Both new-build and refurbishment projects can benefit from PIR Laminate boards, one of the products in the Insulating Laminates range developed by Knauf Drywall. They can deliver significant benefits such as reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency and providing an instant thermal upgrade. The boards also save time and money – particularly in new-build applications by enabling installers to dryline and insulate a property in one operation.
Savings in energy costs result in an attractively short payback time where a house has been upgraded using Insulating Laminates. In the longer term, it becomes a real saving for the homeowner. Calculations based on a typical semi-detached (90m2), terraced (77m2) and detached (120m2) house show that the payback period for electrically- heated houses can be as short as one or two years, or three to five years on gas- heated houses. Depending on the size of house and whether they use gas or electricity is used, homeowners could on this basis cut their energy costs by £75–£750 a year, and CO2 emissions by 500–2,775kg.
The range of Knauf Insulating Laminates incorporates a 9.5mm tapered edged Knauf plasterboard bonded to a variety of different types and thicknesses of insulation to ensure the required U-value is reached for the minimum impact on room space. With insulation and plasterboard combined into one product, Knauf PIR Laminates are ideal for use in timber-frame lining applications, solid walls, and pitched roofs. Available in four sizes – 35mm, 50mm 65mm and 75mm – and can be used in combination with other Knauf Drywall products including: Plasterboard Adhesive (bonding compound), fixings, metal furring, finishing (jointing or plasters) and Knauf Insulation for pitched roofs.
Knauf PIR Laminate is light and easy to handle and requires no extra skills or equipment to fix, needing only the usual “dot and dab” adhesion or mechanical fixing. It can be cut to shape using the score and snap technique, and finished and decorated in the same way as standard wallboards. The slimness of the PIR Laminate gives an important advantage over other forms of insulation – they take up very little space so are easy to store and, once installed, provide an excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022W/mK.
And, if that is not enough, Knauf PIR laminate can also contribute to the “green” agenda in other ways. They use insulants that are CFC and HCFC free and they also have zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Reader enquiries to: Knauf Drywall, Trilobyte Services, The Business and Technology Centre, Radway Green, Near Crewe, Cheshire CW2 5PR or email kd@web-response.co.uk
