Your Build – Summer 2019

Phase 2 Framing Your Build

W

hen planning and

building your own

home, architectural

design and

aesthetic finishes

understandably

demand a lot of attention. However, one of

the most important elements is the correct

specification and installation of insulation; it’s

one of the easiest ways to prevent heat escaping

a building. This should be a key concern for

homeowners, especially considering rising energy

bill costs. However, before it comes to assessing

the different types of insulation available on the

market, it is vital that self-builders understand

the requirements set out in Approved Document

Chris Roughneen, Technical Manager at Isover, explains how to

ensure that you have a warm and comfortable environment to live in

YOUR HOME

Insulating

L1A and Approved Document E of the

Building Regulations.

Approved Document L1A relates to the

conservation of fuel and power within new

dwellings and sets out the required U-values for

the roof, wall and party wall within a home, as

well as windows, doors and glazed roof-lights. In

simple terms, U-values measure the rate of heat

loss through a building element - the lower the

U-value the more thermally efficient the building

element is.

Another aspect of insulation to consider is the

acoustic benefits it can bring to the home. As

a result, self-builders also need to understand

the guidance within Approved Document E,

which governs the resistance to the passage of

sound within dwellings. The primary aim of

this document is to reduce noise transmission

between, and within, residential dwellings. Many

may be unfamiliar with the acoustic performance

of insulation, for the predominant focus of

insulation for domestic dwellings was, for a

long time, placed on thermal efficiency alone.

However, according to a survey commissioned

by Saint-Gobain UK, 90 per cent of those buying

or moving into a new home are concerned about

the impact of noise on their health and wellbeing.

It is therefore no surprise that the focus on

insulation is evolving to consider both the

acoustic and thermal benefits.

As such, it is important that you carefully

choose insulation products that will protect