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SPECIALIST INSULATION MANUFACTURER AIM RECRUITS SIMON MAYES

 

Acoustic, fire and thermal insulation product manufacturer AIM has appointed Simon Mayes as Specification Manager.

 

Simon will work with specifiers and main contractors to determine the appropriate products to help them design high quality buildings and is available to give CPD presentations.

Simon has 20 years’ experience in the construction industry working for manufacturers such as British Gypsum, Saint Gobain Isover, Komfort, Cembrit, Siderise and, most recently, Proteus Waterproofing.  He has held positions ranging from: business development manager, where he was responsible for framework agreements between British Gypsum and main contractors; and specification manager, working alongside architects, designers and main contractors; to national sales director.

“The majority of my experience has been within specification, working with architects and main contractors,” Simon explained.  “I enjoy the technical side of sales where I can help clients understand and comply with the building regulations.”

The appointment is part of a major investment in sales and marketing at Acoustic Insulation Manufacturing, known as AIM.  Already this year, the business has recruited Chris Dale to the role of Business Development Manager – North and will have news of a Business Development Manager – South in the very near future.

“Given the importance of specification, we are delighted to have recruited such a highly experienced specifier,” added Ian Exall, AIM’s Commercial Director.  “Simon’s role will be key to the future growth of AIM.  We have spent two years investing heavily in our product range (which is set to continue well into the future).  Simon will be helping us bring our new and improved products to the attention of specifiers so that AIM products are a natural choice for the buildings they are designing.”

 

UK-based AIM Acoustic & Insulation Manufacturing designs and manufactures third party tested fire, thermal and acoustic insulation products, primarily, but not exclusively, for the construction industry.  The company produces bespoke insulation products to customer specification and a range of standard fire, thermal and acoustic insulation products, and provides technical and product training support.  AIM supplies products on a rapid response basis throughout the UK and Ireland.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AIM WEBSITE

 

 

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Kingspan unveils new QuadCore Lower Embodied Carbon range

Kingspan unveils new QuadCore Lower Embodied Carbon range – QuadCore LEC

 

QuadCore LEC has been developed specifically to help reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings it is used on. Using comparative Lifecycle Assessment Data (LCA) data to the EN15804-A2 standard, this breakthrough in insulated panel technology demonstrates a 41% reduction* in embodied carbon in modules A1-A3 (product stage) for QuadCore AWP in a 100mm thickness. The first products in the QuadCore LEC range will be in available in Q1 2023 in the UK and Irish markets.

Further reductions in the embodied carbon of the QuadCore LEC range are expected between now and 2030 and are underpinned by the business commitment to Net Zero Carbon manufacturing by 2030, the introduction of an internal carbon charge, and the investment in H2 Green steel – a company pioneering the manufacture of steel using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels.

Mike Stenson, Head of Innovation for Kingspan Group explained “As a business we are committed to developing high performing, energy efficient, building envelope solutions that help minimise the carbon footprint of buildings over the whole life cycle. Creating products with reduced embodied carbon and enhanced potential for circularity is key to achieving this.

QuadCore is already one of the highest performing insulation technologies in terms of thermal efficiency (underpinned by a 25-year thermal warranty) which could enable higher energy and carbon savings through the operational life of the building. This is the first step on our journey to reducing the embodied carbon of our products and we anticipate some major milestones by 2030 to drive that down even further.”

 

The new QuadCore LEC insulated panel range will have all relevant independent testing and certification for UK & Irish markets.

*Quadcore AWP LEC LCA shows a 41% reduction in LCA modules A1 – A3 (product stage) when compared to existing Quadcore AWP LCA to the EN15804-A2 standard for a 100mm thickness. The LCAs for QuadCore KS1000RW and QuadCore Coldstore are currently going through the verification process and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) will be published ahead of the products launching in Q1 2023. The 41% reduction is achieved through raw material changes. When comparing modules A-C (product stage, construction process stage, use stage, end of life stage) the overall reduction is 17%.

For more information, please CLICK HERE

UK: +44 (0) 1352 716100   IRE: +353 (0) 42 9698 500

CLICK HERE FOR THE KINGSPAN WEBSITE

 

 

 

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Kingspan launches new facades business

Kingspan Group, the global leader in high performance insulation and building envelope solutions, has announced the launch of Kingspan Facades – a new business designed to help architects enhance their designs without compromising on technical performance.

