The ever-growing energy price tag makes homeowners think about improving the heat-saving qualities of their homes. In the construction market today you can find many heat-insulating materials that are actively used for this purpose. One of them is a domestic product - Isolight insulation. What are its features, what technical characteristics it has and what works it can be used for - we will discuss in our article.
Material Description
The Isolight heat-insulating product is made from molten rocks of the basalt type. In the manufacturing process, various additives are added to the mineral base, giving the material the highest characteristics. Insulation goes on sale in the form of hydrophobized plates, which are reliably packed in a vacuum polymer shell.
The Isorok insulation (Isolight, Isolight-L, etc.) is presented in the form of a whole line of materials that differ in purpose and some characteristics. All products are manufactured on Swedish equipment, therefore, fully complies with European quality standards. High strength allows you to use the material in the insulation of industrial facilities and various utilities.
A number of positive qualities together with low cost make basalt slabs popular both in large-scale works and in minor repairs. In private construction, 2 varieties of Isoroc insulation are most often used: Isolate and Isolight-L. We’ll talk about them.
Materials of the Isolight brand
Isoroc Isolight products are presented in the form of non-combustible plates, which are designed for insulation and soundproofing in various buildings. A distinctive feature of this variety is the long-term preservation of the original structure and geometry, which indicates the durability of the insulation. The material consists of many basalt fibers coated with polymer compositions. This eliminates the formation of dents and lumps on the surface of the plates.
Isolight insulation can be fixed on horizontal, vertical and inclined structures. Most often, this variety is used for insulation of frame partitions, walls, floors. Fire resistance of basalt slabs allows their use in the industrial field, where they act as thermal insulation of equipment heated to high temperatures (up to 400 degrees).
Isolight-L Products
A lightweight version of the previous product is Isolight-L insulation. The products of this brand are considered the most popular and are most often used in private construction and repair. The letter “L” added to the marking of the material indicates its light weight, while the thermal insulation qualities of this option remain still high.
Lightweight boards are used in cases where the structure needs to be insulated without increasing the load on the foundation. No less active is the material used as an inner layer in curtain wall systems, for warming lightweight frame structures, as sound and heat insulation of attic floors.
Structural Features of the Material
Insulation "Isolight" refers to materials of high fire safety. It does not support combustion and begins to melt only when exposed to temperatures above 400 degrees. A high degree of fire resistance allows the use of slabs in the construction of fire fighting structures.
The presence of an air gap between the fibers helps the material to perfectly cope with its main task - to retain heat. The same structural feature gives it excellent soundproofing properties.
Despite the fact that all mineral insulators are considered quite vulnerable, Isoroc products prove the opposite. The polymer bonding of the fibers makes the boards strong enough and resistant to various influences. Maximum density options can withstand even significant mechanical stress.
Impregnation with water-repellent compounds makes the product resistant to moisture and allows the material to retain its original structure for a long time. The probability of penetration of water into the insulation layer is minimal, but if this happens, the insulation will dry quickly and will not change its appearance.
Positive qualities of a heater
Depending on the variety and indicator of the density of products, the characteristics of Isolight insulation may change. However, common features inherent in the entire Isoroc product line can be highlighted. These include:
- durability;
- environmental friendliness;
- low thermal conductivity;
- high soundproof qualities;
- excellent vapor permeability;
- tear resistance;
- universality;
- a light weight;
- resistance to aggressive environments;
- resistance to the formation of fungus and rot;
- good deformation resistance;
- high degree of fire safety.
Modern production technologies make it possible to produce Isolight insulation material without the use of toxic impurities. In the process of heating, basalt insulation does not emit harmful substances into the air, which means that it is completely harmless to human health. For this reason, the products are considered absolutely safe and can be used for insulation of buildings and structures for any purpose.
In addition, the simplicity of their installation also relates to the positive properties of basalt materials. Lightweight mats are unpretentious in work and do not require the participation of expensive equipment in the installation process.
