Reflective insulators have become a real discovery in insulation. Today, such material in the domestic market is simply very popular. This type of insulation is called penofol and is used very widely in construction.
What is the material?
Penofol insulation differs from other types of modern insulators primarily in its small thickness. In most cases, this type of material consists of three layers - two foil aluminum and one - of foamed polyethylene. Penofol in rolls is supplied to the market.
Before applying the foil to the polyethylene in the manufacture of this insulator at the enterprises, they carefully grind the foil until a mirror shine appears. Penofol reflectivity often reaches 97%. Sometimes on sale today you can find material of this type with only one foil layer. Such an insulator on the market in our time is also quite in demand.
Apply foil to polyethylene in the manufacture of this material by heat welding. This ensures maximum adhesion of the layers.
Pros and cons
The main advantages of penofol developers include primarily its versatility. You can use this material when warming walling, erected from almost any material in buildings for various purposes - residential, warehouse, household, industrial, etc.
Another undoubted advantage of penofol insulation is the minimum degree of vapor permeability. When installing mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, ecowool, etc., it is supposed to additionally use special condensate-delaying films. When insulating the walls with penofol, there is no need to use vapor insulators.
Many consumers, among other things, include excellent noise absorption properties to the advantages of this material. Very often, such material is used in residential buildings not for insulation, but with the aim of making the rooms more “quiet”.
The small thickness of penofol, of course, can also be attributed to its unconditional advantages. When insulating buildings from the inside, unlike other modern insulators, this material practically does not “eat up” usable space in the premises.
Among other things, the developers include the following advantages of penofol:
environmental cleanliness;
simplicity in installation;
fire resistance;
ease of transportation, etc.
Material flaws
Plus, penofol insulation, therefore, has just a huge amount. However, there are, of course, this material and some disadvantages. The disadvantages of penofol consumers include primarily its soft structure. The walls covered with this material before using the fine finish often have to be additionally pre-sheathed, for example, with drywall or plywood. Sticking the same wallpaper directly on penofol, of course, will not work.
To mount this material on the building envelope is possible only by tightening. At the same time, fixing such an insulator is, although technologically uncomplicated, but still somewhat labor-consuming. In this regard, penofol is inferior, for example, to the same mineral wool mounted between the racks of the crate simply by surprise - without the use of glue, dowels, etc.
Technical characteristics of penofol insulation
With a small thickness, this material is able to protect the building’s premises from the cold no worse than traditional mineral wool and polystyrene foam. This is due primarily to the presence of polished layers in this insulator. The foamed foil on the walls of the building simply reflects the heat rays back into the rooms, preventing them from going outside.
By the ability to protect rooms from the cold, such a 4 mm thick material is comparable:
with a laying in 2.5 bricks;
a layer of expanded clay concrete of 50 cm;
aerated concrete - 39 cm;
mineral wool - 7 cm;
polystyrene foam - 5 cm.
Technical characteristics of penofol insulation are as follows:
coefficient of thermal reflection - up to 97%;
water absorption - 0.6-3.5%;
specific heat - 1.95 kJ / (kg ° C);
the elastic modulus at a load of 2-5 kPa - 0.26-0.77 MPa;
relative compression at the same load - 0.09-0.2;
moisture content - 2%;
thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.037-0.038 W / m ° .
This material is able to maintain its technical properties at temperatures from -65 ° C to +110 ° C.
Varieties
Foamed foil on both sides is marked by manufacturers, according to GOST, with the letter A. One-sided material of this type is marked as B. There are also the following varieties of this insulator on the market:
one - sided self - adhesive insulation penofol - C;
one-sided self-adhesive laminated with polyethylene - APL;
designed for insulation of air ducts of ventilation systems - AIP.
This insulation, like any other, can differ, of course, by such an indicator as thickness. If desired, modern developers can choose the material of this variety, ideal for warming rooms for any purpose. The thickness of this insulator of any type can vary between 3-10 mm. The warmest at the same time, of course, is foil insulation 10 mm penofol.
On the market today there is such material of various brands. Many companies, both foreign and domestic, produce this insulator. For example, the material supplied to the market by the manufacturer Penofol 2000 is very popular among Russian developers. The insulation of this brand is not too expensive and at the same time differs simply in excellent operational characteristics.
