Michael Gaisford

All materials have a certain amount of sound and heat insulation.

Each material has a capacity to absorb heat or sound, and a capacity to reflect sound or heat.

The quality of absorbtion or reflection of energy gives the characteristics of that material as an insulative material.

Many materials have been tested and been given a numerical value. There is a value which corresponds to the sound qualities, measured in dB, and a value for the thermal qulaity usually given as R. R is infact 1/K where K is the coefficient which measures the amount of heat lost over 1m² when there is a difference of one degree either side of the material.

One problem with measuring the acoustic properties of a material is that they vary depending on the frequency of the sound used.

To be accurate, the frequency used in the test should be quoted.

Another point to be aware of is that some of the latest materials to come onto the market have not been tested by an independent governmental body. Comparisons are given as to the insulative values but these have been determined usually by the manufacturers themselves.

In my view insulation in all parts of a house is very important and in general I think it isn’t given a large enough budget considering its importance.

If a house has no insulation or is poorly insulated you could expect to loose about 30% through the roof, 25% through the walls, 13% through the windows, 7% through the floors, 20% through the recycling of air, and 5% through small leaks and ‘heat bridges’.

Knowing this one is more able to decide where to use quality insulation……everywhere infact.!!