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Cavity Wall Insulation Permicav from Kingspan Insulation

cavity wall insulation
Ultra-thin Kingspan Air-Cell Permicav is perfect for cavity wall insulation.

Cavity wall insulation under scrutiny with 6-Star requirements

Cavity wall insulation solutions are coming under greater scrutiny as they gain popularity with the transition to 6-Star energy efficiency requirements.

Leading insulation innovator, Kingspan Insulation, urges consumers, regulators and the building industry itself to be mindful of the insulation products being installed in cavity walls.

According to Kingspan Insulation Technical Manager, Mr. Keith Anderson, some products currently being used are not compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

"Products that fill the cavity in a double brick wall, such as granulated rockwool, actually contravene the building code deemed-to-satisfy provisions for weatherproofing which require a minimum unimpeded cavity width of 35 mm between the outer leaf of brick work and the insulation material," he says.

"The reason for this is to prevent moisture ingress migrating across the cavity to the inner wall."

Mr. Anderson says excessive moisture can have serious health-related side effects for a building.

"Moisture problems and undue dampness can lead to mould growth, which can ultimately impact the indoor environment quality of a home and can even cause structural damage."

This raises another area of concern, which is condensation, according to Mr. Anderson.

"As thermal requirements in Australia have increased, more attention needs to be given to prevention of interstitial condensation. Cavity wall insulation that can provide a water barrier but is also vapour-permeable can significantly reduce the risk of condensation forming in the wall cavities along with prevention of other moisture related problems."

kingspan air-cell permicav
The perforations in Kingspan Air-Cell Permicav help reduce the risk of condensation.

Kingspan Insulation has released an innovative insulation product designed specifically for cavity walls.

"We've developed Kingspan Air-Cell Permicav as an all-in-one insulation and vapour-permeable membrane designed to reduce the risk of condensation while helping to achieve 6-Star energy ratings," says Mr. Anderson.

At an ultra-thin 5.5mm profile, Permicav is an ideal solution to fit into the cavity of double brick walls without filling the cavity space, according to Mr. Anderson.

"Depending on a few variables, Permicav cavity insulation could deliver up to a full star rating in your house energy efficiency ratings, possibly taking you from a 5 Star house to a 6 Star house," he adds.

Mr. Anderson says that the vapour-permeability of the product is a unique feature.

"The perforations in Permicav allow water vapour to permeate, thereby reducing the risk of condensation forming in the walls."

Cathy Inglis, Group Technical, Research and Engineering Manager of Austral Bricks, Australia's largest brick manufacturer, says Permicav is perfect for cavity walls.

"We've tested a lot of insulation products for cavity walls and have found Kingspan's Air-Cell Permicav to be ideal for this construction. Its thin profile means the wall cavity isn't filled, which is really important for BCA compliance. And what's particularly unique about Permicav are its perforations. It's designed to be vapour permeable, helping to reduce the risk of condensation occurring within the cavity."

Kingspan Air-Cell Permicav is manufactured with a patented cross-linked, closed-cell structure sandwiched by highly reflective perforated foil.


The patented cross-linked, closed-cell core of Kingspan Air-Cell Permicav.



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