Largely manufactured from recycled glass (e.g. windscreens) and mineral base materials such as sand and without the use of binding agents. The ingredients are melted into molten glass, which is cooled and crushed into a fine powder. The powdered glass is poured into molds and heated (below the melting point) in a "sintering" process that causes the particles to adhere to one another. Next, a small amount of finely ground carbon-black is added and the material is heated in a "cellulation" process. Here, the carbon reacts with oxygen, creating carbon dioxide, which creates the insulating bubbles in the (material). CO2 accounts for more than 99% of the gas in the cellular spaces.
Cellulose insulation is a material made from recycled newspaper. The paper is shredded and inorganic salts, such as boric acid, are added for resistance to fire, mould, insects and vermin. The insulation is installed either blown or damp-sprayed depending on application.
Wood fibre
The success of wood fibre insulation derives from an attractive environmental profile combined with a whole bag of functions including rigid insulation, sheathing and sarking for timber frames, roofs and flooring as well as flexible insulation for studs and rafters.
Wood of course is renewable, it sequesters carbon during its growth and product production is relatively free from pollution. The insulation value of wood fibre boards is not as dimensionally efficient as some of the orthodox petro-chemical materials - but it's no slouch either - typically coming in with a 'k value' range of between 0.038-0.043 W/mK depending on format.
Hemp
Hemp fibres are produced from hemp straw of the hemp plant. Most hemp is imported, but an increasing amount of home-grown crop is becoming available. Hemp grows up to a height of nearly 4 metres within a period of 100-120 days. Because the plants shade the soil, no chemical protection or toxic additives are required for hemp cultivation. The product is composed of, usually, 85% hemp fibre with the ballance made up of polyester binding and 3-5% soda added for fire proofing.
Straw
Straw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such asbarley, oats, rice, rye and wheat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
Material
Lambda (W/mK)
Density (kg/m³)
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
PIR
0.022
34
60
70
82
92
100
XPS
0.034
35-40
85
102
119
136
153
Stone wool
0.037
35
92
111
129
148
168
Cellulose
0.040
105-165
100
120
140
160
180
Polystyrene EPS
0.038
15-40
95
114
135
152
171
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
110mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4110) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
12mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4012) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Board is an excellent high-perform..
25mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4025) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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50mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4050) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
96mm Celotex TD4000 (TD4096) PIR Insulated Plywood Flat Roof Board is a 3 in 1 product designed to provide decking, vapour control layer and insulation for new and refurbishment flat roof applications.
Celotex TD4000 provides a quick and easy way to achieve effective thermally insulated flat roof..
106mm Celotex TD4000 (TD4096) PIR Insulated Plywood Flat Roof Board is a 3 in 1 product designed to provide decking, vapour control layer and insulation for new and refurbishment flat roof applications.
Celotex TD4000 2400mm x 1200mm provides a quick and easy way to achieve effective thermally in..
120mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4120) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
20mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4020) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
40mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4040) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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60mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4060) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
116mm Celotex TD4000 (TD4096) PIR Insulated Plywood Flat Roof Board is a 3 in 1 product designed to provide decking, vapour control layer and insulation for new and refurbishment flat roof applications.
Celotex TD4000 2400mm x 1200mm provides a quick and easy way to achieve effective thermally in..
130mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4130) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
25mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4025) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
50mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4050) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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65mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4065) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
126mm Celotex TD4000 (TD4096) PIR Insulated Plywood Flat Roof Board is a 3 in 1 product designed to provide decking, vapour control layer and insulation for new and refurbishment flat roof applications.
Celotex TD4000 2400mm x 1200mm provides a quick and easy way to achieve effective thermally in..
140mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4140) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
30mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4030) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
55mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4055) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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70mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4070) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
150mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4150) is a multi-purpose PIR rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent high-performance thermal insulation ma..
35mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4035) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
60mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4060) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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75mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4075) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
165mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4165) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
40mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4040) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
65mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4065) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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80mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4080) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
200mm Celotex XR4000 PIR Insulation Board (XR4200) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, roof and ceiling cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
45mm Celotex TB4000 PIR Insulation Board (TB4045) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for floor, wall, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excel..
70mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4070) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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90mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4090) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent h..
100mm Celotex GA4000 PIR Insulation Board (GA4100) is an easy to cut and install multi-purpose polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation board featuring a low emissivity foil facings that is suitable for wall, floor, ceiling and roof cut-to-fit applications.
Celotex Insulation Board is an excellent ..
75mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4075) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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80mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4080) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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85mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4085) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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90mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4090) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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100mm Celotex CW4000 Partial Fill Cavity Wall Insulation Board (CW4100) is an easy to install PIR (polyisocyanurate) rigid insulation board, featuring a low emissivity foil facings with excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mk that is suitable for partial fill masonry cavity wall applications.
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