Insulation by Hornsby Council

DIY fact sheet

Insulation

DIY Fact Sheet

Insulation

Insulation acts as a physical barrier to the transfer of heat and is essential to keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter. In conjunction with passive design, ventilation and insulation can help to keep your home comfortable year round and cut your heating and cooling costs in half.

Climate will greatly affect what kind of insulation will work best with your home and where it should be installed. The first thing that needs to be established is whether you need to be keeping heat in, out or both. And remember that you need to account for nsulation is acts as a physical barrier to the transfer of heat and is essential both daily and seasonal variations temperature. to keeping yourinhome cool in summer and warm in winter. In conjunction with

passive design and ventilation insulation can help to keep your home comfort-

Considering insulation in relation to passive also important. a room that is able year round and cut your design heating is and cooling costs inIfhalf. not properly shaded has insulation installed it can lead to a build up of heat in the room Climate will greatlyeffect. affect Similarly, what kind if ofainsulation will work best with your creating an uncomfortable “oven” room is improperly sealed thenhome and where it should be installed. The first thing that needs to be established is any heat kept in by the insulation will leak out through the ventilation system. whether you need to be keeping heat in, out or both. And remember that you

need to account for both daily and seasonal variations in temperature. The most cost effective time to install insulation is during construction when it will only represent a marginal increaseinsulation in cost and can betoinstalled easily. isRetrofitting is still Considering in relation passive design also important if aan room that not properly installed it can lead to a build up of heat in option though butisincreases theshaded costs has andinsulation complexity of installation.

Insulation acts as a physical barrier to the transfer of heat and is essential to keeping your home is acts cool inInsulation summer and warm in winter. as a physical barrier to the transfer of heat and is essential to keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter.

the room creating an uncomfortable “oven” effect, similarly if a room is improp-

Most common building materials provide little insulating but some materials, erly sealed then the any heat kept in by thevalue insulation will leak out through the ventilation system. such as aerated concrete and straw bales, will not need additional insulation in most instances.

Choosing

As would be assumed, the most cost effective time to install insulation is during construction when it will only represent a marginal increase in cost and can be installed easily. Retrofitting is still an option though but increases the costs and Insulations complexity of installation.

Insulation comes in two broad categories; bulk and reflective insulation. These are Most to common building materialsinsulation. provide little but some materials, sometimes combined produce a composite Toinsulating compare value the insulating such as aerated concrete, stray bales, and plastics, will not need additional insulamaterials available look for their R-value which is a measurement of the materials tion in most instances. resistivity to heat. Products with the same R-value will block the same amount of heat Insulations transfer per meterChoosing squared. A good R-value for the Hornsby Shire area would be 4.1R Insulation comes in twoinsulation. broad categories; bulk and reflective insulation. These are for ceiling insulation and 2.8R for wall sometimes combined to produce a composite insulation. To compare the insu-

lating materialsyou available look for their R-value whichthat is acomes measurement of the When choosing your insulation should check the information with the materials resistivity to heat. Products with the same R-value will block the same product especially the R-value, price per square meter and what kind of material it amount of heat transfer per meter squared. A good R-value for the Hills area is made from. If you arebeconcerned withinsulation your environmental considering a would 4.1R for ceiling and 2.8R forfootprint wall insulation. recycled or recyclable product like glass wool, polyester and cellulose fibre insulation is When choosing your insulation you should check the information that comes with a good idea.

the product especially the R-value, price per square meter and what kind of mate-

rial it is made If youtoare concerned withthe your environmental footprint conWhen choosing insulation it is from. important check whether product must be installed sidering a recycled or recyclable product like glass wool, polyester and cellulose professionally or iffibre it can be done DIY. Some types of insulation need to be installed insulation is a good idea. using masks and protective clothing and as such should not be installed by novices. When choosing an installation it is important to check whether the product must be installed professionally or if it can be done DIY. Some types of insulations need Insulation Types to be installed using masks and protective clothing and as such should not be Bulk insulation installed by novices.

Bulk insulation mainly blocks convective Insulation Types and conductive heat transfer. This is done The two types on ainsulation and Reflective; through trapping pockets of air in material.are Its Bulk thermal resistance is basically the same in any direction and the R-value is increased by increasing the thickness of the material. Bulk insulation mainly blocks convective and conductive heat transfer. This is These insulations done are what willtrapping be most often of used inaHornsby and are often is basithrough pockets air in material.Shire Its thermal resistance cally theBatts. same in any direction and the R-value is increased by increasing the recognised as Insulation

Figure 1 Typical TypicalHeat Heat Losses Figure 1: Loss and Heat Gain

Reflective insulation thickness of the material. These insulations are what will be most often used thickness of the material. what will be most often used in The Sydney Hills and areThese often insulations recognised are as Insulation Batts.

