Thermal insulation foil for pipes. Why is foil pipe insulation so good? Basalt foil heat insulator

  • 23.06.2020

Infrared radiation passes unhindered through most heaters. Thermal insulation for pipes with foil is highly reflective and retains heat much more effectively than materials without a protective layer.

According to the average data, a building in winter period loses from 40% to 70% of thermal energy. Heat loss occurs for three reasons: due to the high thermal conductivity of the pipe material, due to convection and due to infrared radiation. Heat transfer can be stopped by reflection.

You can buy foil insulation for pipes, or you can wrap the heat-insulating layer with foil yourself. Such insulation is sold either in rolls or in the form of hollow tubes. The foil is placed face down. It is important to provide a gap of 1-2 cm between the foil and the pipeline. The disadvantages of the foil are its fragility and susceptibility to the influence of aggressive substances. The top protective layer transmits about 10% of the energy.

The choice of insulation

Insulation (polyurethane foam, fiberglass, polystyrene foam, mineral wool, polyethylene foam) can be covered with a metallized film or aluminum foil on one or both sides.

Mineral wool covered with a layer of foil is the easiest option. The thickness of the reflective surface is from 10 to 30 microns, the thickness of the wool is up to 5 cm. The foil with foam plastic has increased strength. Polyethylene foam foil is more brittle and can be deformed under the action of external forces. The advantage of such a heater is vapor permeability. Basalt thermal insulation is similar to mineral wool, but heavier, as it has a higher density. Undeniable ease of use gives thermal insulation with a self-adhesive base. If the foil is damaged in some place, you can use aluminum tape. It will also be needed when joining parts of the material.

Lavsan film and polyethylene foam with foil can transmit infrared radiation. Therefore, you should choose a film with a thick foil layer. Poriflex NPE-LF, penofol 2000, BestIzol, Ecofol are the most popular brands of foil pipe insulation. The air layer inside the polyethylene foam and the upper polished layer allow the materials to be used not only in industry, but also in private homes. The thickness of such insulation usually does not exceed 1 cm. Quality assurance applies only to materials that have been certified.

Why foil insulation is the right choice?

  • The material can be used at an ambient temperature of -60°..+150°.
  • Vapor permeability: 0.001% (the foil almost does not let steam through). Water absorption: 0.74% per day.
  • Ease of installation, low cost, environmental friendliness, good waterproofing properties, the ability to absorb noise and dampen vibrations in ventilation systems.
  • Creating the effect of "thermos".
  • Ease of installation and environmental friendliness of the material.

Disadvantage of foil: high thermal conductivity. That is why it is used not separately, but together with traditional heaters.

Thermal insulation for pipes with foil

Heating and sewerage

Rockwool cylinders – the best solution for heating pipes ventilation ducts, air conditioners and sewer pipes. This flexible foil pipe insulation is resistant to chemical irritants and easy to install. Covered with a protective layer casings are strong and durable.

  1. First, cut the desired length of the segment. Segments are joined close to each other.
  2. Then, 2 fasteners are installed on each segment with a distance of 500 mm between them.
  3. For vertical sections, retainer rings are used that prevent the cylinders from slipping over time.
  4. For curved pipes, the cylinder is trimmed by trying on a hole along the pipe.

Technical thermal insulation - hollow cylinders made of stone wool and covered with a layer of aluminum foil. It is intended for isolation of thermal networks, industrial pipelines. Have a longitudinal cut for the most simple installation.

chimney

Chimney insulation is necessary to create good traction. The heat barrier prevents the formation of condensate, which means it protects chimney from destruction.

Learn how to make a foil chimney cover for an iron chimney. You will need mineral wool (wire-stitched Rockwool mats work), foil, and fasteners.

  1. Unwind the roll, separate the desired segment with a pruner.
  2. Using fasteners and wire, wrap the pipe with insulation.
  3. Wrap the top with aluminum foil and secure with zip ties. Instead of mineral wool, any other non-combustible material can be used.

Pipe insulation Energoflex

Has its strengths and weaknesses. The advantages include strength, moisture resistance, immunity to temperature extremes. The material does not cause difficulties during installation, has a small weight. The layer thickness can be from 9 to 13 mm, length - up to two meters. Suitable for pipelines with a diameter of 18 to 160 mm. Flexible material can be laid on areas with complex geometries.

Energoflex does not need additional wrapping with roofing material. The disadvantages are the high cost and the inability to install it where the temperature of the working medium of the pipeline exceeds 100°.

