Modern heaters: the three pillars of energy-efficient homes
Rock wool, extruded polystyrene and ecowool. We believe that many of the users forumhouse.ru familiar with these names. But how to navigate around the variety of heaters, which offers modern building materials market? And most importantly, for what purpose it is best suited a particular heater?
To answer these questions it is necessary to understand what characteristics should first pay attention to when choosing insulation material.
- Coefficient of thermal conductivity. The smaller this value is, the better a material retains heat in winter and comfortable climate in the summer;
- Hygroscopic material. Or, in other words, whether the material is exposed to moisture accumulation. The greater the tendency of the material to the absorption of moisture, the faster it loses its insulating quality;
- The density of the material. This characteristic, calculated in kg / m3 determines the weight of the insulation. The material weighs less while retaining its heat-insulating properties, the lower the load on the insulation has elements erected structures;
- Environmental properties of the insulation. In recent years, an increasing number of property developers have begun to pay attention to this feature. After all, in addition to energy-saving insulation to be more safe and healthy;
- And the same - non-combustible material, its durability, water vapor permeability, and the ability to soundproofing the premises.
Thus, we consider the main characteristics and features of three pillars of modern and energy-efficient home:
Stone wool is ...
Andrei Petrov (Lead Design Engineer Design Center ROCKWOOL):
- Stone wool - it is one of the varieties of mineral wool. This product is manufactured by melting stone, at a temperature of + 1500 ° C. This results in a semblance of lava, which by means of centrifugal force and quench converted in future fiber insulation.
For insulation of stone wool are not suitable for all stones - as a raw material used igneous rocks of gabbro-basalt group, characterized by their high strength.
If we compare the heat transfer resistance of various materials with rock wool slab thickness 5 cm, then it will Wall thickness is approximately 20cm of timber, from about 1m corpulent 2m red brick or concrete. And the material used in construction for 50 years.
There are three main types of insulation:
- Soft plate;
- Rigid plates;
- Rolls and molded articles, e.g., cylinders for insulating pipelines.
It should be remembered that in addition to a modified stone composed of mineral wool and organic substance is - about 4.5% by weight. These include water repellents, which protect the material from moisture, dedusting agents, and the binder which binds the fibers in a durable and resilient product.
As a link - preference is given to aqueous solution of phenol formaldehyde resins because of its durability and chemical resistance in the cured form.
Andrei Petrov
–In pure form and phenol and formaldehyde, of course, dangerous, but during production of products coated with the material binder passes polymerization chamber where at + 200 ° C the resin once and for all forms of liquid passes into solid.
The absence of harmful substances from stone wool documented conclusion of hygiene and epidemiology centers.
Which ultimately provides a material composed of natural stone, which is fireproof, prevents heat loss and has sound deadening properties.
As it is known - material properties define the scope of its application, and the mounting method. So what features should be considered in rock wool insulation of the house, and if the density of the material is important in terms of thermal insulation?
Andrei Petrov
- It is important not so much density as required strength of products, which is dictated by the application in a particular design. Obviously, for the installation of insulation in the frame spacers in need soft and elastic plates, and the device screed in the apartment of insulation - rigid.
When installing the insulation is necessary to strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. For soft plates in the skeletal structures of walls, which is set to thrust into the frame every 3 m wall height provides horizontal unloading bridges in the frame to the upstream heater is not pressed on the bottom layers.
Stone wool is very vapor permeable, so if you put a vapor barrier on the cold side of insulation, it will be effect of cold tap in a hot bath - the last steam can not bypass the cold rolled film and in the form of condensate. Vapor barrier must be from the insulation which faces the heated volume.
Andrei Petrov
- When the inside insulation, water vapor permeability decreases designs, but because of the need to install a vapor barrier and "eaten" a useful internal floor area. In addition, the outer insulation as the fur protects the supporting structures of the house from temperature fluctuations, which means that the house will stay a lot longer.
extruded polystyrene
Among the developers can often hear the question: What is this stuff, and what the main difference from the foam?