Are there any disadvantages of Isoroc products?
Since there are no ideal materials in nature, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages of Isolight insulation. He has only one - vulnerability to prolonged exposure to moisture. A small single wetting of the plate can withstand excellent, but constant humidity is poorly tolerated. For this reason, when warming the facades of houses or other external structures, it is necessary to cover the slabs with a layer of plaster or other facing materials. You also need to take care of creating a vapor barrier layer, which will help basalt heaters not to lose their properties for a long time.
Specifications
The operational properties of the material depend on its variety and purpose. For Isolight insulation, the technical characteristics are as follows:
- Density . This indicator directly affects the strength and thermal conductivity of the material and is not fixed. On the product’s packaging it is marked with the letter “P” and can vary from 40 (in lightweight versions) to 150 kg / m³.
- The ability to absorb water . It depends on the density of the material and ranges from 1.5 to 3% of the total volume.
- Humidity . For Isolight insulation, this is a stable indicator - 0.5%.
- Thermal conductivity . At an air temperature of +10 degrees, the insulating qualities will be at the level of 0.036 W / m * C. At t +25 degrees - 0.038 W / m * C.
- Durability . Depending on the density, from 3 to 15 kPa.
- Compressibility . The percentage of compression of the material is from 15 to 30.
As you can see, all indicators vary depending on the density of the product. Weight depends on the same characteristic. So, for lightweight options, a mass of not more than 50 kg / m³ is characteristic, and the weight of more dense varieties can reach 150 kg per volume.
Sizes and cost
To calculate the economic part of the upcoming work, you must know in advance the parameters and cost of the selected products. Basalt slabs have a rectangular shape and are characterized by a length of 1000 mm and a width of 500 mm. The thickness of the product depends on its variety and varies from 20 to 200 mm.
The price of Isolight insulation depends on the terrain, but on average it is in the range from 1600 to 4500 rubles per m³. The price range is explained by various product characteristics. So, lightweight plates will have a price tag of about 1600-1700 rubles per m³, and the most dense varieties cost from 4200 to 4500 rubles. The average cost of Isolight insulation is 1700-1800 rubles per m³. One pack of mineral plates will cost the buyer about 450 rubles.
Consumer Reviews
The Isoroc line of basalt materials is quite popular today, as evidenced by numerous reviews about Isolight insulation and its varieties. Most buyers consider this material reliable and quality products. Many focus on excellent value for money.
According to the owners of private buildings, Izolayt shows itself well as an external insulation material for the facade. High energy-saving properties of basalt slabs were demonstrated in the insulation of loggias and balconies. Residents of the attic floors note the convenience of its installation on uneven and inclined surfaces.
The Isolight-L insulation material (together with the Isolight analogue) received most of the positive reviews for its versatility, accessibility, and ease of installation. Indeed, with the purchase of these products there is no difficulty, since they are actively sold in all construction markets in Russia. Ease of installation is also a pretty weighty argument. If there is an opportunity to save money in the face of constantly rising prices, why not use it and do the work yourself.
Mounting
For self-installation of Isolight insulation, special fasteners with a large hat should be used. If necessary, the plates are cut into the necessary fragments with a simple construction knife. For reliable fixation of the insulation layer, metal profiles or wooden bars are used.
The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- On the insulated surface is a vapor barrier film.
- Bars or profiles are installed on top of the film in the vertical direction. They are located at such a distance that a heater plate tightly rises between them.
- The material can be fixed with glue. If nails are used, then for every m² of surface there should be 5-6 fasteners.
- If it is necessary to form a ventilation gap, then a wooden crate is mounted between the facing material and the insulation.
At the end of the work, wall cladding is performed. If such work is not provided, the boards must be protected from moisture with plaster.
Conclusion
Insulation "Isolight" has gained its popularity due to the large number of positive properties. I would like to note that the material retains these qualities only if it is properly installed and the right variety is selected. If these requirements have been met, then a pleasant indoor microclimate is guaranteed.