Combining systems and expertise from across the Group, Kingspan Facades is a service-led business providing specifiers with a comprehensive portfolio of advanced building envelope systems suitable for a multitude of applications and architectural styles. This aesthetic offering is supported with four robust substructure solutions that encompass Kingspan’s advanced core insulations alongside options using more traditional materials.

Mel Courtney, Managing Director of Kingspan Facades explains the vision for the new business:

“We’re noticing a real drive in the industry for more detailed and accessible technical guidance, particularly around facade systems. By offering solutions incorporating all of Kingspan Group’s facade products under a single business, we are in a unique position to provide the most appropriate solution. We offer a single source approach from the Steel Framing System, insulation, right through to the external facade – one point of contact for customers for the full through-wall system solution, reinforced by the technical support that Kingspan is renowned for”.

Kingspan Facades will be underpinned by an industry-leading Compliance Assured scheme. Compliance Assured by Kingspan is a robust assurance framework to support customers through design, installation training and on-site inspection during construction and handover of a BR 135 / BS 8414 tested Kingspan Facade system. This scheme, an industry first, shows Kingspan taking action to address the call for higher standards of installation and oversight on construction projects identified in the Hackitt Review earlier this year.

Describing the significance of the Compliance Assured service, Kingspan Facade’s Technical Director Dr. Thomas Henriksen said:

“In her review of Building Regulations and fire safety, Dame Judith Hackitt highlighted a number of key recommendations, including improving competence levels, stronger processes for driving compliance and managing change control, together with greater clarity of roles and responsibilities of those procuring, designing and constructing buildings. Above all Dame Judith has called for effective leadership within the construction industry to create the cultural shift required for positive change.

Compliance Assured provides a framework for construction that developers, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and most importantly both building owners and occupiers can all be confident in. As well as providing a high level of technical support at design stage, we will enhance the competence of those installing our tested systems through mandatory, project specific training. We believe that this is a major step in addressing many of Dame Judith’s recommendations”.

A key element of Compliance Assured is that Kingspan will provide a prescriptive list of components for their BS8414 Tested Systems, working with a limited number of recommended suppliers. This supports a holistic system based approach, and can be mapped to the RIBA Plan of Work Stages to provide greater transparency and traceability.

The new business will encompass the BENCHMARK by Kingspan brand, combining its architectural rainscreen facade systems, including Dri-Design, with a full spectrum of different insulation cores. These range from traditional mineral fibre to advanced insulation products such as Kingspan’s innovative QuadCore Karrier System and proven Kooltherm K15 Rainscreen Board solution.

The full range of products and technical services from Kingspan Facades will be available in UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and can be explored at www.kingspanfacades.co.uk
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Can your insulation really affect your health?

A well-insulated house or office will protect your health, comfort and lifestyle but how many of us know and understand how to achieve this?

Ecomerchant and Steico UK have joined forces to launch a protection campaign. It aims to champion the benefits of using natural insulation products.

How we select insulation needs to be about having a real choice and for specifiers to be equipped with the right knowledge to compare materials on a like-for-like basis.

To design a well-insulated building, you need to make informed decisions throughout all phases of a construction project to ensure your building performs as you envisage.

Protexion

However, selecting the right insulation is about more than just reaching building regulation compliance or ‘keeping in the heat’. It’s about ensuring a building protects its occupants’ entire well-being and comfort in the following ways.

How well does insulation keep the heat out?

In the UK, thermal insulation to protect from the cold is essential, particularly given ever-increasing energy costs. However, as demand for usable square footage of buildings increases, basement and loft conversions are the routes many now take. However, these parts of a home or office, are the spaces most prone to extremes in temperature. They therefore need more thought – i.e. how do you keep a space warm in winter but, for a loft, how to keep it cool come summer.

Compared with synthetic insulation materials, wood fibre insulation has a much higher density. This higher density means that natural insulation makes for a better heat buffer as the high midday temperature will only reach the internal side and be lost at night when the temperature is already cooler outside.

How a building’s breathability is hurting our health

A breathable structure is one that allows the passage of moisture.

With 90 per cent of all building construction problems associated with water in some way, breathability is essential in measuring a building’s performance and preventing the accumulation of harmful water within the building’s fabric. These are fundamental in reducing health risks from mould, mites that those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly susceptible to.

For effective breathability, there are four essential components that need to be considered:

  • a moisture pathway
  • a driving force
  • a sorptive fabric
  • vapour control

Natural fibre insulation is most effective as it suppresses potentially harmful water by binding and releasing moisture which helps regulate humidity levels as the moisture moves.