  • If you buy rolled insulation, make sure that it is designed specifically for pipes before buying.
  • Rigid material in the form of semicircles has a size that allows you to put it on a pipe of a specific diameter.
  • A distance of 2.5 cm must be maintained between the wall and the aluminum foil.
  • The price of insulation is affected by both the thickness of the reflective layer and the base material.
  • There is a significant difference between aluminum spraying and aluminum foil. In the first case, the heat insulator will work less efficiently, its reflectivity is low.

Thermal insulation for pipes with foil: main technical specifications, Pipe Portal


Foil pipe insulation for heating pipes, sewerage, ventilation and chimneys. Thermal insulation of pipes foil - types and laying technology

Benefits of using foil insulation for heating pipes - theory and proven practice

The need for thermal insulation of engineering communications arises often. So that when moving hot water there was no heat loss from the source of its heating to the end consumer, it is necessary to insulate the pipeline, using, for example, insulation for pipes with foil as a material.

As practice shows, heat loss in the absence of insulation can reach 20 percent. In order to optimize efficiency heating structure it is necessary to insulate the line through which the coolant is transported. This work can be done independently, without involving specialists. At the same time, various materials are used, including liquid heaters, polyurethane foam (abbreviated PPU), mineral wool, penofol.

The need to insulate heating pipes

Due to the high cost of energy carriers, thermal energy must be used rationally, which means that only rooms that need it should be heated. If uninsulated pipes pass through a non-residential area, such as an attic or basement, then the heat is not being used for its intended purpose. This circumstance leads to a decrease in the performance of the heating system and an increase in the cost of purchasing fuel.

Insulation of the outer section of the heating main leads to a decrease in the likelihood of freezing of the coolant in the event of a sharp drop in temperature outside. True, freezing of the heat supply structure is unlikely, but traffic jams may appear.

For this reason, the insulation of the pipeline laid outside the building is a prerequisite for the operation of both internal and external sections of the heating system. Properly selected insulation thickness can protect the elements of the heating system from various kinds of damage, serious breakdowns and corrosive processes.

Selection of materials

Available for sale a large assortment insulating materials for heat supply lines. To make the right purchase, it is necessary to take into account the features of the room, its parameters and the technical conditions for operating the heating system.

The main factors influencing the choice of insulation:

  • the location of the pipeline to be isolated;
  • temperature of the coolant moving through the pipes;
  • characteristics of the heating main;
  • basic properties of materials intended for pipeline insulation.

When choosing, first of all, the following performance characteristics of heaters are taken into account:

  • heat resistance;
  • thermal conductivity;
  • fire safety;
  • moisture resistance;
  • thickness;
  • resistance to decay and exposure to microorganisms;
  • installation cost.

When purchasing materials for pipe insulation, you need to remember that the lower their thermal conductivity, the higher the thermal insulation performance. The degree of moisture resistance is reflected in the quality of protection of metal pipelines from corrosive processes and the formation of condensate.

The fire resistance of heat insulators must comply with fire safety requirements for heated rooms. To calculate the thickness of the material used, special formulas are used.

A variety of heaters for pipelines

In order to get the maximum effect from the insulation of the heating system, you need to decide on the choice of material for pipes laid in the apartment, in the attic or in the basement. These products are solid piece, soft roll and liquid. When buying, the parameters of the pipeline are taken into account in order to correctly select the dimensions of piece products.

All types of heat-insulating materials used for heating pipes can perform their functions due to the presence of air in them, and their difference lies in the convenience of installation work.

The most easily performed method of insulation is considered to be thermal insulation, called the "shell". It is produced in the form of semi-cylinders. Installation is carried out by combining the halves through the grooves. As a result, the desired result is ensured when insulating pipes in the basement or attic.

The following pipeline heaters are most in demand: mineral or fiberglass wool, insulation for pipes with foil, polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, penoizol.

PPU insulation for heating systems

Material for insulation of pipes made of polyurethane foam is:

In the first case, polyurethane foam is used to insulate short sections of pipelines in extreme cases.

To apply PPU spraying, you will need special equipment and a 4-atmospheric compensator. The insulation is firmly connected to the surface of the pipes. But this material does not tolerate ultraviolet exposure, so it must be protected with winding or aluminum foil. When applying spraying, it is necessary to use protective clothing.

The rigid type of PPU insulation is durable and at the same time light, has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and is used for individual circuits. Of its advantages, it should be noted that it has increased resistance to moisture. The material is environmentally friendly and completely non-toxic. It is mounted around the pipeline in the same way as the "shell".

Foil insulators for heating systems

If you need to make a decision regarding the material, the best choice would be to use a foil pipe insulation. Thermal insulation is considered effective if it allows not only to retain heat, but also to reflect it. In this case, it is preferable to use materials with aluminum foil.

