Irish launch for award-winning roof insulation system
Staines, 23 February 2009
An award-winning roof insulation system is being made available in Ireland in response to industry demand.
The ROOFMATE™ MinK System from Dow Building Solutions minimises heat loss from flat roofs, helping architects and builders meet building regulations pushing for better environmental performance.
Paul Mullan of Tennants Building Products in Belfast welcomed the move: "It's a really tough market out there right now, and specifiers and contractors need the widest possible choice of products that deliver against environmental and efficiency targets.
"As one of the leading insulation distributors in the market it's vital for us that we can supply the industry with the latest innovations, particularly those most suited to public sector developments which have been less affected by the current downturn."
Improving insulation for flat roofs
Flat roofs are particularly favoured in public buildings such as hospitals and schools, as well as commercial buildings such as offices and shopping precincts. However, heat loss from flat roofs can be as much as 25% of the total - any improvements in preventing heat loss from such structures has significant benefits for energy saving.
In conventional flat roof insulation systems thermal insulation is in direct contact with the roof deck, with a waterproofing layer on top and the build-up secured against wind uplift. Dow created the 'inverted warm flat roof' system three decades ago, allowing for the waterproofing layer to be laid directly onto the roof deck with insulation on top. This protects the waterproofing from thermal shock and dramatically reduces the risk of condensation below the roof.
Although the inverted warm flat roof system remains a leading method of roof design, rainwater can percolate through ballast, penetrating joints between insulation boards. This cools the surface of the waterproofing membrane and reduces the roof's thermal performance, meaning insulation thickness has to be increased by at least 20% to compensate for this 'rainwater cooling effect'.
To improve the thermal performance of buildings dramatic increases in insulation thicknesses are becoming required, increasing costs and adding serious complications to roof design and installation.
The answer - according to Dow Building Solutions - is to use a water vapour permeable (or 'breather') membrane, ROOFMATE MK, in combination with the unique properties of its insulation layer - STYROFOAM™ roofing product ROOFMATE SL. Together, the system is known as the ROOFMATE MinK System, and it enables the 20% rainwater cooling penalty to be reduced to below 2% with a corresponding reduction in insulation thickness.
"Positioning ROOFMATE MK as a separation layer between ballast and insulation prevents rainwater penetrating through to the waterproofing, which is instead directed to the roof drainage," explains Chris Gimson, account manager for Dow Building Solutions in Ireland. "Rainwater that does penetrate evaporates via the ROOFMATE MK 'breather' membrane."
"The System enables more efficient use of insulation as less is needed for the same results as well as fewer journeys to construction sites meaning fuel savings, because less material is required," he continued. "The system also allows a significant decrease in the weight of ballast required to secure the roof against insulation board flotation and wind uplift, bringing yet more environmental advantages."
The ROOFMATE MinK System was awarded the UK Chemical Industry Association's highest award for innovation in 2007 and has been entered for a Queen's Award for Enterprise. For more details, contact Dow Building Solutions on 020 3139 4190 or visit www.styrofoam.co.uk.
Notes to editors:
Dow Building Solutions, a division of The Dow Chemical Company, is dedicated to supplying the construction industry with innovative and effective solutions. The product range includes STYROFOAM blue extruded foamed polystyrene insulation, GREAT-STUFF™ polyurethane foam sealant, FROTH-PAK™ polyurethane foam spray systems, INSTA-STIK™ polyurethane adhesives and a range of accessories.
For media information contact:
Kirsten@kdpr.co.uk
01295 780152
Customer contact:
Dow Building Solutions
Diamond House, Lotus Park,
Kingsbury Crescent, Staines,
Middlesex, TW18 3AG
Tel.: 020 3139 4190
Fax: 020 3139 4013
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