A Guide to Multifoil Insulation (16 SuperFOIL Products And Their Uses)
SuperFOIL in the UK offer a range of multifoil insulation products to the construction, residential housing development, self builder and DIY and Home Extension markets respectively.
In our blog today we look at what insulation is and how it works and then examine the full range of 16 SuperFOIL multifoil products that are available and explain their uses in more detail.
What Is Insulation?
Insulation is commonly used in buildings to prevent heat loss (or gain) and to reduce energy usage and therefore save the user money. Without effective insulation, as much as 50% or more of your heat could disappear straight through the roof and walls of your house. And of course, when you leak heat - you also leak money!
How Does Insulation Work?
Basically, insulation works by resisting the flow of heat. Heat flow is how heat moves - and it always moves from warmer to colder areas. This movement is what causes your house to get colder in winter (when the heat leaks from the the building into the colder environment outside) and hotter in the summer (when heat moves from the warmer outside environment into the cooler building).
This all happens through one or more of three different heat transfer mechanisms - Conduction, Convection and Radiation. Thermal insulations have been designed to resist (or at least restrict) heat transfer, using these three mechanisms.
Convection Heat Transfer takes place through the movement of liquids or gases. Convection is one of the reasons why a house cools down quickly when it is windy - heat is blown away from your house more rapidly in a wind! One important way to help insulate against convection heat loss is to ensure that your house is well-sealed, but you must also conversely ensure that your house is ventilated for fresh and filtered air and this is where using an MVHR heat recovery ventilation system comes in as it changes the air from your "sealed house" whilst trying to save as much of the heat you have paid for as possible!
Conduction Heat Transfer occurs when the molecules in one part of any substance move faster as they heat up. Then they transfer their energy to other close-by molecules and so on down the line. Some molecules conduct heat well, like stone for example, and other molecules such as insulations are poor conductors hence their use for such.
Radiation Heat Transfer works without the need for direct contact or the air being blown around from the heat source. It does this through electromagnetic waves (infra red light) which are invisible to the human eye. This is the reason why things like black tarmac or asphalt get hot on a sunny day as they slowly absorb the heat from the sun. The best way to reduce this form of heat transfer is to use low emissivity services such as those found in multi-foil insulations.
Multi-foil helps reduce the heat transfer on all 3 fronts. By taking advantage of low-emissivity foil layers, radiation heat transfer is minimised. The foam layers then help protect against conduction heat transfer. SuperFOIL also provides a barrier to the movement of air and controls air leakage. This control of air leakage is essential to the further improvement of energy efficiency and for insulating against convection heat transfer.
SuperFOIL muilti-foil is lightweight and easy to handle, requiring no specialist equipment. With a life expectancy in excess of 50 years, you will be feeling the insulation benefits for a long time to come!
MULTIFOILS
SuperFOIL SF6 1.2M X 10.0M ROLL 12.0 M2
25mm thick multifoil. Thermal insulation for use in roofs, walls & floors.
Ideal for DIY Projects, Loft Conversions, Garden Buildings Garages, Sheds & Behind Radiators.
Keep warmer in winter and cooler in summer by reducing the effects of solar gain.
Lightweight & flexible.
Quick & easy installation with minimal waste.
Acts as a radiant barrier to reflect excessive heat gain during the summer months as well as insulating throughout the year. Installed as a continuous layer, eliminating the need to "cut and fit" between rafters & joists making installation significantly faster and simpler. Can significantly improve air tightness reducing uncomfortable draughts. Lightweight & flexible making it easy to transport - no more running up & down stairs to cut to size before taking it inside! Can be used on its own or in combination with any other form of insulation.
For technical details please refer to the PDF data sheet which we link to above.
Product normally requires a minimum air gap either side of the multi-foil to ensure that this product works in the way it was designed to.
Product requires installation in accordance with manufacturer details - If in doubt then please follow manufacturer instructions and advice.
SuperFOIL SF19+ 1.2M X 10.0M ROLL 12.0 M2
45mm thick multifoil. Thermal insulation for use in roofs, walls & floors.
SuperFOIL SF19+ is BBA Agrement certified for use in roofs and walls
SuperFOIL SF19+ has a BBA certified R Value of 2.53 in pitched or flat roofs and 2.97 in walls.
