorption
compared to alternative insulation methods. Installers can work
without special safety precautions, eliminating the need for
masks or additional equipment.

9. Mineral Wool - similar to fiberglass insulation, mineral wool is

available in both loose-fill and blanket forms. Comprising
approximately 75% post-industrial recycled content, mineral
wool boasts flame resistance without the need for additional
chemicals.

10. Polyisocyanurate Insulation - this list of thermal insulation

materials comprises plastic with closed-cell foam. It also has
cells with a low-conductivity gas that provides a decent R-value.
But, gas leaks can happen, which let the air inside, lowering the
R-value. The insulation comes in liquid foam, rigid foam board,
and spray foam.

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3.3. Type of insulation and insulation places.

1. Blanket insulation - the most common and widely available

type of insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls. It consists
of flexible fibers, most commonly fiberglass. You also can find
batts and rolls made from mineral rock and slag wool, plastic
fibers, and natural fibers, such as cotton and sheep's wool.
2. Concrete block - are used to build home foundations and
walls, and there are several ways to insulate them. If the cores
aren’t filled with steel and concrete for structural reasons, they
can be filled with insulation, which raises the average wall R-
value. Field studies and computer simulations have shown,
however, that core filling of any type offers little fuel savings,
because heat is readily conducted through the solid parts of the
walls.

It is more effective to install insulation over the surface of the blocks either on the exterior or
interior of the foundation walls. Placing insulation on the exterior has the added advantage of
containing the thermal mass of the blocks within the conditioned space, which can moderate
indoor temperatures.

3. Foam boards insulation -- can be used to insulate almost

any part of your home, from the roof down to the foundation.
They are very effective in exterior wall sheathing, interior
sheathing for basement walls, and special applications such
as attic hatches. They provide good thermal resistance up to 2
times greater than most other insulating materials of the same
thickness, and reduce heat conduction through structural

elements, like wood and steel studs.

4. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) - are basically forms for
poured concrete walls, which remain as part of the wall
assembly. This system creates walls with a high thermal
resistance, Even though ICF homes are constructed using
concrete, they look like traditional stick-built homes.

ICF systems consist of interconnected foam boards or interlocking, hollow-core foam insulation
blocks. Foam boards are fastened together using plastic ties. Along with the foam boards, steel
rods rebar can be added for reinforcement before the concrete is poured. When using foam
blocks, steel rods are often used inside the hollow cores to strengthen the walls.

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 5. Loose-fill insulation - consists of small particles of fiber,
foam, or other materials. These small particles form an
insulation material that can conform to any space without
disturbing structures or finishes. This ability to conform makes
loose-fill insulation well suited for retrofits and locations where it
would be difficult to install other types of insulation.

The most common types of materials used for loose-fill

insulation include cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral rock or slag wool. All of these materials are
produced using recycled waste materials. Cellulose is primarily made from recycled newsprint.

6. Radiant Barriers - radiant heat travels in a straight line away

from any surface and heats anything solid that absorbs its
energy. When the sun heats a roof, it's primarily the sun's radiant
energy that makes the roof hot.

A large portion of this heat travels by conduction through the

roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The hot roof
material then radiates its gained heat energy onto the cooler attic
surfaces, including the air ducts and the attic floor. A radiant
barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of
the roof to the other surfaces in the attic. To be effective, it must
face a large air space.

7. Reflective insulation - incorporates reflective surfaces

typically aluminum foils into insulation systems that can include
a variety of backings, such as Kraft paper, plastic film,
polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard, as well as thermal
insulation materials.
8. Rigid fiber insulation - consists of either fiberglass or
mineral wool material and is primarily used for insulating air
ducts in homes. It is also used when there's a need for
insulation that can withstand high temperatures.
9. Sprayed-foam and foamed-in-place insulation - liquid foam
insulation materials can be sprayed, foamed-in-place, injected,
or poured. Foam-in-place insulation can be blown into walls,
on attic surfaces, or under floors to insulate and reduce air
leakage.

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3.4. Ventilation.
Ventilation is the process by which ‘clean’ air normally outdoor air is intentionally provided to a
space and stale air is removed. This may be accomplished by either natural or mechanical means.

Ventilation is necessary in buildings to remove ‘’hard air replace it with fresh air’’.

 Helping to moderate internal temperatures.

