What is Thermal Insulation, How is it Applied? Where is Thermal Insulation Used?

The energy crisis is seen as one of the most critical problems our world faces today. Energy consumption in the housing sector constitutes a significant portion of the total energy use in the world. Through thermal insulation in buildings, it is possible to achieve energy conservation and efficiency by creating sustainable and healthy structures with effective energy use.

“Thermal insulation” refers to all processes performed on building components to reduce heat loss between internal and external environments and thus achieve heat gain. Thermal insulation materials, which act as a separating structure between outdoor and indoor environments, are designed to keep the required energy at a minimum level to keep the space warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather.

The history of thermal insulation applications is associated with early humans trying to protect themselves from adverse weather conditions using the hides of animals they hunted. However, the first professional thermal insulation applications emerged with the industrial revolution. In 1882, thermal insulation was needed to keep cold air for long periods in the cold storage warehouse established by Carl VonLinde. The production of thermal insulation materials first began in Germany in the early 1900s.

Thermal Insulation and Sustainability

Thermal insulation can be achieved through applications in the construction and housing sector. The housing sector is one of the areas where the most energy consumption occurs worldwide. A significant portion of energy resources is spent on heating and cooling living spaces, especially in regions experiencing harsh climate conditions. For this reason, thermal insulation stands out as an important resource in achieving energy efficiency. With the benefits of thermal insulation to sustainability, demands for increasing energy efficiency in buildings have become more widespread today.

Where is Thermal Insulation Used?

The housing sector is where thermal insulation is most used. Thermal insulation is applied to create comfortable spaces in places with different functions such as hospitals, schools, government institutions, offices, factories, in addition to apartments used as living spaces.

Heat transfer occurs in all sections of the building between internal and external environments, therefore there are different thermal insulation options for all these areas. Thermal insulation can be implemented in walls, windows, doors, ceilings, roof, plumbing pipes, and floor sections that separate the building’s external and internal environments.

External facade insulation is the most well-known and widely used type of thermal insulation. In addition, thermal insulation in other areas of the building is also important in terms of energy efficiency and comfort.

Approximately 25% of heat loss in the building comes from roofs. For this reason, thermal insulation applications to be implemented in the roof will provide significant energy savings in the long term and provide a more comfortable living space for house residents.

Stages of External Facade Thermal Insulation Application

Walls are the areas where heat transfer occurs most in the building. There are multiple thermal insulation application options on the wall. These help reduce heat transfer by being applied to different parts of the wall.

Cavity Wall Insulation

• The “sandwich” type thermal insulation material is adhered to the inner-facing surface of the exterior wall
• The interior wall is built
• There should be no gaps between thermal insulation materials and built walls
• All areas in the interior wall region (columns, beams, etc.) must be covered with thermal insulation material from the outside
• The exterior wall should be painted with a low vapor resistance paint

External Insulation

• Surfaces to be thermally insulated must be properly prepared
• Thermal insulation boards placed on the exterior wall must be placed without gaps between them
• Application should not be done in extremely hot or cold, rainy, snowy weather
• Materials that will reduce moisture and condensation should be preferred
• Should show high resistance against heat loss
• Should have sufficient pressure resistance to prevent settling over time
• Must remain strong, durable and not rot over time
• Should have fire resistance properties
• Should be resistant to water and moisture
• Should provide ease of application
• Should consist of components not harmful to human health
• Should provide economic benefit

Materials Used in Thermal Insulation

Materials used in thermal insulation are: fiberglass, glass wool, rock wool, polystyrene, polyurethane, cellulose, wood wool board, phenol foam, and glass foam. Polyurethane has become the most frequently preferred material in applications due to having all the properties required for thermal insulation.

Use of Polyurethane in Thermal Insulation

Polyurethane systems are among the most effective materials used for thermal insulation in buildings. Polyurethane foam offers the most favorable form of heat preservation compared to other insulation materials, providing excellent insulation with a low thermal conductivity coefficient while increasing the service life of structures with its high strength property. Thanks to its lightness feature, it provides thermal insulation without almost any effect on the weight of buildings. In addition, it offers high productivity advantage with short application time and ease of application.

Advantages of Polyurethane Foam in Thermal Insulation

Low Heating Cost

Due to the high thermal insulation properties of polyurethane foam material, it preserves the heat in the interior environments of houses and ensures that energy costs remain low. As a result, there is a significant decrease in electricity and fuel costs. Room temperatures are kept at reasonable and constant levels.

Quick 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 spray, it can be easily applied to hard-to-reach areas. It provides comfort and efficiency in addition to perfect insulation by penetrating even the smallest gaps.

Efficiency

Polyurethane foam systems are highly resistant to damage and have a long service life in thermal insulation. Its lightness allows for healthy insulation without overloading the building structure. Additionally, polyurethane foam systems are known to be 100% safe for allergic people and animals, do not produce dust, and do not contain allergens or harmful gases.