Insulation

The word ‘insulate’ means to protect something by interposing a material between it and other elements that prevents transmission between them. The word ‘insulation’ refers to the material that is interposed.

Insulation may be used in the construction industry for a number of different purposes:

• Thermal insulation to prevent the transmission of heat, typically between the inside and outside of a building. For more information see: Thermal insulation.
• Acoustic insulation to prevent the transmission of sound, for example between a recording studio and a performance space. For more information see: Acoustic insulation.
• Fire insulation to prevent the passage of fire between spaces or components.
• Electrical insulation to contain and separate electrical conductors.

There are a number of articles on Designing Buildings Wiki about insulation:

• Acoustic insulation.
• Acoustic insulation market.
• Advice for External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems with a render or brick-slip finish.
• Aerogel insulation for buildings.
• BR 135 Fire Performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multi-storey buildings.
• BREEAM Insulation.
• Cavity wall insulation.
• Celotex RS5000 PIR insulation.
• Designing out unintended consequences when applying solid wall insulation FB 79.
• Domestic floors: Part 1: Construction, insulation and damp proofing.
• Expanding foam.
• External wall insulation.
• Floor insulation.
• Flue insulation and air tightness requirements.
• Green Homes Grant vouchers extended.
• Icynene spray foam insulation.
• Insulating concrete form.
• Insulation envelope.
• Insulation for ground floors.
• Loft insulation ruling.
• PA ratio for insulation.
• Phenolic foam insulation.
• Reducing thermal bridging at junctions when designing and installing solid wall insulation FB 61.
• Roof insulation.
• Solid wall insulation.
• Solid Wall Insulation: Unlocking demand and driving up standards.
• Sound insulation in buildings.
• Sound insulation in dwellings Part 2: New-build (GG 83-2).
• Sound insulation in dwellings: Part 1: An introduction (GG 83-1).
• Sound insulation in dwellings: Part 3: Material change of use (conversions) (GG 83-3).
• Specifying insulation for inverted roofs.
• Ten facts about Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation to help specifiers.
• Thermal insulation for buildings.
• Transparent insulation.
• Types of insulation.
• Understanding Insulation and the Part It Plays in Building Regulations.
• Wall insulation and moisture risk.
• Wood and insulation.