PIR INSULATION BOARDS

PIR RIGID INSULATION BOARD

PIR insulation board, short for PolyIsocyanuRate (PIR), is one of the most capable and valuable heat resistant materials used in UK constructions that can be used to insulate buildings for energy conservation. It is ideal for in-between and under rafters in a pitched roof or for under-slab concrete floors and also for internal stud wall applications and wall lining to existing walls, roof, wall, timber frame, loft, floor and caravan applications. This evolution of polyurethane is stronger and has greater thermal resistance and in fact, PIR offers the highest R-value of any material per thickness. Its rigid core is usually sandwiched between two aluminium foil facings that are high performance, thus creating a tough, hard wearing yet lightweight insulation board. 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. PIR insulation board is often associated with market leader Celotex company as they began producing rigid polyisocyanurate foam as first. In fact, Celotex invented the thinnest thickness of PIR insulation measuring only 12mm. Many PIR insulation brands, such as Celotex, Xtratherm, Kingspan or Recticel come with a grid marked on, which can act as a guide to help ensure the thermal insulation board is cut in a straight line. When working with a PIR insulation board you should be always looking for a nice, tight fit. For more information on how to cut PIR insulation click here. Moreover, this type of insulation can help you meet current and future Building Regulations. Rigid panels are designed to cover all general needs for thermal insulation, fire resistance and sound reduction and because of their versatility and high compressive strength 120kPa, PIR boards are often used in roofing jobs. The Celotex boards are also ideal for underfloor applications, where insulation is needed below the floor. PIR insulation turned out to be so good and practical that many people choose to buy a bit cheaper seconds PIR boards which, despite the fact that they were transported and stored, are highly durable and good quality products that they can be used second time. Furthermore, its insulation core and facings defend against mould and bacterial growth. Board is recognizable as an ultra-thin insulation for walls. The major advantage of PIR compared to other insulation materials is the insulation value. The Lambda value of PIR is situated between 0.021 to 0.032 W/mK. This means that PIR offers superior insulation with the same thickness. PIR or POLYISO boards can directly contribute to strategies for conserving energy and significantly reduce the effects of global warming. If you are looking for the thinnest PIR insulation clck here. For best type of insulation boards click here.

PIR INSULATION THICKNESS

The typical length and width of a PIR board is 2400mm by 1200mm. Each sheet is 8' x 4' and covers 2.88m2. PIR insulation boards are available in a range of thicknesses such as 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 45mm, 50mm, 55mm, 60mm, 65mm, 70mm, 75mm, 80mm, 90mm, 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, 125mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 165mm, 180mm and 200mm. The most common used thicknesses are 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 50mm and 100mm. If you are looking for 12mm Celotex TB4012 click here.

PIR RIGID INSULATION BOARDS MANUFACTURERS

Depending of thickness and brand, rigid insulation boards come in multiple name options, including Celotex GA4000, Celotex TB4000, Celotex XR4000, Xtratherm Thin-R, Kingspan TF70, Kingspan TP10, Kingspan TW55, Recticel Eurothane GP, Quinntherm, EcoTherm EcoVersal, IKO Enertherm ALU and Ballytherm PIR. Thinner insulation boards, ranging from 12mm to 50mm are offered by Celotex, Xtratherm, IKO Enertherm, Ecotherm and Kingspan.

PIR VS PHENOLIC

Phenolic boards have a slightly higher R-value and a slightly thinner profile than PIR boards due to the manufacturing process. While PIR offers the lambda value of 0.022 W/mK, phenolic closed cell foam offers 0.018W/mK. For comparison, Celotex makes polyisocyanurate rigid foam, so perhaps phenolic is only 10% better then PIR. While PIR insulation boards combine thermal efficiency with an economical price point, phenolic boards do tend to be more expensive. PIR foam is made through a chemical reaction that results in a closed-cell structure that traps gas. Because this gas transfers less heat than still air, it is one of the most energy-efficient insulating materials on the market.

TYPES OF PIR INSULATION

Depending on the application, there are several varieties of PIR boards.

CAVITY WALL PIR BOARDS

Cavity Wall PIR Boards - they are made of rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR), and are available in most popular 75mm cavity thickness and are sized to fit between cavity wall ties.

PRODUCTS

• Xtratherm CT/PIR CavityTherm Thin-R
• Recticel Eurowall Plus Cavity Insulation Board
• Celotex CW4000 Cavity PIR Insulation Board
• Xtratherm XT/CW Thin-R
• Thermawall TW50 Kingspan PIR Cavity Wall Insulation 

PIR INSULATION BONDED TO PLASTERBOARD

Insulated PIR is a combined product of polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid insulation foam core bonded to 9.5mm or 12.5mm plasterboard that is suitable for internal applications, fixed with adhesive dot & dab direct bonding.

PRODUCTS

• Xtratherm XT/TL Thermal Liner Dot and Dab Insulated Plasterboard
• Celotex PL4000 PIR Thermal Insulated Plasterboard

PIR INSULATION BONDED TO PLYWOOD

Plywood pir is a 3 in 1 solution to provide decking, vapour control layer and insulation in one application for use in warm flat roofs under traditional bituminous waterproofing and single-ply waterproofing membranes in new build and refurbishment flat roof projects.

PRODUCTS

• Recticel Plylok PIR Warm Flat Roof Insulation Board
• FR/TP Xtratherm Thin-R Thermal Ply Flat Roof Insulation Board
• Celotex Insulation TD4000 PIR Plywood Flat Roof Board
• EcoTherm Eco Deck Pre-Insulated Flat Roof Decking
• Kingspan Thermaroof TR31 Plywood Flat Roof Insulation

PIR INSULATION BONDED TO OSB

OSB PIR board is a composite board of enhanced PIR (polyisocyanurate) core faced with foil on one side and 9mm OSB board on the other side which is very useful when applying hot bitumen on a flat roof without damaging the insulation.

PRODUCTS

• Xtratherm Plydeck PIR with OSB Flat Roof Insulation

PIR INSULATION PRICES

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. For sure, PIR insulation is a cost-effective building material that will pay for itself over time. Boards are simply a better solution, enabling greater savings and better thermal insulation than standard polystyrene or mineral wool. The price of PIR insulation often depends on two factors. The first is the brand itself. When buying well-known brands, we often pay for the name itself. The second factor is the supplier location ('near me'). When buying PIR from local building merchants such as Wickes, B&Q we pay for 'off the shelf product', we can touch and see physically, while with an online supplier like us you can only get better deals without seeing a product. It is because products come to you directly from the manufacturer.

PIR VS OTHER INSULATION MATERIALS

The table below compares the most commonly-used insulation materials

PIR APPLICATION

PIR foam panels can be used in a wide range of applications. These include:

• Beam and block floors
• Upgrading concrete slab floors 
• Between rafters 
• Between and under joists 
• Balconies and terraces 
• Timber frame wall lining 
• Timber frame walls sheathing 
• Suspended timber floors 
• Steel stud frame walls 
• Single timber frame wall lining 
• Rain-screen cladding 
• Pitched roof sarking 
• Concrete slab floors
• Loft and attic insulation
• Garage conversions

BENEFITS OF PIR INSULATION

• Amongst the highest thermal values of any PIR insulation product available due to the product’s low thermal conductivity.
• Not corrosive to metal over time.
• Able to custom manufacture to different sizes.
• Fast manufacturing turnaround times.
• PIR Insulation Panels for Commercial and Domestic applications

Video credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDhhyS5r8QE

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