PIR Insulation

PIR Insulation: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Purchasing insulation for your home is a big decision. There are many different types of insulation and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The amount of money you spend on insulation can vary greatly depending on the type, so it's important to know what you're getting before you buy.

We've created this guide to help make your decision easier by explaining all the considerations that go into purchasing PIR Insulation products.

PIR Insulation Basics: What is PIR insulation?

Before we get into the details of specific insulation types, we'll start with a quick overview to build some key knowledge.

PIR stands for polyisocyanurate, which is a type of rigid foam insulation that's used in building construction. The "rigid" part of the name comes from the fact that unlike other forms of insulation, it doesn't come loose and compress after installation . Instead it's a solid, hard foam material.

This product is a refinement of previously utilized PUR boards (polyurethane), which are generally made as foam and used as rigid thermal insulation.

PIR insulation board is a tough, durable, lightweight insulating board made of two high-performance aluminium facings sandwiched between a rigid PIR insulation core.

Benefits & performance of PIR board:

• Lightweight and easy to install
• PIR insulation boards need only half the thickness of traditional insulation to achieve the same level of thermal efficiency
• They will not rot, sag, or perish over time and will continue to provide intended insulation values for the duration of its existence.
• Fire resistant; complies with building code regulations without requiring additional measures or treatments.
• The insulation core and facings defend against mould and bacterial growth.
• Energy efficient; cost effective thermal resistance means more savings on heating bills year round.
• Because they don't have a fiber-containing core, they are non-irritating.
• It will save 80 times more energy than it took to make it over its lifetime.
• PIR insulation is a cost-effective building material that will pay for itself over time.

Generally, there are several different types of PIR insulation to choose from:

General purpose foil faced PIR insulation board

PIR insulation boards are manufactured in thicknesses ranging from 20mm to 200mm and the standard size is 2400mm wide x 1200mm high.

They are your standard board with two aluminium foil facings on either side.

General purpose pir boards are used for a wide range of applications including pitched roofs, flat roofs, timber frame, floors, walls etc.

PIR boards have a high thermal performance. They typically have an u-value of 0.022 W/mK.

Cavity Wall PIR Boards

The most common method of wall insulation for new builds is to fill the gap with Partial fill cavity insulation. The cavity is there to prevent moisture from seeping through the outside wall. Cavities are now larger than in the past in order to allow for insulating material to be inserted within them, as a means of lowering heat loss. Solid masonry walls are very rare for new builds.

PIR insulation boards bonded to plasterboard

This type of insulated board is manufactured specifically for installation against standard plasterboard walls and ceilings. Can be used to line walls and ceilings, or can also be applied directly to internal wall studs.

PIR insulation bonded to plywood

Plywood is frequently utilized as the main structural layer in timber frame construction. However, it can also work well with an insulation board overlay and provide a similar visual effect. This product typically has an R-value of 4R per inch (203mm).

PIR insulation bonded with OSB board

An alternative version of this product bonds the PIR insulation board directly to high density oriented strand boards (OSB), which are manufactured from recycled wood fibers and adhesive binders. This type offers a similar performance to plywood but with a lower embodied energy rating.

PIR insulation coated with mineral glass

This product is manufactured using two ultra-thin layers of mineral glass coating instead of aluminium foil facings. Mineral glass is made by melting sand with high purity compounds, cooling it rapidly and then grinding the result into small pellets. This creates a vapour barrier on both sides, allowing it to be utilized in a variety of applications including flat roofs.

Summary: Are you insulated?

PIR insulation is a cost-effective building material that will pay for itself over time.

It is extremely durable and will endure the test of time, requiring no maintenance to keep it in perfect condition.

We hope our overview has helped explain the different types of PIR insulation available on the market, which you can now compare and contrast.

If you have any further questions or would like to find out more about PIR insulation, be sure to contact us.

Thank you for reading our guide. We hope you found it helpful.