CIT presentation

1. Insulation Installation
Principles of Energy Efficiency and
Insulation (Thermal and Acoustic)
Reference: ICANZ INSULATION HANDBOOK Part 2:
Professional Installation Guide - Version 5 Insulation
installation for ceilings, walls & floors. Chapter 3

2. Introduction
This power point covers the following topics;
• What is insulation – batts and foil
• How does Insulation work
• What is a R value
• Acoustic insulation
• Condensation

3. What is insulation?
Insulation, in this course refers to
• Bulk insulation products such as batts, and
reflective foil laminates
– Insulation provides a level of flow resistance to heat, cold
and noise.
– Are safe to use
– Provide energy savings by reducing heat and cold entering
building
– Should last for the lifetime of the building

4. What is insulation?
• Bulk insulation products such as batts are;
– designed for the thermal insulation of ceilings, walls and
floors in buildings
– available in varying densities that affect the R value
– an effective sound absorber and so contribute to both
the thermal and acoustic comfort of building occupants
– require no maintenance, and
– can be manufactured from renewable resources (sand
and basalt rock) and recycled content

5. What is insulation?
• Reflective foil laminates are;
– Typically applied externally to the wall framing and roof
trusses of a dwelling
– generally come in rolls and are used to sark the dwelling
and provide a second skin membrane for weather, dust
and draught proofing.
– require no maintenance
– this course only covers guidelines for sarking walls; it is
strongly recommended that electrically conductive
membranes are not used on top of ceiling joists or
attached to underfloor joists.

6. How Does Insulation Work?
• Heat will always move from a hot place or region to a colder
place or region. The greater the temperature difference the
faster the rate of heat transfer.
• Installing batt insulation reduces heat transfer and will slow
down the flow of heat into or out of a house
• Batts consist of millions of tiny air pockets trapped and
separated from each other by very thin strands of fibres. Being
trapped, the air does not move, this retards heat transfer
through the batt by convection.
• Batts can reduce summer heat in homes by up to 8 - 12 ̊C.
• Insulation batts that meet the Australian Standards are non-
combustible and non-conductive and can be used with
confidence around down-lights when installed as per the
insulation manufacturer’s recommendations.

7. What is an ‘R-value’?
• R is a symbol for the term Thermal Resistance; a material’s resistance to heat flow.
• The higher the R-value, the less thermal (or acoustic) transfer, and the more effective
the insulation.
• Bulk insulation performance is a function of its nominal thickness; if the thickness of
the insulation does not recover to its claimed value (is compressed), then the thermal
performance will be reduced.
• Bulk insulation thermal resistance is expressed by Material R-value.
• Reflective insulation thermal resistance is expressed in terms of Total R-value.
• Total R-values (Rt) are based on the sum of all components of the building system
including indoor and outdoor air-films, building materials used in the system and air-
spaces.
• The National Construction Code (NCC/BCA) sets out performance targets expressed as
Total R-values (Rt) for summer and winter based on climate zone conditions.

8. Acoustic insulation
• Sound travels easily through the air. When sound waves reach a solid
surface they are partially absorbed and reflected.
• The absorbed energy causes vibrations that can transmit sound to the
other side of the solid surface.
• In this way, external noise is easily transmitted through walls, floors
and ceilings to the inside of your home. Additionally, noise generated
from within your home can be transmitted through internal walls, and
even floors, to adjacent rooms.
• Bulk insulation materials act like a sponge to help soak up sound
energy. When the sound waves encounter the insulation they are
partially deflected by the density of the product and partially absorbed
due to the millions of interconnecting air pockets.
• The acoustic performance of a wall, floor or ceiling system is measured
by the Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw)
• The higher the Rw the better the acoustic performance of the system.

9. Condensation
• Air contains invisible water vapour.
• The higher the temperature the more water vapour it can hold.
• The lower the air temperature the less water.
• Condensation occurs when the air temperature rises and becomes
warmer and then contacts a cold surface. The air cools and produces
visible water droplets on the cold surface.
• The water formed is known as ‘condensate’ and the process is called
‘condensation’. If more water vapour (warm air) is present, further
condensation will occur.
• The occurrence of condensation in buildings is the result of complex
interactions between the environment, construction methods and
occupant behaviour.
• The process of condensation is reversible. Where construction material
surfaces are warmer or ventilated, condensate may evaporate.

10. Condensation (con't)
• Prolonged condensation in buildings can lead to
the development of mould, mildew and fungus
growth causing;
• detrimental respiratory and other effects on
occupants, and
• structural decay of building components and
fabric