This polished material has such high reflective characteristics that it allows you to maintain the temperature of the coolant and keep the efficiency of the heating structure at the maximum value. The fact is that in this case, the flow of thermal energy emanating from the pipes is reflected back.

In addition, the foil insulation for heating pipes does not let in the cold coming from the outside and demonstrates excellent hydro and vapor barrier. In the process of its manufacture, the main heat-insulating material is applied to the foil layer - it can be polystyrene foam, polyethylene foam or mineral wool.

This type of thermal insulation of different thicknesses for pipelines passing through living quarters, a basement or an attic is produced in the form of a "shell", slabs, rolls, mats, canvases.

Pipe foil insulation can be operated at an ambient temperature in the range from -60 ° C to + 150 ° C, therefore it is used in the arrangement of external sections of heating mains. Since foil for pipe insulation has a high degree of thermal conductivity, it is not used separately.

The use of foil thermal insulation for pipes

According to experts, the easiest way to insulate pipelines in the basement is the use of mineral wool, which is covered with a layer of foil, while the thickness of the wool reaches 50 millimeters, and the reflective layer is 10-30 microns.

Before proceeding with the insulation of pipes in the attic or basement, you need to study the operating conditions of the materials. For example, foil with foamed polyethylene is brittle and subject to deformation under external influences. Strength indicators can be improved if thermal insulation with pipe foil and foam is preferred.

In turn, basalt insulation has many characteristics in common with mineral wool, but it is heavier because it has a higher density.

It is convenient to install self-adhesive insulation. If the foil is damaged, use aluminum tape. Lavsan film with foil and polyethylene foam do not reflect infrared radiation, so such material must have a significant thickness of the foil layer.

The main nuances of using heat insulators

Before buying rolled insulation for heat supply pipes, you need to make sure that its performance allows you to use this material in an attic or basement.

When the insulation is rigid and made in the shape of a semicircle, it can be used for pipe products of a certain diameter. Between the wall and aluminum foil, you need to leave a distance of 25 millimeters.

The cost of a heat insulator is affected by the thickness of the reflective layer and the material from which its base is made. There is a significant difference between aluminum foil and aluminum sputtering. Last option makes the functioning of the heat insulator less effective with little reflectivity.

It is not at all necessary to buy foil pipe insulation industrial production. You can independently wrap the layer of thermal insulation laid on the pipe with foil if the pipeline is laid in the attic or basement. Such material is produced in rolls or in the form of hollow tubes.

The foil is placed face up. Between the foil layer and the pipeline, a gap of 10 -20 millimeters must be left.

Independent installation of thermal insulation

Work on the insulation of heating pipes using heat-insulating polystyrene foam shell is performed as follows:

  1. Halves of the material are put on the pipe and their displacement relative to each other is ensured - it is required for an overlap of 10–20 centimeters in size.
  2. Semi-cylinders should be fastened in advance with adhesive tape. If you need to apply a surface protective layer, it is attached at the very end.
  3. In order for the shell to more reliably adjoin the pipeline, the joints must be glued with adhesive tape.
  4. When it is necessary to isolate heating pipes at the turns of the main, shaped types of shells are used.

In many ways, the choice of materials for insulating the elements of the heating system depends on the operating conditions of the heating main and its structural device. The work on thermal insulation is simple and, if desired, any home master can perform it.

Foil pipe insulation: thermal insulation with foil for heating pipes, insulation, insulation


Foil pipe insulation: thermal insulation with foil for heating pipes, insulation, insulation

Foil thermal insulation: types and properties. Wall preparation, installation and fixing

Today, foil thermal insulation for pipes is a fairly new type of material and work, which, however, is becoming more and more popular, both among professional builders and among a simple layman who decides to carry out insulation in the house on his own.

What can the material be used for?

Insulation is easily used in many thermal insulation works, in our case it can be:

  • Thermal insulation of floors throughout the house, including in cold rooms.
  • Thermal insulation of various heating equipment.
  • Work on soundproofing and thermal insulation of walls and partitions.
  • Thermal insulation of the roof and especially the attic.

Foil on the roof

The properties of the material make it possible to use it to increase the heat transfer of the radiator in the room, for this it is enough to place a sheet of material behind the radiator with your own hands, and the amount of thermal energy will increase.

In what types of rooms is foil material suitable?

In addition to the fact that we can perfectly insulate a living space, the material is suitable for:

  • Full heat and sound insulation of various rooms with utilities.
  • Insulation of the pipeline and air duct in the boiler room.
  • Works in rooms with high, and most importantly, with constant humidity, these are baths and saunas.
  • Hallway and corridor, where it ideally insulates the front door and levels heat loss.