Installation of penofol: advice from builders
This material is used mainly for the insulation of buildings from the inside. Indeed, on the street, the foil layer will simply not “work”. Outside, this material is usually used only as a vapor barrier. When installing a penofol insulation, it is imperative that the following recommendations of experienced builders be followed:
when using one-sided material, sheathing is performed with a foil layer towards the premises;
between the wall and penofol during installation leave a ventilation gap of 1.5-2 cm;
the same clearance is provided between the insulation and the external finish;
the seams between the sheets of penofol are carefully sealed using foil masking tape.
Installation technology step by step
They insulate walls and ceilings in houses or, for example, baths with penofol using usually this technology:
lathing bars are fixed to the wall;
Penofol is fixed to the crate;
on top of penofol, a counter-grill is attached;
perform wall or ceiling sheathing with panel or piece material;
Mount the finish.
According to such instructions, the walls are sheathed with any varieties of this insulation, except for those intended for air ducts.
Most often, with the use of penofol, of course, walls or ceilings are insulated. But sometimes such an insulator is also used for the floor. Penofol insulation in this case is mounted using the same technology. At the final stage, in this case, it is usually sheathed on top with strong OSB sheets, on which, in turn, laminate, linoleum, carpet, etc. are attached.
Installation of the lathing
First of all, when insulating the building with penofol, of course, you should provide an air gap between the walls and this material. It is for this that the crate is packed on the building envelope. For its assembly, it is recommended to use a well-dried beam 2 cm thick. Before stuffing on the walls, this material must be treated with antiseptic and antifungal compounds.
It is possible to fasten the battens of the crate under the penofol to the building envelopes both vertically and horizontally. Mount the elements of the crate, taking into account the width of the material selected for insulation. But in any case, the beam on the walls should not be located in increments of more than 1 m.
The method of attaching the frame elements to the walls depends on what material they are made of. For stuffing the crates on wooden walling, you can use nails or self-tapping screws. The concrete crate is fixed to the dowels. In any case, such a frame should be assembled using galvanized, corrosion-resistant fasteners.
Material installation
Penofol insulation 10 mm, 5 mm, etc., of course, must also be attached to the crate, subject to all the required technologies. Such material is fixed on the walls on the beam exclusively end-to-end. Laps during the installation of penofol between the bands do not. Fasten this material to the battens of the battens with brackets using a construction stapler. The joints between the bands in this case are masking tape. Use for penofol, of course, should be foil material of this type.
Penofol can be cut when mounted on walls using ordinary sharp scissors. This thin material is cut very easily.
Installation of counter-lattice
As already mentioned, the gap during the installation of penofol is supposed to be left not only between it and the walls, but also behind the sheathing material. To ensure ventilation, a crate is placed on top of the insulation. For its manufacture, they also usually take dried, processed timber 2 cm thick.
Mount this material on top of penofol in the opposite direction to the elements of the crate. The timber is fixed in this case, usually using self-tapping screws. They screw such fasteners not into the walls, but into the elements of the crate. Self-tapping screws for counter-lattice are also better to use galvanized. Subsequently, condensation will accumulate in the ventilation gap.
How to sheathe foil walls
According to the technology described above, it is supposed to mount a penofol insulation 5 mm, 3 mm, 10 mm and any other. Sheathing walls upholstered with this insulator is allowed using any kind of material. The room can be finished, for example, with clapboard or block house. Such materials are ideal for living rooms, and, for example, for baths or saunas. It is allowed to sheathe walls thus insulated with plastic panels. This decoration method is often used not only in living rooms, but also, for example, on balconies.
You can also sew drywall, plywood or OSB on top of the foil insulation. In this case, the walls at the final stage will have to be additionally finished with finishing material. This can be, for example, wallpaper, decorative plaster, etc.
Material Reviews
Of course, most private developers consider penofol insulation for walls, floors and ceilings to be very effective. According to consumers, this material is convenient both in installation and in operation. Many people advise using such an insulator for warming residential premises and baths.
Some consumers believe that the ability of penofol to isolate rooms well is not at all related to its structure and the presence of foil layers, but rather to the method of its installation. The effect of heat conservation, according to such developers, occurs when using this material, solely due to the presence of two air gaps.
But be that as it may, rooms insulated with penofol are able to stay warm even on the coldest days. And therefore, it is worth using such material for the insulation of residential buildings or baths. However, this insulation will perform its functions effectively, of course, only if all the required technologies are observed during its installation.