How To Make Your House Thermally Insulated ?

Good heat insulation in the building or adopting some proactive measures can give you relief from both severe summer heat as well as the winter cold.

Thermal Insulation in the building is very much important in India as India is a country of extreme weather where heat and cold are at their high peak during the season. So it is very much Important to make your home thermal insulated.

But before moving towards thermal insulation we should know what is thermal insulation.

Thermal Insulation of building is the process of creating a shield around your home in terms of use of thermal insulated material or using building material which are better for thermal insulation to save energy of house.

Tips to make thermally insulating buildings:-

Shading of Windows:-

Shading devices generally used are louvers, Sun shades, verandah, curtains - using materials like heat absorbing glass, painted glass, etc.

Colour & Surface:-

Light coloured and smooth materials have higher reflectivity than dark coloured and rough materials. Whitewash, white paints, Marble have high reflectivity coefficient.

Heat Insulation of Roof:-

• Heat Insulating materials like a mud phuska can be applied externally.
•  False ceilings with an air gap can be built internally.
• Water sprinkling on roof .
• White washing the roof before summer.
• Applying reflecting materials on the roof.

Heat insulation of exposed walls:-

• Construct wall of sufficient thickness. A brick wall of 23 cm thickness is adequate. Thermal performance can further be improved by Providing cavity walls (gap between two walls) and hollow bricks.
• Constructing a wall with suitable lightweight materials.
• Applying a light colour on the external surface.

Mud phuska terracing:-

• Mud phuska terracing and paving with bricks tiles is good for waterproofing and heat proofing of flat roofs. This is the best suited for hot and arid regions.
• Soil mixed with water is applied on a bitumen laid roof surface.
•  The water quantity should be such that soil can retain it’s shape in the form of a ball. Generally , 150 litres of water is sufficient for 1 cubic meter of mud phuska. A slope of 1:50 and with 1” thickness at the end is adequate.

Types of Thermal Insulation Materials :-

Fiberglass

Mineral wool

Cellulose

Polyurethane foam

Fiberglass:-

Fiber glass insulating material made up of fine glass fibers. It is mostly found in many homes. These fiber glass insulating material come in 2 types. One is in roll or batts and other one is rigid boards.

Advantages :-

It can be easily moulded into any shape and has mechanical strength that is so strong and stiff.It lasts for long time. No maintenance required . It is anti-magnetic, fire resistant, Good electrical Insulator, Fire proof.

The disadvantage:-

 It needs to be re-gel coated every 5 years. It may not work if it is wet or damp during installation.

Mineral wool:-

Mineral wool is a fibrous material drawn from molten mineral or rock mineral.

Advantages:-

It is installed as sheet into walls.

It is fire resistant, Noise resistant.

Disadvantage:-

 it is very expensive material. 

Cellulose:-

Cellulose insulation is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught proof and reduce free noise.

Advantages:-

Cellulose insulation is treated with boric acid which makes them fire resistant and makes them unpalatable.Have long term thermal insulating properties.Are cheaper than fiberglass. Normally health risk is less.

Disadvantages:-

Creates enormous amount of dust when installed.

Cellulose insulation absorbs moisture easily and decreases the long term insulating properties.

Polyurethane foam:-

• Polyurethane foam insulation is made up of two chemicals. These foam insulation are spread on walls and roofs and then it solidifies to make an insulating material.
• There are two types of foam material , one is open cell spray foam. And another is closed cell spray foam.
• Reduces HVAC capacity requirements.
• Have stable insulation over time.
• Reduces air and moisture Infiltration resulting in a more consistent temperature.

How to choose insulating material:-

• During choosing thermal insulation material choose that which have better thermal insulation.
•  And most important thing is whether the materials insulation capacity is long lasting or not.
• Next how much will it cost.
• How much will it take to install them.
• If it requires maintenance or not.

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