At Energy Rating Perth, we go beyond simply completing a 6 star energy rating, we can give advice on how to ensure that you avoid building defects that can be an expensive exercise to rectify. Ensuring an efficient building envelope is key to a thermally stable home. Insulation can give your home the thermal resistance required to keep the harsh exterior environment outside your home. However, insulation must be installed adequately in order to achieve a good thermal performance in a home.

Insulation is essential for the building envelope and overall thermal performance for building. When an energy assessor recommends an R -value for a type of insulation, it is with the pre-requisite that it is installed properly. If the insulation is compressed to fit into a space or if there are gaps it will not function with the intended R-value and result in a faulty building envelope. The following tips must be adhered for the installation of insulation:

  1. Avoid thermal bridging by installing thermal breaks between the metal frame and cladding and the bulk insulation should be fixed over external and internal surface of metal frame.
  2. Ensure the use of vapour barrier like polythene sheeting, reflective foil, and water resistance painted surface etc. in order to avoid condensation.
  3. Avoid any gaps in the insulation by ensuring the batts fit snugly into one another and the seams are well taped.
  4. Do not compress bulk insulation, always ensure that there is sufficient space for the chosen insulation.
  5. Maintain an air space of at least 25 mm next to the shiny surface of the insulation.
  6. Use perforated reflective foil in walls when building with porous building materials.
  7. Ensure a well ventilated roof space to avoid condensation and mold growth.

At Energy Rating Perth we warn our clients that if our energy assessor has not recommended the insulation, advice of a professional must be sought to ensure the type and thickness of insulation being used and it should always be purchased from a certified distributor. In most cases, distributors and vendors can usually give you a guide on how the insulation must be installed but unless you have ample building experience, a DIY should be avoided at all times. Usually for new buildings, the builder should be able to take care of the installation but in cases of addition/alteration (especially owner builder) it is advisable to use an insulation contractor over the average handy man as experts in the field are always more knowledgeable and accountable even if more expensive. A few contractors can be used to get a quote but the building owner must complete their own research on installation tips and the problems that arise for improper insulation. Contact us today to find out more information!