 Replenishing oxygen.
 Reducing the accumulation of moisture, smells, bacteria, and carbon dioxide, smoke
and other contaminants that can build up during occupied periods.
 Creating air movement which improves the comfort of occupants.

 Building ventilation has three basic elements:

 Ventilation rate – the amount of outdoor air that is provided into the space, and the
quality of outdoor air.
 Airflow direction – the overall airflow direction in a building, which should be form
clean zones to dirty zones.
 Air distribution or airflow pattern – the external air should be delivered to each part of
the space in an efficient manner and the airborne pollutants generated in each part of
the space should also be removed in an efficient manner.

 Importance of home ventilation in new constructions.

 A properly ventilated home is more important today than it was several years ago. Due
to the rising pollution, congested urban spacing, and less greenery it has become more
crucial today to improve the ventilation system in new constructions.

 Ventilation helps your home get rid of moisture, smoke, cooking indoors, and indoor
pollutants. Gases from home appliances, like stoves and fireplaces, can accumulate in a
poorly ventilated home and threaten your health and safety

 A proper home ventilation system controls heat levels in the attic, moderates humidity
in the closed spaces and basement, and keeps moisture out of insulated walls. Hence,
windows should be put in a place that helps the airflow of the house.

 Make use of kitchen chimneys and exhaust fans to make sure the air passes through
without any hassle. Additionally, you can use exhaust fans even for your bathroom.

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 Types of home ventilation systems.

Understanding the types of ventilation systems is crucial for ensuring a well-ventilated living
space. From natural ventilation to mechanical systems, each system offers unique benefits and
considerations. Let's delve into the details of these ventilation solutions:
1. Natural Ventilation.
Natural ventilation occurs when there is uncontrolled air
movement from the windows and doors. Hence, while planning
on building a home, if you have ample space, make sure to
surround it with windows and doors that allow the natural air to
flow through.

2. Exhaust Ventilation.
These systems are very basic and simple in nature. You can fit the
exhaust fans in the common bathroom and kitchen. Most homes
have them, however, you need to make sure that the exhaust fans
are properly ducted to the outdoors; otherwise, the system may
just be moving moisture and leading the air to elsewhere in your
home.
3. Supply Ventilation.
These systems work by pressurizing the outside air into the
home, causing an equal amount of the air inside air to exit the
home. Most supply ventilation systems use the existing ducts of
the central heating and cooling systems and their blowers. They
only require a small supply duct connecting the air handler to
the outdoors, which brings in the outside air, inside.

4. Balanced Ventilation.
This system introduces fresh outdoor air into a home at the same
rate that stale indoor air is exhausted from the home. If a balanced
ventilation system is designed and installed properly, it neither
pressurizes or depressurizes the home and there is proper
ventilation in all rooms.

5. Mechanical Ventilation.
Heat recovery ventilation, also known as mechanical ventilation,
is usually located on the rooftop of your home or on top of an
apartment building. This heat recovery ventilation works between
different temperatures to provide fresh air. It is specially designed
to provide conditioned air to your home to maintain ventilation
and airflow.

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3.5. Insulating batts and blankets.
Batts are a form of insulation that are pre-cut in flat pieces. They resemble a small blanket. Most
common forms of insulation come in batts fiberglass, mineral wool, sheep’s wool. Typically
batts come in bags and they’re sized to fit into standard cavities. Batt widths vary from 8cm for a
2×4 cavity to 13cm for a 2×6 cavity, though they can be thicker. The batt length is normally
1.21cm though sometimes you’ll see 2.43cm. Manufacturers will note how many square feet
each bag of batts covers.

Havelock Wool Batts

The Benefits of Batt Insulation.

The main benefit of batt insulation is ease of install. You can specify batt dimensions for your
project making the installation process easy, whether you are a professional.

How do you install batt insulation?

The pre-cut sizes of batts make them relatively easy to install.

Simply remove the batt and stick it into your wall or ceiling or attic, secure it and you’re
basically done.

You will need to cut around things like electrical boxes and for that a good insulation cutter is
useful. Now depending on the insulation material, you may also need to wear protective clothing
while you do the installation.

Fiberglass is a major irritant to the eyes, skin and respiratory system, which is why you need to
be very careful. Same goes for mineral wool. Conversely, natural fibers that do not irritate don’t
require a mask, etc. which makes installation easier and less dangerous. See this short video here
for batt installation.

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