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Attic insulation is a badly neglected aspect against heat in most of the old Irish homes. 
With the current emphasis on heat energy conservation and optimization of energy usage attic
insulation has come to the forefront of aspects demanding
urgent attention. Insulation of attics is a complex
issue but at the same time
addition of extra material to existing is relatively easy.
Why should you consider retrofitting the attic insulation?
Poor attic insulation eats into your annual energy bills.
In new buildings attic insulation is given special consideration these days while
retrofitting totally or addition of extra thickness in old buildings is encouraged by the government by way of grants and financial aid. Management of these schemes and the grants is done through the Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
Typical insulations in AtticsGenerally following are the preferred insulations;
- Loose Fill
- Batt Insulation
- Foam Spray
In pitched roof assemblies, attic space is typically insulated with
mineral fiber batts or blankets and/or mineral fiber or cellulose loose
fill insulation.
Each of these types of material has its distinct advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics which others may not posses.
Attic Thermal Resistance
In effect the total thermal resistance of the ceiling plus insulation,
attic space, and roof is the sum of the conduction resistance
of the ceiling plus insulation and the effective attic resistance.
The roof resistance is generally considered negligible and not taken into the calculations.
As you note the most critical component therefore happens to be the insulation.
Thermal Performance of Insulations
Thermal performance of the insulation varies with the mean temperature.
In winter conditions, thermal resistance of the insulation increases while in summer conditions, it decreases.
Some loose fill material settles after some time.
Some other spray type insulation may exhibit differences in the density in different locations.
Some low-density loose fill materials may be porous and present adequate interstitial spaces that very low temperatures at the top of the insulation may lead to free convection in the insulation which is detrimental to the intended purpose.(Under certain conditions the effective thermal resistance may be decreased by as much as 50% due to this)Is your existing attic insulation adequate?As the recently constructed buildings are designed with correct material, thickness of insulation and fixing techniques the problems are mostly confined to older buildings.
Things to find out when thinking of retrofitting attic insulationFind out how much insulation has to be added to your attic.
For this you have to check;
- How much insulation thickness is currently available
- Type of insulation material and the ‘R’ value of it
- Locations (patches) having inadequate insulation
- Whether existing air sealing is adequate.
You do not need special equipment or techniques to carry out the above check ups. Good visual inspection along with simple thickness determination is all that will be necessary initially.
On the other hand one can also make use of a BER Advisory Report for this assessment should he wishes so.ENTECH can provide the following services with regard to your requirementsWe will provide:
- Free information on HES and HES grants, BER certification and assessments, application for concessions etc
- Design Supply and installation of attic insulation, high efficiency HVAC equipment and controls
- All other related services
Contacting us
For information on Attic insulation call us on 1890 245 345 or please complete our
Free
online enquiry form...click here
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