Easy-to-fit insulation

A well-designed building takes into consideration how a material performs throughout the building’s entire life cycle. This includes ease of installation. Steico’s wood fibre insulation is simple and easy to fit (either packed or friction-fitted), eliminating installer error, keeping construction programmes, tight and costs, low.

How sustainability will save you time and money

While all insulation is helping the environment by limiting energy being burnt for heat, natural fibre insulation materials are comparatively more robust. This means that when it comes to disposal, they can be composted – i.e. no specialist waste facilities or landfill. Throughout their lifecycle they will additionally have a much lower, and often, negative carbon footprint.

More than just protecting your home from fire

All insulations will meet fire safety standards, but this is a minimum rating. The key differentiator between natural and synthetic is that natural insulations will prevent the spread of fire and if burnt, will not give off toxic fumes such as cyanide as polyisocyanurates (PIR) might.

Will the house be standing in 100 years?

Condensation is one of the costliest risks to buildings causing huge maintenance repairs and structural damage. Natural materials are better able to absorb and release water whilst remaining dry meaning it is better able to protect from and buffer moisture thereby becoming a key part of healthy living.

Comfort for occupants

When selecting insulation for a building, there are implications for the health of the occupants, the structure of the building, its impact on the environment, its acoustic properties, durability and carbon footprint.

Cancelling out the noise for a peaceful night’s sleep

The higher density of natural insulations – such as wood fibre – makes them better at reducing noise. Sounds external to the building, such as traffic or music, as well as those from within the building, through walls and ceilings are attenuated better by wood fibre than synthetic equivalents. In providing better protection from acoustic pollutants, occupants often report a building as being more restful and relaxing thereby encouraging better mental health.

When a building is well-designed and well-built, occupants should be at their peak comfort. With the average person spending approximately 80% of their lives in enclosed rooms, an occupant’s well-being is imperative . Therefore, the products used to achieve this, should cover all the issues affecting a building’s construction, its impact on both its occupants and nature.

For a free audit of whether natural insulation’s right for your project, visit www.ecomerchant.co.uk/protexion or call 01793 847 445.

Protexion

Written by Will Kirkman, managing director at Ecomerchant

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Kingspan Insulation invests in new production lines

Leading insulation manufacturer, Kingspan Insulation Ltd, has announced it is investing €17 million in two state-of-the-art, low waste production lines at its facilities in Derbyshire and North Yorkshire, further enhancing its portfolio of construction and mechanical engineering insulation products.

The prototype Continuous Process Line 3 (CPL3) – which is expected to go live at Kingspan Industrial Insulation’s site in Glossop in August 2018 – is the latest evolution in the firm’s Queen’s Award winning CPL technology. The twin manufacturing line will provide greater capacity, meeting growing market demand for the premium performance building service insulation. Its precision central bore design will also set a new benchmark for production accuracy.

CPL production technology automates the lamination of the product’s internal and external liner and has allowed Kingspan Industrial Insulation to achieve significant reductions in manufacturing waste when compared with the ‘cut from block’ approach.

A further €10 million investment is being made at Kingspan Insulation’s facility near Selby with the introduction of a manufacturing line for Kingspan Styrozone insulation. The new facility will offer even greater choice to specifiers and installers, producing boards in a comprehensive range of lengths, thicknesses, densities and compression strengths. Once fully operational, the line’s advanced design will also ensure a 100% recycled waste stream.

Richard Burnley, Managing Director at Kingspan Insulation Britain & Ireland commented “At Kingspan, we are constantly working to identify and employ new and advanced manufacturing methods, keeping our products at the cutting edge of the market. These new lines will allow us to continue to meet the growing market demand, providing greater choice to customers whilst also achieving significant improvements in the efficiency of our production processes.”

For more information www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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With great height, comes great responsibility

ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® has been installed on a new high rise building in Manchester to provide a fire safety solution that also delivers reliable thermal performance and superior acoustics.

In March 2016, construction began on a new high rise development, named One Regent, on Water Street in Manchester. Made up of 307 apartments, including six townhouses and 326 sqm of commercial space, the project sits at the gateway to Manchester’s city centre. The development was partially funded by the Greater Manchester Housing Fund, which aims to alleviate growing demand for residential property. Many new developments across Manchester are reaching great heights, presenting a number of different challenges for building contractors. In particular, fire spread.

