Houses built in the 1980s and earlier do not meet current energy standards. The energy demand for heating in them is 4 or even 6 times higher than in new construction. The reason for this is poorly insulated building envelope or old and worn insulation materials, through which huge heat losses occur.
However, effective modernization measures make it possible to bring most old buildings to the same level of energy use as new, or even higher. What does this mean in practice? The building envelope must be protected from heat escape to the outside by adding a layer of material with high thermal insulation properties.
STEICOflex 036 mats have a very low thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.036, which means that the thickness of the thermal insulation layer can be thinner to achieve the coefficient required by building regulations
© STEICO
Choosing the right system will matter not only for economic reasons, although they are the main reason for modernization work. After thermal modernization, the building must meet the technical conditions that apply from January 1, 2021. The effect of modernization can be calculated based on the U-value, which determines how much heat escapes from the house to the outside. The lower the declared U-value, the less heat loss will occur. When adding a layer of thermal insulation, the heat transfer coefficient should be minimized so that it is no more than 0.15 [W/(m2K)] for the roof and a maximum of 0.20 [W/(m2K)] for the building's exterior walls.
It is most advantageous to use a material with the best possible parameters, as such insulates better. The thickness of the insulation layer depends on the thermal conductivity coefficient λ of the material used - the lower it is, the thinner the thickness of the thermal insulation can be. Therefore, the STEICO wood fiber thermal insulation system is the optimal choice for retrofitting old buildings that require effective insulation that will permanently improve their energy standard.
STEICOprotect - thermal wall modernization from the outside in
© STEICO
It is worth starting with the roof
If the modernization will be carried out in stages, it is best to start with insulating the roof, since it is the main source of heat loss. This is most common with steep roofs, which have a large heat transfer area relative to the volume of the volume. With the STEICO system, roof renovation can be carried out efficiently, in a short period of time and in a way that is not troublesome for residents, since the modernization work can be carried out from the outside. The method allows the use of most of the old roof, such as rafters or roofing. Above the old finishing layer (e.g., of cement and chipboard covered with lime plaster), a new double layer of thermal insulation is made - one between the rafters in the form of resilient STEICOflex 036 mats, the other directly on them in the form of STEICOspecial dry panels, for example. The large range of board thicknesses - from 60 to 200 mm, allows you to optimally select the thickness for the intended insulation values. Both STEICOspecial dry and STEICOflex 036 have excellent thermal insulation performance. The value of the declared thermal conductivity coefficient of the boards is 0.040 [W/(m*K)], while that of the mats is 0.036 [W/(m*K)]).
Eco-friendly building materials for every part of the building
© STEICO
STEICOflex 036 can also be used for thermal insulation of the roof from the inside. This method of insulation makes renovation work independent of weather conditions. It can be done independently, leaving the roof closed. The mats simply need to be pressed between the structural elements of the partition. Thanks to their porous structure and elasticity, they thoroughly adhere to the insulated surfaces. The high density of the material provides stability, thanks to which STEICOflex 036 retains its original shape, and the thermal insulation layer does not settle over the years.
Thermal facade renovation with STEICO: an efficient insulation material of natural origin
© STEICO
If the house has a non-living attic, it is sufficient to insulate the ceiling that separates it from the living area. This can be done with STEICOzell loose fibers, applied as a freely laid material. The wood fibers will tightly and evenly fill the space, leaving no thermal bridges or voids through which heat could escape. When insulating by blowing, it doesn't matter what technology the building was made with or whether the spaces are suitable for standard-sized insulation materials.
STEICOspecial dry - installation of boards directly on the rafters
© STEICO
Cold walls, means worse thermal comfort
Thermal comfort in a building does not depend only on the air temperature. The temperature of the wall surface also plays an important role. In buildings with poor thermal insulation, the walls are cold, and as a result, residents can suffer from cold even in intensively heated rooms. A well-insulated exterior wall will cause its temperature to be slightly higher in winter, so that heat is retained inside the building. Houses are mostly insulated from the outside. With the STEICO thermal insulation system, full freedom of choice of construction solution is possible - be it a ventilated facade or a plaster facade. The modernization work does not interfere with the interior of the building. A supporting structure of solid wood or STEICOjoist beams is attached to the wall and the resulting spaces are filled with thermal insulation material - for example, STEICOflex 036. STEICOprotect panels are then mounted to the supporting structure. Finally, a suitable plaster layer can be made on the resulting substrate.
Roof insulation work can also be carried out independently from inside the building. STEICOflex 036 mats are simply pressed between the structural elements of the partition
© STEICO
Protection against cold and moisture
Thanks to the advantages of natural wood fibers, STEICO thermal insulation materials reduce thermal energy losses, thus saving on bills. We also improve the thermal comfort of residents regardless of weather conditions. Wood fibers retain heat in the house in winter and protect it from excessive heating in summer. In addition, they protect the building from moisture and fungus. This is an equally common problem faced by owners of improperly thermally protected buildings. Wood fiber insulation materials are open diffusion, so they transport moisture to the outside, protecting the building from the harmful effects of moisture.
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