Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: Knauf Insulation, has achieved the Building Research Establishment’s BES 6001 standard for its responsible sourcing practices. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the insulation producer uses recycled materials across its product range. The business has also developed a sustainable binder for its glass and rock mineral wool products that has no added formaldehyde, acrylics or artificial colours called ECOSE Technology. Knauf Insulation has achieved the standard across its glass and rock mineral wool products manufactured at its production sites in St Helens, Cwmbran and Queensferry.

“As a business that plays a leading role in the built environment, we are continually aiming to minimise risk within our supply chain. BES certification is the latest step towards achieving this and we are pleased to provide an extra level of assurance to our customers,” said John Sinfield, Managing Director at Knauf Insulation.

World: The vacuum insulation panel industry represented by VIPA International reports that it is pleased to see that standardisation activities on this technology are progressing well around the world. Standards are key tools to accelerate the market acceptance of new products and to create a level playing field for all companies in the market.

In Europe, the CEN Technical Committee 88 (thermal insulating materials and products) Working Group 11 (vacuum insulation products - VIP) has drafted the factory made vacuum insulated panels (VIP) for buildings specification. The draft standard is now under voting process by the national standardisation bodies in Europe. Some comments were received and will be analysed at the next meeting of the CEN TC 88 WG 11 in October 2017 to decide on the next steps, address the comments and start a new round of inquiries with the national standardisation bodies or proceed with the publication of the standard in its current format.

Also in Europe, the VIP group of the GSH (Güteschutzgemeinschaft Hartschaum e.V. - a neutral and independent European Association of Thermal Insulation Manufacturers) responsible for drafting the quality and testing regulations of the RAL VIP Quality Mark 960 has almost completed reviewing the current rules. Once completed, discussed with RAL (German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling) and approved, the RAL VIP Quality Mark will be extended to four VIP applications (refrigerators and freezers, building and construction, hot water tanks, temperature-controlled boxes and containers) irrespective of which core material is used for the particular VIP.

In April 2017 the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) VIP group had its first meeting in Canada. Professor Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya is the convener of this group. In China, the Nanjing Fiberglass Institute is leading the review of the Chinese VIP standard. The group plans to extend the current standard to all applications. The drafting process is expected to be completed by 2018.

VIPA International says that it is closely following all these standardisation discussions and is keeping its members informed about all developments. The association believes in the value of standards and would welcome global harmonisation as much as possible.

Denmark: Rockwool’s sales have grown in the first half of 2017 due to sales of flat roof insulation in Eastern Europe and general building insulation in North America. Its net sales rose by 6.6% year-on-year to Euro1.12bn from Euro1.05bn.

"As expected, the sales price increases we're implementing are beginning to show,” said chief executive officer Jens Birgersson. “Pricing will continue to be a major focus going forward, and we see positive market developments in the second half of the year, including an increasing interest for fire safe stone wool products. With better visibility for the remainder of the year, we are also increasing our guidance for sales growth."

UK: Knauf Insulation has launched a system to automate the installation of blown glass mineral wool during off-site manufacturing. The new system, called Supafil Frame, is intended to reduce the time required to insulate modular homes. Developed in conjunction with Stewart Milne Timber Systems, it blows un-bonded glass mineral wool into wall panels at the point of manufacture. The insulation producer says that the new system is the first application of its kind in the UK.

Supafil Frame has achieved a Gold rating for indoor air comfort from independent test body Eurofins. It has also been shortlisted in the Product Innovation category of the Structural Timber Awards and Building Awards.

Ireland: Kingspan is considering making further acquisitions in South America. Chief executive Gene Murtagh said that the insulation producer may follow up investment in the origin after its purchase of a controlling stake in Colombia's Panelmet and a production plant in Mexico, according to the Irish Times newspaper. Murtagh added that the insulation producer is ‘always’ considering buying new companies but that ‘unreasonable’ sellers were holding up potential deals.