Xtratherm guide to fitting floor insulation

Buildings can lose a significant amount of heat through un-insulated floors, which is why fitting floor insulation is really important.

Amends to Part L of Building Regulations are designed to improve the thermal efficiency of floors and Hyfloor 75 rigid insulation which is made from highly thermally efficient Polyisocyanurate (PIR) is one of the most effective methods of doing this.

Here, Danny Kearney, technical manager at Xtratherm, one of the UK's leading PIR insulation manufacturers, explains that in typical UK housing 75mm of high performance PIR foams will generally meet a U-value of between 0.22 and 0.20 W.m2K well within the targets required to meet the more stringent regulations and at 75mm ties in with the exterior brick work without need for soap bars.

The following sequence provides essential step-by-step instructions on fitting new Hyfloor 75 and discovers why it is proving a hit with contractors.

Hyfloor 75 is designed to be user-friendly and installation normally takes just 20 minutes per room and can be installed below slab or screed floors.

Before fitting Hyfloor 75, floors should be covered with a suitable damp proof membrane (DPM).

A Radon Barrier can double as a DPM.

Ensure the DPM seals with the damp proof course.

The DPM should be laid on a flat level surface to prevent puncturing, a screening of sand or cement dust can be laid over any uneven surfaces to provide this.

An optional layer of polythene can be laid over the insulation in accordance with good practice guidance.

Once the DPM is in place position a 25mm upstand of Xtratherm Perimeter insulation around the external and internal wall/floor junctions.

This is essential to reduce thermal bridging.

Lay the first Hyfloor 75 panel into the corner of the structure.

Subsequent panels should be closely butted together a job made easier because of the tongue and grove joints along the long edge.

Wherever possible, stagger the panels with a break bonded pattern.

Ensure the panels are fitted tightly up to the edges of the wall foundations / perimeter upstand.

The panels can be easily cut using a sharp knife or fine tooth saw.

Once the main floor area has been completed, use the off-cut panels to fit between doorways in internal walls, again ensuring the perimeter upstand is in place.

Service openings can be easily cut out using a fine tooth saw or knife.

Ensure that the insulation is sealed around any service openings.

Once all the panels are in place the floor is now ready for the next layer of screed or concrete slab.

Hyfloor 75 provides the most efficient means of insulating a floor to the new Building Regulation standards with no change to brick coursing.

Contractors like it because it's so easy to use and developers are finding its enhanced performance helps them meet energy efficiency requirements.

The distinctive branding of the Hyfloor ensures that the contractor is achieving the quality and U-values expected.

The product is available through Xtratherm stockists throughout the UK.

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