At SuperFOIL, we believe that understanding the building regulations requirements for insulation helps to make it easier to exceed them. Insulation materials must meet a certain standard to be applied to homes, but just meeting the requirements isn’t enough. Our team aims to provide solutions that are more effective than they have to be by law, because developing our products is our passion.
Here is everything you could need to understand the building regulations around insulation, to help you make an informed decision on your insulation materials.
The Insulation Requirements On New Builds
Wall Insulation Requirements
To meet wall insulation requirements to the current new build insulation regulations, you now require a 0.18U in England (0.16U in Wales, 0.15U in Scotland); which is a level of performance much higher than it needed to be a decade ago. However, rather than settling for the minimum amount of insulation allowed, many self-builders are now aiming to achieve higher values from the get-go. A lot of builders are looking to achieve values of 0.11-0.13U, which will accommodate any further changes in legal requirements for insulation.
Floor Insulation Requirements
In Scotland, floor insulation is already required to be 0.10U on new builds. While England maintains the requirement for 0.13U. Construction companies that operate across the UK will match their builds in England to Scotland’s requirements .This standard is easy to reach with slim, multifoil insulation for floor insulation.
Roof Insulation Requirements
Since heat rises, the majority of your energy will escape through the roof! The sheer amount of heat that can escape through your roof makes it the most important area to insulate. The bare minimum required for a new build is 0.13U. You’ll need 390mm of mineral wool, or about 270mm of rigid foam, while SuperFOIL is even thinner still.
The Conclusion On Insulation Regulations
While applying higher insulation levels may be more costly upfront, the long term running costs of your home can be significantly reduced. This saves you money in the long run! SuperFOIL are able to offer a wide range of solutions to meet any U-value requirement for walls, roofs & floors. For more details, contact us.
