Knauf Insulation in Move on New Standard for Insitu Formed Products
Following the approval of a new Harmonised European Standard, EN 14064, for Insitu Formed Mineral Wool, Knauf Insulation has announced that the thermal conductivity value of its blown mineral wool products will be declared with a 90:90 statistical analysis, which will be compulsory from December 2011, and warns of possible market distortion if product comparisons are not now undertaken on a ‘like for like’ basis.
Insitu formed insulation products are those that are installed by being blown or pumped into lofts, masonry walls or framed constructions; as opposed to products supplied pre-formed in slabs, rolls or boards. The purpose of the new Harmonised European Standard is to provide statistical analysis that ensures that any thermal conductivities used in calculations are achieved most of the time in practical situations.
It is expected that the 90:90 analysis will result in a higher thermal conductivity values being calculated for mineral wool products. Currently the average (or mean) value of measurements is used as the declared value, and because the new method relates to the value (90/90) that can be obtained for 90% of production within a 90% confidence level, it will result in an estimated increase (worsening) in declared thermal conductivity value of approximately 10% for existing blown mineral wool products used in cavity insulation if no adjustments are made to the product.
Knauf Insulation warns that future specification will therefore need to be carefully considered to ensure that product comparisons for this application are undertaken on a like for like basis.
In particular, as no such standard is yet available for Insitu Formed EPS Bead Insulation which also currently declares thermal conductivity as a mean value there is a potential for market distortion. The British Board of Agrément has confirmed that, in order to avoid market distortion, it will require a similar treatment for other insitu formed products used in the same application. It would be expected that a similar or greater increase would apply to blown EPS bead products, both plain and graphite.
Stephen Wise, Technical Development Manager at Knauf Insulation, said: “The company welcomes the introduction of a Europe-wide standard, which will eventually aid product specification – once applied across all insulation types. Whereas it is recognised that this does increase the thermal conductivity value for insitu formed mineral wool, Knauf Insulation is confident that this can be offset by varying the installed density and product characteristics of its blown mineral wool products. Indeed if the market demands, it will be possible to provide products with lower thermal conductivity than is currently supplied, using existing blowing machinery.”
It is not apparent that manufacturers of EPS bead products have a similar range of options available to enable them to improve their product and maintain its declared thermal conductivity value after a 90:90 statistical analysis is applied.
For further information see BBA reference sheet 40/10 http://www.bbacerts.co.uk/pdf/040-Lambda%209090.pdf
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Notes to editors:
Knauf Insulation is the UK’s leading manufacturer of insulation products, and the only producer of four types of insulation: Earthwool, encompassing glass and rock mineral wool with the revolutionary ECOSE® Technology, extruded polystyrene (XPS) under the Polyfoam® brand name and extruded polyethylene (XPE).
Knauf Insulation mineral wool products with ECOSE Technology are made with a formaldehyde-free binder based on rapidly renewable materials, instead of traditional petro-based chemicals. ECOSE Technology is up to 70 per cent less energy intensive than traditional binders. Complementing the new sustainability benefits, the patented ECOSE Technology also produces a ‘super-soft’ and easier to handle wool.
In the UK, the company employs around 500 people at its four manufacturing plants at St Helens, Queensferry, Cwmbran and Hartlepool. Knauf Insulation is part of the Knauf Group – a global corporation delivering products and services including: building materials and systems based on gypsum and gypsum-related products, thermal insulation, sound insulation and fire protection materials, limestone and lime products, chalk and cement related products and plant engineering.
Knauf Insulation Ltd
P O Box 10
Stafford Road
St Helens
Lancashire
WA10 3NS
Tel: 01744 766600
Web: http://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk