How Insulation Works

Insulation’s primary function is to help control the internal temperature of a building. It does this by performing two specific tasks. It keeps the heat in and surprisingly to some it keeps the heat out too. So it helps keeps a home warm in winter and cool in summer. A perfect balance.

It does this by controlling the flow of heat losses or gains through conduction, convection and radiation. Celotex insulation’s supreme insulating properties help achieve this.

Heat Loss

Over half of all heat generated in a home is lost through the walls and the roof with around 15% escaping through the floor. The remainder will be lost through windows and doors. So ensuring your insulation is in order yields the best reward.

Most homes in the UK do not have sufficient insulation. Even if you do have insulation in your loft it’s likely that the amount won’t be in-line with today’s modern standards and current guidelines. It’s very straight forward to top-up your loft insulation using Celotex and have the comfort of knowing that your investment will start paying back immediately.

Heat Transfer

Heat is essentially transferred in three distinct methods, conduction, convection and radiation. Using Celotex will help minimise any heat losses or gains, reducing energy requirements and associated CO2 emission levels. Each one is explored in more detail below.

Conduction

Conduction is the transfer of heat through an object. Materials such as metal have high thermal conductivity allowing for heat to transfer quickly through them.

Insulation materials must have low thermal conductivity to minimise the transfer of heat.

Convection

Convection is the transfer of heat via the movement of hot air rising to cooler areas.

As the heat reaches the top of the home, conduction will begin to take place as it will start to escape through the building fabric.

Effective loft insulation will help prevent or limit this from happening

Radiation

Radiation is the transfer of heat via electromagnetic waves. They will be emitted in straight lines from all over a hot object. This is why heat from a fire can be felt from some distance away. All objects emit electromagnetic radiation, but hot objects emit more than cold. As with conduction and convection, radiated heat will escape a poorly insulated home.