Anton Borisov technical specialist company "TekhnoNIKOL":
- Extruded polystyrene foam insulation material is obtained by mixing polystyrene pellets at elevated temperature and pressure, with the introduction of the blowing agent and subsequent expression of extruder.
Among the characteristics of extruded polystyrene include the following features:
- Low thermal conductivity;
- Minimal water absorption;
- Low specific weight.
Despite the fact that the extruded polystyrene foam is made from polystyrene - the material is environmentally friendly. This is confirmed by certificates and sanitary - epidemiological conclusions.
Sometimes you can hear the assertion that the extruded polystyrene and foam - it's practically the same material. But is it really?
Anton Borisov:
–Different from a lot of foam. And these are just some of them:
- Compressive strength. For example: the use of extruded polystyrene foam in the roof structure allows the cake workers to move across the surface of the insulation during installation time, without any consequences for the material;
- Fragility in bending. Due to the high strength characteristics plate bending extruded polystyrene can be apply at least a solid foundation, while maintaining higher performance across construction;
- Through fine-mesh structure of the extruded polystyrene has practically no internal pores and voids. Such structure of the material provides a low water absorption, which has a positive effect on the durability of the material.
Proven durability extrusion penopolistirolasostavlyaet at least 40 years. A use of extruded polystyrene foam in the construction of foundations and basements device solves a number key challenges: to reduce heat losses, increase the durability of the whole structure, to protect the waterproofing layer.
What makes extruded polystyrene indispensable material in the device on the ground floors, foundations and UWB underfloor. At the same time, extruded polystyrene is an excellent sound-insulating material and increases the energy efficiency of the dwelling.
Anton Borisov:
- The point is that during the operation non-insulated building is constantly losing heat. To avoid this, you need to keep the heat in our building. The most cost-effective way - is the use of energy-efficient thermal insulation materials. Thus, the thickness of the walls of the house varies slightly, but the thermal resistance increases significantly.
Ecowool
Thermal insulation of buildings is one of the most important tasks in the construction of buildings, especially for Russia, with its harsh climate. And although such a thermal insulation material - like ecowool in Western countries is used in more than 50 years in our country, this material began to use relatively recently. So what is this stuff?
Vladimir Frishter (President Group of Companies "NPO Equator"):
- Ecowool - a loose cellulose fibers, manufactured from wastepaper with additives antiseptics and flame retardants, and the structure material allows you to apply a mechanical method of warming the house, and thus to minimize the human factor in the performance of these works.
When the insulation of the roof, walls, floors via blowing machines ecowool fed by pneumatic hose 65mm in diameter wired plates carcass structure between the rafters, struts per frame film.
When this fiber ekovatypronikayut the most inaccessible cavities and gaps forming a continuous and seamless insulating circuit.
Cellulose Fiber density at stacking via blow molder averages 35-45 kg / m3
Vladimir Frishter:
- Ecowool pumped into the pneumatic structure, the cellulose fibers completely fills the space of the insulated, closely adjacent to its surfaces, turning into a seamless, no sink and the heat capacity of the heat insulating layer having a thickness of 40 cm - the best for the construction of passive houses.
Performance blow molding machines - from 10 to 25 m3 / h - allows for large amounts of insulation in compressed time.
Since condensation of water vapor in the insulation of ekovaty does not occur, and there is no need for a device vapor barrier, which increases the speed of construction of energy-efficient homes and reduces the flow of money funds.
Home, warm ecowool, "breathe" is similar to a log of wood and contribute to the maintenance of an optimum microclimate. Ablagodarya additives, antiseptics and flame retardants that insulation belongs to the flammability and durable materials impervious to rot and exposed to rodents and insects.
Learn more about thermal insulating materials of mineral wool users forumhouse.ru can in this section our forum. Hot mounting discussion and warming houses can be read ecowool here. The story of our members of the forum about how to warm facade of the house is available extruded polystyrene this link. A familiarized with this video reelYou will see clearly how to build energy-efficient house.
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