This project required an insulation solution that would provide optimal fire safety, a thermal performance U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, and acoustic protection. Due to this, developer and main contractor, Renaker Build Ltd chose 21,000m2 of ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® in 125mm for the project. ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® is a dual density insulation board that has been specifically designed for high rise buildings. It’s robust and weather proof thanks to a compressed 15mm primary fleece that’s placed on top of the insulation and achieves a thermal performance of 0.18 W/m²K. A European classification: A1 non-combustible product, RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® has been designed to slow the spread of flames and provides vital fire protection, allowing all occupants to evacuate the building safely in the event of a fire.

John Messer, Project Manager at Renaker Build, comments “As well as its leading thermal efficiency and fire resistance, one of the main qualities that stands out when using ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® is the fewer fixings that are required to install the product. This helped us keep costs down during installation, in terms of product and manual labour.”

Renaker Build also liked the fact that ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® offered better acoustic protection than other façade insulants on the market. With development in Manchester on the rise, acoustics has become an important issue for building contractors to overcome. ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® significantly improves the acoustic performance of the external building structure from airborne noise because of its high density and randomly assembled fibre structure.

John concludes, “The project was completed to schedule in July 2017. ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® not only saved us time in the long run, but greatly achieved the desired thermal performance required. It also provided us with a fire resistant material that gave the building unrivalled acoustic insulation, which is becoming an ever increasing concern for our clients. The versatility of the product was ideal for the project and gave us the optimum solution to each of our requirements as well as aesthetic freedom. I’m confident to say, this won’t be the last time we install ROCKWOOL RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB®.”

For more information please visit www.rockwool.co.uk.
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Kingspan insulates services on visionary science building

The Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System and Kingspan Kooltherm FM Duct Insulation have been installed as part of Coventry University’s flagship scientific teaching and research building, contributing towards the building’s BREEAM ’Excellent’ rating and delivering a high level of fire resistance performance through the use of intumescent lined Kingspan Kooltherm FireSleeves.

The £59 million Science and Health Building has been constructed by BAM. The multi-disciplinary complex consolidates existing research facilities within new ‘super-labs’ and provides state-of-the-art healthcare simulation space. Broadway Malyan’s design is comprised of flexible spaces which can be easily adapted over time to meet the University’s changing requirements.

M&E consultants, Buro Happold, collaborated with NG Bailey M&E and Thermal Clad to ensure that the building services achieved outstanding energy performance. Their specification included 14,000 lm of Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation (as part of the Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System) and 5000 m2 of circular and rectangular Kingspan Kooltherm FM Duct Insulation. The products feature premium performance insulation cores with thermal conductivities as low as 0.025 W/m.K and 0.022 W/m.K respectively.

Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe and Duct Insulation also offer excellent reaction to fire performance and are FM Approved to Class 4924 when installed in accordance with the conditions defined by the approval. As part of the Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System, Kingspan Kooltherm FireSleeves were installed around the pipework at penetrations. When exposed to high levels of heat, the intumescent material within these products swells and forms a hard char. This closes any gaps between the pipework and the penetration edge, maintaining proper compartmentation. They can act as a 2-hour fire stop to BS EN 1366 Part 3 on both steel and copper pipe service penetrations through block wall applications.

As a key element within the Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System, Kingspan Kooltherm Insulated Pipe Support Inserts were also installed. Thermal analysis has shown that these inserts can limit heat loss through pipe supports by as much as a factor of five when compared with metal pipe clips, further reducing energy demand from the building services. Slotted Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation was also installed at the University to insulate large diameter pipework.

Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe and Duct Insulation have been assigned a highest possible 2008 Green Guide Summary Rating of A+ by the BRE. Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation has also and has been awarded a best-in-class Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certificate, recognising it as outstanding material according to the VOC Indoor Air Quality emissions standards. Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation is the first pipe insulation product to attain BDA Agrement® certification under the scheme.

In addition to its free Pipeline Technical Advisory Service which can be contacted on 0808 168 7363, Kingspan Industrial Insulation has now also launched Premier and Premier Plus Services. These services support purchases of Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation and the Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System (incorporating insulated pipe support inserts and Kooltherm FireSleeves) respectively, delivering clear advice and guidance at every stage in a project, from the initial specification, to site visits and certification.

For more information please visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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By the seaside with Kingspan Kooltherm

The premium performance of the Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Wall Board has led to its specification on a new residential development in Hendy, North West Swansea, helping the project to meet its thermal performance requirements with a slim construction build up.

Situated in one of the most desirable postcodes in Wales, Cwrt Y Bedw is a collection of 82 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, including 19 affordable homes, being constructed by Persimmon Homes West Wales. With an intimate village location and easy access to the region’s beautiful coastline, the development has been designed with first-time buyers and families in mind. In order to ensure the dwellings were as energy efficient as possible, Persimmon Homes used a variety of techniques and cutting-edge technologies throughout the project, including Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Board.