Utilises DuPont ultra efficient nano coating technology to improve performance
SuperFOIL SF19+ also acts as a radiant barrier to reflect excessive heat gain during the summer months as well as insulating throughout the year
"DUET" Installation - an over the rafter and under the rafter application consisting of two layers of SuperFOIL SF19+ with SF40 provides a U-Value of 0.16
"Combi" Installation - use SuperFOIL with any other insulation including mineral wool or foam board such as PIR to achieve the new regs
SuperFOIL SF19+ is ideal for use in walls and roof structures in new build and in renovation, refurbishment and extension projects.
SF19+'s technical specification means high performance from a small footprint.
Easy installation results in minimal waste. SuperFOIL is manufactured with 40% recycled materials and is recyclable at the end of its useful life.
SuperFOIL SF19+ Acts as a radiant barrier to reflect excessive heat gain during the summer months as well as insulating throughout the year. Installed as a continuous layer, eliminating the need to "cut and fit" between rafters & joists making installation significantly faster and simpler. Can significantly improve air tightness reducing uncomfortable draughts. Lightweight & flexible making it easy to transport - no more running up & down stairs to cut to size before taking it inside! Can be used on its own or in combination with any other form of insulation such as PIR or Insulated Plasterboard.
For technical details please refer to the PDF data sheet which we link to above.
Product normally requires a minimum of 25mm air gap either side of the multi-foil to ensure that this product works in the way it was designed to.
Product requires installation in accordance with manufacturer details - If in doubt then please follow manufacturer instructions and advice.
SuperFOIL SF40 1.5M X 10.0M ROLL 15.0 M2
65mm thick multifoil. Thermal insulation for use in roofs, walls & floors.
SuperFOIL SF40 has BBA Agrement & LABC Registered System approval
SuperFOIL SF40 has a BBA certified R Value of 3.47 in pitched or flat roofs and 3.91 in walls.
DuPont ultra efficient nano coating technology.
SuperFOIL SF40 also acts as a radiant barrier to reflect excessive heat gain during the summer months as well as insulating throughout the year
"DUET" Installation - an over the rafter and under the rafter application consisting of two layers of SuperFOIL SF40 provides a U-Value of 0.14
"Combi" Installation - use SuperFOIL with any other insulation including mineral wool or foam board such as PIR to achieve the new regs
SuperFOIL SF40 is ideal for use in walls and roof structures in new build and in renovation, refurbishment and extension projects.
SF40 technical specification means high performance from a small footprint.
Easy installation results in minimal waste. SuperFOIL is manufactured with 40% recycled materials and is recyclable at the end of its useful life.
SuperFOIL SF40 acts as a radiant barrier to reflect excessive heat gain during the summer months as well as insulating throughout the year. Installed as a continuous layer, eliminating the need to "cut and fit" between rafters & joists making installation significantly faster and simpler. Can significantly improve air tightness reducing uncomfortable draughts. Lightweight & flexible making it easy to transport - no more running up & down stairs to cut to size before taking it inside! Can be used on its own or in combination with any other form of insulation such as PIR or Insulated Plasterboard.
For technical details please refer to the PDF data sheet which we link to above.
Product normally requires a minimum of 25mm air gap either side of the multi-foil to ensure that this product works in the way it was designed to.
Product requires installation in accordance with manufacturer details - If in doubt then please follow manufacturer instructions and advice.
SuperFOIL SFUF 1.5M X 8.0M ROLL 12.0 M2
6mm thick multifoil. Thermal insulation for use in roofs, walls & floors.
Multifoil Insulation for solid & suspended floors
Quick & easy installation
Use to insulate new or existing floors
Reduces impact noise
Can be used in solid or timber floors as well as roofs and walls
ideal for use under screed and underfloor heating
Performance R = 0.8
SuperFOIL SFUF Thermal Insulation for under floors, walls & other any other areas of construction that require a slim high performance insulation. SFUF can be used under screeded and laminate floors as well as over and under suspended floors. SFUF will contribute to the air-tightness of your building, and provides a thermal break to reduce or eliminate cold bridging when turned up the walls. SFUF contains multiple reflective layers that reflect the radiant energy back into the room. You can use SFUF to meet or improve U-Values in both new build projects and renovation work. SFUF is ideal for insulating underfloor radiant heating pipe and has grid markings to assist with the laying of under floor heating pipes. SFUF is also an ideal product to lay as a thermal break to help eliminate cold bridging in areas difficult to insulate with traditional insulation.
For technical details please refer to the PDF data sheet which we link to above.
Product requires installation in accordance with manufacturer details - If in doubt then please follow manufacturer instructions and advice.