The Sydney Hills andflow are often recognised as Insulationand Batts. Reflective insulation in resists radiant heat due to its high reflectivity low emissivity. Reflective insulation resists radiant heat flow due to its high reflectivity and It consists of an air layer of at least 25mm and a shiny surface, like aluminium foil. This Reflective insulation resists heat of flow its high reflectivity and low emissivity. It consists ofradiant an ait layer at due leastto25mm and a shiny surface, form of insulation varies with direction and asan such will sometimes have two R-Values; low It consists of ait layer ofvaries at least 25mm and aand shiny like emissivity. aluminium foil. This form of insulation with direction as surface, such like aluminium This form of insulation varies direction such will sometimes have two R-Values; Up R-value, thewith resistance to and heatasflow upUp R-value, the resistance to heatfoil. flow upwards, and Down R-value, the resistance to will sometimes have two R-Values; Up R-value, the resistance to heat upwards, and Down R-value, the resistance to heat flow downwards. Thisflow insulaheat flow downwards. Thisand insulation is most shiny Foil that has been wards, Down the often resistance toAluminium heat flow downwards. This insulation is most oftenR-value, shiny Aluminium foil that has been laminated onto paper or tion most shiny thatsettling hasDust been laminated onto paper or laminated onto paper or isplastic and is referred to asfoil sarking. settling onto reflective plastic and isoften referred toAluminium as sarking. Dust onto reflective insulation andits is referred to as sarking. Dust ontobe reflective insulation will greatly reduce its performance and as settling such it should be installed with the insulation will greatlyplastic reduce performance and as such it should installed with the will greatly reduce its performance and as such it should be installed with the shiny side facing down or on verticals. shiny side facing down or on verticals. shiny side facing down or on verticals.

Figure2:2Insulation InsulationBatts Batts Figure Figure 2 Insulation Batts

Where to install insulation Where to install insulation considering insulation it is important to determine where it will provide Where to installWhen insulation When considering insulation important to determine where it will provide the most benefit and where ititisisrequired.

the most benefit and whereto it determine is required. where it will provide the most When considering insulation it is important Roofs and ceilings work well in conjunction together installing reflecting sarkbenefit and where itRoofs is required. and ceilings work well in conjunction together installing reflecting sarking under roof and bulk insulation flush with the ceiling material will reduce ing under roof and bulk insulation flush with the ceiling material will reduce

radiant heat gain into the roof and conductive and convective into and out of Roofs and ceilings work well together when installing reflecting convective sarking under theout roof radiant heat gain into the roof andupconductive into and of the building. Doing this can save to 45% ofand your heating and cooling costs. the building. Doing this can save up to 45% of your heating and cooling and bulk insulation flush with the ceiling material. This will reduce radiant heat gain costs. into External should be insulated thisofisthe a relatively complex the roof and conductive andwalls convective into and out building. Doingscenario this canwhen save External walls insulated this iscan a relatively complex retrofitting butshould can bebe done. Insulation be installed; withinscenario cavities,when beup to 45% of your heating and cooling costs. retrofitting but can be done. Insulation can be installed; within cavities, between stud frames, and on the inside or outside of buildings. tween stud frames, and on the inside or outside of buildings.

Figure 3 Reflective Insulation

Figure3:3 Reflective ReflectiveInsulation Insulation Figure

External walls should be insulated; however, this is a relatively complex scenario when Floor insulation can be important in cooler climates (to keep the heat in) and in Floor insulation be important cooler climates (tothe keep theout.) heatInin) and in retrofitting but can be done. Insulation can be installed; between stud locations where can artificial cooling isinused awithin lot (to cavities, keep heat situalocations artificial cooling is used a lot (to keep the out.) situations where groundwater is present you should insulate theheat edge andInunderframes, and on the inside or where outside of buildings. tions groundwater is present you should insulate of the edge and lost underside ofwhere concrete slabs as well to prevent large amounts heat being into

side of concreteinslabs as well to prevent large amounts heat being the important ground. Floor insulation can be cooler climates (to keep the heatofin) and in lost into the ground. locations where artificial cooling is used a lot (to keep the heat out.) In situations where Installation Installation groundwater is present you should of insulate thewithin edgeaand underside of concrete The performance insulation building will depend greatly onslabs how it is The performance of insulation within a building will depend greatly on how it is installed. The following are some points to consider; as well to prevent large amounts of heat being lost into the ground.