Carl Davey, Construction Director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, explains “The Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Board provided the technical solution we needed to easily secure a compliant level of thermal performance, within a standard cavity depth, at an economical price. Our site teams found the product clean and easy to install and we were impressed with both the product’s features and the quality of the installation we have achieved at the Cwrt Y Bedw scheme.”

Kingspan

Part of Kingspan’s new Kooltherm K100 range, Kingspan K108 Cavity Board features a fibre-free phenolic core with an outstanding thermal conductivity of 0.018 W/m.K. This excellent performance enables housebuilders to meet or exceed target external wall U-values, without encroaching on living space or moving away from preferred cavity sizes. 460 m2 of Kingspan Thermapitch TP10 was also installed on the slated pitched roofs of the new homes, providing a high thermal performance of 0.022 W/m∙K.

All Kingspan Kooltherm, Therma and KoolDuct insulation products and cavity closers manufactured at Kingspan Insulation’s facilities in Pembridge and Selby are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) ‘Excellent’. The products are manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).

For further information, please call 01544 387 384, email info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk or visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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New ductwork installation guide from Kingspan

Kingspan Insulation has released a new installation guide for Kingspan Kooltherm FM Ductwork Insulation and Therma Duct Insulation, available for download from www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.

The easy-reference document covers all aspects of the installation process for rectangular, circular and flat oval ductwork applications; from initial preparation, to TICA recommended methods of insulating flanges, stiffeners and connections. Clear annotated diagrams are included throughout, illustrating best practice in a range of areas such as dealing with radius sections and circular bends.

Both Kingspan Kooltherm FM Ductwork Insulation and Therma Duct Insulation offer a number of advantages for installers. The product’s high and premium performance insulation cores can help to keep ductwork dimensions to a minimum, without compromising energy performance. They’re suitable for indoor and outdoor applications on ductwork and associated products within an operating temperature range of –20°C to 80°C. Whilst their fibre-free insulation cores make them particularly well suited to controlled environment applications such as laboratories, food preparation and server rooms.

For further peace of mind, Kingspan Kooltherm FM Ductwork Insulation is also certified by FM Approval to Factory Mutual Research Approval Standard – Pipe Insulation Class Number 4924, when manufactured and installed in accordance with the conditions defined by the approval.

Kingspan Kooltherm FM Duct Insulation and Therma Duct Insulation produced at Kingspan Insulation’s Pembridge and Selby manufacturing facilities are certified to BES 6001 ‘Very Good’ and have been assigned a highest possible 2008 Green Guide Summary Rating of ‘A+’.

For more information please call +44 (0) 1544 388 601 or visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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Grenfell Tower update: insulation and tiles failed fire safety tests

Police have confirmed that the blaze was started by a faulty Hotpoint fridge freezer and that the insulation used in the refurbishment was actually more flammable and contributory to the inferno than the cladding tiles.

In a statement to the press, Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said “preliminary tests show the insulation samples collected from Grenfell Tower combusted soon after the tests started. The initial tests on the equivalent aluminium composite tiles failed also.” McCormack also confirmed that the police are now planning on investigating the manner in which the tiles were fixed to the building and how the installation process attributed to the fire.

Although the current death toll sits at 9 at the time of writing, it is expected to rise to 79 as more of the charred building becomes accessible to recovery teams. Manslaughter charges are currently being considered.

Thousands of households across the UK have been warned this week that the buildings they live in are also clad in similar flammable systems, or around 600 towers according to estimates from the Communities and Local Government. This is now a matter of high urgency to rectify, to prevent similar accidents happening in the future.

David Orr, Chief Executive at the National Housing Federation, said “Since the tragic fire that took place last Wednesday at Grenfell Tower, housing associations across the country have worked tirelessly to reassure tenants, carry out additional safety checks and, in London, offer support to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

“Right now, housing associations are working closely with DCLG to identify and test any tower blocks with ACM (aluminium composite material) cladding. And, while the cause of the fire and its spread remains unconfirmed, housing associations will be scrupulous in carrying out other fire safety checks for example on sprinklers, smoke control systems and emergency procedures.

“We want to reassure residents of these blocks that testing on your building does not necessarily mean that it is unsafe, and in instances where cladding is found to be combustible, action will be taken.

“As always, the sector’s first priority is its residents. We will work in partnership with local authorities and fire services across the country to ensure people in tower blocks are safe and secure.”

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