What is Thermal Insulation and How is it Done? Thermal InsulationWhere is it used?
Energy crisis is seen as one of the most critical problems facing our world today. Energy consumption in the housing sector constitutes a significant portion of the total energy use in the world. Thanks to the thermal insulation in buildings, it is possible to ensure energy conservation and efficiency by creating sustainable and healthy buildings with the effective use of energy.
All of the processes performed on the building components in order to reduce the heat loss between the indoor and outdoor environment and thus to provide heat gain are called "thermal insulation". Thermal insulation materials, which act as a separating structure between the outdoor and indoor space, are designed to minimise the energy required to keep the space warm in cold weather and to keep the space cool in hot weather.
The history of thermal insulation applications is associated with the first people trying to protect themselves from the cold in the animal skins they hunt in order to be protected from the adverse weather conditions of nature. However, the first professional thermal insulation applications emerged with the industrial revolution. In 1882, thermal insulation was needed to keep the cold air for a long time in the cold storage established by Cari VonLinde. Firstly, the production of thermal insulation materials started in Germany in the early 1900s.
Thermal Insulation and Sustainability
It is possible to provide thermal insulation with applications in the construction and housing sector. The housing sector is one of the areas with the highest energy consumption all over the world. Especially in regions with harsh climatic conditions, a significant portion of energy resources is spent on heating and cooling living spaces. For this reason, thermal insulation stands out as an important resource in providing energy efficiency. With the benefits that thermal insulation adds to sustainability, demands for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings have become widespread today.
Where is thermal insulation used?
The sector where thermal insulation is used the most is the housing sector. Apart from the apartment buildings used as living spaces, thermal insulation is applied to create comfortable areas in places with different functions such as hospitals, schools, government institutions, offices, factories.
Heat conduction takes place in all parts of the building between the indoor and outdoor environments, so there are different thermal insulation options for all these areas. Thermal insulation can be carried out in the walls, windows, doors, ceilings, roofs, pipework and floor sections that separate the external and internal environments of the building.
Facade insulation is the most well-known and widely used type of thermal insulation. Apart from this, thermal insulation in other areas of the building is also important in terms of energy efficiency and comfort.
Approximately 25% of the heat loss in the building is caused by the roofs. For this reason, thermal insulation applications to be made in the roof will provide a serious energy saving in the long term and a more comfortable living space for the residents of the house.
Exterior Thermal Insulation Application Stages
Walls are the areas where the most heat conduction takes place in the building. There are multiple thermal insulation application options on the wall. These help to reduce heat conduction by applying to different parts of the wall. Cavity wall insulation made by filling between interior and exterior walls and exterior wall insulation made by coating on exterior walls are the most preferred options for thermal insulation in buildings.
Correct installation is the most important factor to achieve the desired thermal performance in all thermal insulation systems. If the application required for thermal insulation is not carried out correctly by professionals, problems such as air gaps, contamination and destruction may occur.
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- The thermal insulation material called sandwich is glued to the surface facing the inside of the outer wall.
- The inner wall is built.
- There should be no gap between the thermal insulation material and the walls.
- All areas remaining in the inner wall area (columns, beams, etc.) should be covered from the outside with thermal insulation material.
- The outer wall should be painted with a paint without high vapour resistance.
- External Thermal Insulation
- The surfaces to be heat insulated must be properly prepared.
- The thermal insulation boards placed on the outer wall should be placed so that there is no gap between them.
- Application should not be done in extremely hot or cold, rainy, snowy weather
- Materials that will reduce dampness and condensation should be preferred.
- It should show high resistance to heat loss.
- It must have sufficient compressive strength to prevent collapse over time.
- It must remain intact, durable and not rot over time.
- It must be non-flammable.
- It must be resistant to water and moisture.
- It should provide ease of application.
- It should consist of components that are not harmful to human health.
- It should provide economic benefits.
Materials used in thermal insulation; fibreglass, glass wool, rock wool, polystyrene, polyurethane, cellulose, wood wool board, phenol foam, glass foam. Polyurethane has become the most preferred material in applications since it has all the properties demanded for thermal insulation.
Polyurethane Use in Thermal Insulation
Polyurethane systems are among the most effective materials used for thermal insulation in buildings. Polyurethane foam, which offers the most favourable form of heat preservation compared to other insulation materials, provides excellent insulation with its low thermal conductivity coefficient, while increasing the service life of structures with its high strength feature. Thanks to its lightness feature, it provides thermal insulation with almost no effect on the weight of the buildings. In addition, it offers the advantage of high efficiency in production with its short application time and ease of application. With these different solutions offered to its users, polyurethane foam stands out compared to other thermal insulation materials.
The thermal insulation provided by the polyurethane system is much more effective than other insulation materials. Polyurethane systems provide 700% better insulation than bricks and 50% better insulation than glass wool in thermal insulation.
Advantages of Polyurethane Foam in Thermal Insulation
Low Heating Cost
Due to the high thermal insulation properties of polyurethane foam material, the heat in the indoor environments of the houses is preserved and energy costs remain low. In this way, electricity and fuel costs are significantly reduced. Temperatures in the rooms are kept at reasonable and constant levels.
Fast and Easy Application
One of the most advantageous aspects of using polyurethane foam in thermal insulation is that it can be applied quickly and easily. Thanks to the spray method that can be applied as a spray, it can be easily applied to hard-to-reach areas. It provides comfort and efficiency as well as excellent insulation by penetrating even the smallest gaps.
Productivity
Polyurethane foam systems in thermal insulation are highly resistant to damage and long-lasting. Its light weight provides a healthy insulation without overloading the building structure. In addition, polyurethane foam systems, known for being 100% safe for allergic people and animals, do not create dust, do not contain allergens or harmful gases.