installed. The following are some to consider; > The building frame around the points insulation can act as a thermal bridge al> lowing The building frame around the insulation canisact as a thermal bridge alheat to be conducted through it. This particularly true in colder Installation lowing heat be conducted it. Thishave is particularly in colder climates andtolocations wherethrough metal frames been used true in construction. climates and this locations metalinsulate frames around have been used in construction. To overcome issue where you should these components with The performance of insulation within aissue building will depend on how it is installed. To overcome you should insulate greatly around these components with at least 12mmthis (R2) of insulation. least (R2) insulation. The following are some points to consider; > at Heat can12mm build up inof the roof space where insulation is installed and there> Heat can buildventilation up in the roof space insulation installed Even and therefore installing in the roofwhere will allow this toisdissipate. in nn The building frame fore installing ventilation ininthe roof allow this to dissipate. Even in around the insulation can act aswill aspace thermal bridge allowing cooler climates ventilation the roof will allow moisture and heat summer cooler climates ventilation in the roof space will allow moisture and summer heat trapped in the roof to escape. to be conducted through it. This is particularly true in colder climates and locations trapped in the roof to in escape. > heat You should avoid any gaps the insulation as even a small gap will reduce where metal frames have been used in construction. To overcome thisgap issue you > You should avoid any gaps in the should insulation as even a small reduce the overall insulating value. You fit batts snugly ensuringwill that gaps the overall insulating value. You should fit batts snugly ensuring that ceilgaps should insulate around these components with at least 12mm (R2) of insulation. are not left around ducts and pipes. Ensure that the corners of walls, are not around ducts andinsulated pipes. Ensure that the corners of heat walls,leaking ceilings andleft floors are properly as these are areas where nn Heat can build up in theand roof space where insulation isthese installed and where therefore ings floors are properly insulated as are areas heat leaking often occurs. occurs. installing ventilation in the roof will allow dissipate. Even in cooler climates > often Where condensation is an this issuetovapour barriers should be installed, these > Where an issue vapour barriers should be installed, these canspace be condensation as simple as aispolythene sheet or a well maintained waterinresistant ventilation in the roof will allow moisture and summer heat trapped the can be as simple as a polythene sheet or a well maintained water resistant paint. roof to escape. > For paint. safety reasons you must leave minimum clearances around hot objects, > such For safety reasonsdown you must minimum clearances objects, as recessed lightsleave and their transformers, as around well as hot flues from nn Avoid any gaps in the insulation asdown evenlights a small reduce the overall insulating such as recessed and gap theirwill transformers, as well as flues from fires and some electrical wiring. andsnugly some electrical wiring. value. You should> fitfires batts ensuring that gapsgloves are not around and You should wear protective clothing, andleft a face mask ducts when installing > the You clothing, mask when installing glassshould wool, wear mineral wool,ceilings and cellulose fibre and insulation as these products pipes. Ensure that corners of protective walls, andgloves floors area face properly insulated ascan glass celluloseirritation. fibre insulation as these products can causewool, skin, mineral eye and wool, upperand respiratory these are areas where heat leaking often occurs. cause skin, eye and upper respiratory irritation. nn

Where condensation is an issue vapour barriers should be installed, these can be as THe HILLS SHIRe simple as a polythene sheet or a wellCounCIL maintained water resistant paint. THe HILLS SHIRe CounCIL

PO Box 7064, Baulkham Hills BC 2153 For safety reasons you mustBaulkham leave minimum PO Box 7064, Hills BC 2153clearances around hot objects, such as Phone 02 9843 0555 Email council@thehills.nsw.gov.au recessed down lights and transformers, as well as flues from fires and some Facsimile 0409 www.thehills.nsw.gov.au Phone 02 their 9843 0555 Email council@thehills.nsw.gov.au Facsimile 02 9843 0409 www.thehills.nsw.gov.au electrical wiring.

The first thing that The first thing that needs to be established needs to be established Theyou first thing is whether need to is whether you need to that needs toin,be be keeping heat out or be keeping heat in, out or established is whether both. And remember that both. And remember that you need to be keeping you need to account for you need to account for heat in, out or both. both daily and seasonal both daily and seasonal And remember that variations in temperature. variations in temperature.

you need to account for both daily and Sources Sources seasonal variations in Figure 1 http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/ Figure 1 http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/ images/47b-large.jpg temperature. images/47b-large.jpg Figure 2 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

Figure 2 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Glass_wool_insulation.jpg File:Glass_wool_insulation.jpg Figure 3 http://www.gmagazine.com.au/ Figure 3 http://www.gmagazine.com.au/ news/1828/insulation-safety-inspections-ordered news/1828/insulation-safety-inspections-ordered

3 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 3 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

You should wear protective clothing, gloves and a face mask when installing glass wool, mineral wool, and cellulose fibre insulation as these products can cause skin, eye and upper respiratory irritation.

Prepared by Steplight on behalf of The Hills Shire Council. Reproduced with the permission of The Hills Shire Council.

Sources Figure 1: http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/images/47b-large.jpg Figure 2: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Glass_wool_insulation.jpg Figure 3: http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1828/insulation-safetyinspections-ordered