Global Insulation reviews the insulation industry of the EU. High inflation casts uncertainty over the sector’s efforts to rebuild after costs touched critical levels across the region a year ago. Meanwhile, the bloc faces its greatest challenges yet: war on its borders, rumblings of discontent from within and two thirds of current annual CO2 emissions still to abate by 2030.
Global Insulation speaks to senior figures from the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association - International (RIMA-I).
Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer high-performance, but are expensive and have a fairly high environmental impact. This article outlines recent research into VIPs that use fly ash as their core material, offering the potential for greater sustainability and for lower cost VIPs to be made.
Energy efficiency and the overall need for sustainable buildings are increasing the use of efficient thermal insulation systems. In national regulations and guidelines limitations or protection requirements may be specified for the use of combustible insulation in façades. Alternatively, there may be performance-based requirements for products or for the whole façade system defining fire performance levels for different applications.
Foams are among the best insulators. Their cellular structure offers two natural advantages: no air flow and negligible air convection. Total's Excell-R® EPS foam insulation also reduces radiation losses.
The global economy is facing troubled times but could the insulation industry be heading for a more certain future? Could this be because of an excellent payback or because most regions in the world are bringing in new regulations to improve housing energy efficiency?
