Choosing the Right Actis Insulation for Your Property

When choosing an insulation product it's important to pick a material or product type that's most suited to your property. Different types of insulation offer a range of different features and benefits, each designed to meet the variety of needs and conditions that different property types might present.

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the more modern designs of insulation on the market: Multifoil Insulation, Membranes and Hybrid.

The products in each category bringing their own set of features and benefits to meet a range of different requirements, with each product meticulously tested to comply with international standards of quality and safety while remaining environmentally sound.

Actis Multifoil Insulation

What is it?

Acting as a type of insulation blanket for your roof or walls, multifoil insulation is comprised of different thin layers of reflective films, each separated by wadding, sheep's wool or similar material.

Multifoil insulation is able to deliver the same levels of heat retention as more traditional insulation materials, despite being up to five times thinner.

How Does it Work?

Whereas most traditional insulation products acts against heat loss through conduction, multifoil insulation offers protection against all types of energy transfer:

• Conduction (The transference of heat through contact) The reflective foil layers of the insulation are separated by low density insulation materials such as wadding or sheep's wool. These separators work in much the same way as double glazing insulation, creating air gaps which prevent heat loss through conduction.
• Convection (Transference of heat through the different air temperatures) Multifoil insulation works by addressing air infiltration into your property. In the colder winter months it prevents the cold outside air coming into the property to retain heat within. Adding to its versatility the insulation also works through the warmer summer months by preventing warm air infiltration to maintain a cooler interior temperature.
• Radiation (transference of heat without contact) It is the multifoil reflective layers which acts as a powerful barrier against the effects of radiation transfer, reflecting infrared heat back towards the source from which they came. In the winter this might be the heating system in a property, thus retaining heat within. Whereas in the summer this is likely to be the heat from outside (the sun), reflecting it back to keep the property cooler.

Where would you use Multifoil Insulation?

This type of insulation offers a simple, versatile and space saving option across a range of properties. You might choose multifoil if you are in need of:

• Year round insulation retaining heat in winter, repelling heat from outside in summer
• Energy Saving Solutions where costs can be kept down on heating and air-conditioning
• Space Saving the thin blanket style of multifoil insulation means that it can be discreetly installed in attic and wall spaces. Perfect if you have rafter beams which you would like to keep visible, for example.

Membranes

What is it?

Membranes have been developed specifically to provide a solution for those looking to enhance, repair or generally improve upon the performance of insulation materials that have already been installed at a property.

Within the range there we supply membranes suitable for both walls and roof rafters which can be used either internally or, in the case of some roof membranes, over the original insulation material.

How Does it Work?

The membranes are designed for both additional thermal insulation purposes as well as providing a high quality, safe and effective vapour control solution.

Vapour Control

Simply installed onto the internal side of pre-existing insulation materials a Vapour Control membrane is a thin layer which acts as a barrier against water vapour diffusion, important in retaining heat within a property. As such it provides effective added insulation to the property. Furthermore, correctly installed the membrane is fully waterproof and dramatically improves the air-tightness of the building as a whole.

Roof Membranes

To provide potentially significant improvements to the insulation of a roof structure, these membranes can be installed on top of the existing roofing material. Its reflective nature helps resist external heat during high temperatures. Fully waterproof and designed to assist vapour evacuation from inside the building these membranes have been shown to deliver up to 20% more thermal protection.

Where would you use Membranes?

Essentially you might choose to install a membrane in buildings where insulation is already in place but in need of additional vapour control to improve thermal performance, give the insulation more breathability or to provide an effective barrier against vapour infiltration or diffusion.

Actis Hybrid / All In One Insulation

What is it?

Combining the features of multifoil insulation materials with the vapour control and additional air-tight qualities delivered by membranes, the hybrids offer a versatile, often cost-effective insulation solution. Designed to both retain heat in winter months as well as repel excessive external heat through the warmer summer months, hybrids deliver an all-in-one solution for energy-saving performance.

How Does it Work?

Blending the technology of insulation materials (such as foil layers) with vapour control membranes. Hybrids offer a 2 in 1 product which provides a total insulation solution for your building.

• Reflective Insulation As with foil insulation, the all in one solution will reflect summer heat away from the property to provide comfort in hot temperatures while its insulating layers will aid heat retention in winter months for versatile and energy saving temperature control.
• Air Tight Completely resistant to air infiltration ensure added insulation to the property as it protects against heat loss from convection.
• Resistance to Moisture With its inbuilt and breathable membrane the Hybrid insulation system is fully moisture resistant allowing for highly effective barriers against vapour diffusion.
• Space Saving Its modern design allows for the materials to be delivered in a space saving thin format versus more bulky, thicker traditional insulation materials, whilst delivering exceptional results.

Where would you use the Hybrid?

As a versatile all in one insulation solution these hybrid style insulation products are generally suitable across all types of building. For those seeking completely new insulation, either a full re-vamp or on a new build, the Hybrid offers a system which is simple to install, user friendly, cost effective and space saving. And a system which, more than anything else, will can deliver exceptional results.

We stock the entire Actis Hybrid range at JJ Roofing Supplies. You can take a look at them here. Or you can find your nearest branch here.