Material Features

First of all, consider the components of the material, because foil thermal insulation is a layered and combined material, which includes:

It is the moment of combining these materials into one that gives us the opportunity to use all the excellent thermal insulation properties of the foil material. Here are simple figures that fully prove the high efficiency of using the material for any thermal insulation purposes - thermal energy is reflected in the room with an efficiency rate of 97%!

One layer of our material can replace a 15 cm brick wall in terms of resistance to heat transfer.

And if we translate all this into an area, then we definitely save several squares of the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

In addition, this product has water-repellent properties, this is possible due to the cellular structure of the material. As a result, it is possible to avoid the formation of condensate, in other words, when purchasing a material, we also buy a vapor barrier. As we said above, one of the rooms where we can use foil insulation is a sauna or bath.

The structure of the foil heat insulator

High sound insulation provides the material with great popularity not only in domestic conditions.

And, of course, foil insulation is also a high level of environmental friendliness, which is important today. It does not have any harmful effects on the body.

Insulation is sold in two types:

  • In sheets, which is convenient for small spaces.
  • In rolls.

Types of foil material

Today, there are several types of material on the market, and each has its own characteristics and applications.

  • The material is coated with a metallized film.
  • foil layer.
  • Basalt material.

The material with a metallized coating has excellent thermal conductivity, but cannot be used in rooms with high humidity. The corrosion that any metal coating undergoes excludes this type from use in baths, saunas, and bathrooms.

The material covered with foil can be used absolutely in any premises. It works especially well on building envelopes, and this, in turn, allows you to reduce heating costs in winter. Moreover, air ducts, and especially pipelines at sufficiently low temperatures, require insulation without fail.

Heat insulator shells for pipes

But if we need good protection in case of a fire hazard of engineering networks, foil basalt thermal insulation is ideal, which heat loss reduces dramatically!

An important point is always the fact that the material is not affected by aggressive environment, biological contamination, fungus and mold do not appear on it. Here you can also note its durability, and the service life is calculated in decades!

This is the best thermal insulation for foil pipes, convenient, easy to install and completely protecting them in the cold season from freezing and excessive loss of thermal energy.

The combination of properties in basalt wool

The type of foil material based on basalt wool is also interesting in that aluminum foil and wool complement each other's features.

Excellent insulation based on basalt wool

The foil has a reflective surface and moisture permeability, which protects the cotton wool from moisture ingress, and the cotton wool ensures the bonding of the entire material structure.

The installation work is quite simple, besides, there is an instruction on what and what follows in order, but first let's talk about the tool.

So, we need:

Wall preparation

In order to ensure proper operation with foil material, we need to provide a small gap between the insulation and the wall. We take into account that the material is completely waterproof, which means that condensation will form.

Installation and fasteners

We fix the guide strips on the wall, 1-2 cm thick, we already fasten the insulation itself along them. If this is a roll, then the principle of operation will be the same as with wallpapering.

We fix the insulation with staples or special nails, carefully glue the joints with special foil tape. You can buy a little more than necessary, since the price allows, and the leftovers can always be used in pipe insulation.

The joint must be glued

In principle, there is absolutely nothing complicated in the installation work, the main thing to remember is that the reflective surface of the foil should be directed into the room, because this is the essence of heat reflection!

Undoubtedly, this material is an excellent way to keep the heat in the house and significantly reduce heat loss. However, its use becomes many times more effective if work is carried out in a complex and with external thermal insulation.

Foil thermal insulation: do-it-yourself video installation instructions, features basalt insulation, for pipes, price, photo


Foil thermal insulation: do-it-yourself video installation instructions, features of basalt insulation, for pipes, price, photo

Insulation with foil - vapor barrier as a bonus!

Features of heaters with foil when buying

Let's look at the types of foil insulation depending on the raw material, its main advantages and the nuances of choosing the right one. Depending on the main heat-insulating material used in production, foil-laminated technical insulation is divided into:

Basalt- a real bestseller in the market of mineral wool insulation with a reflective metallized coating, made from basalt rocks. Natural foil insulation, the price in Moscow of which is available only in our price list, has a whole range of advantages. The main advantages of technical insulation include high fire resistance, environmental friendliness, durability (at least 50 years), stability of parameters during operation.

fiberglass- made from glass industry waste, quartz sand and binder, therefore it is distinguished by an affordable price. The cost of foil thermal insulation is up to 3 times lower than the basalt counterpart. The insulator has excellent thermal insulation and acoustic properties, low weight and ease of installation.

Styrofoam- Made from extruded polystyrene. Such technical insulation is absolutely not afraid of direct contact with moisture and is indispensable when installing underfloor heating systems under concrete screed. Energy-efficient, practical and easy to install - all these properties are combined in a polystyrene heat insulator for the floor with foil. The price of products depends on the thickness and modification of the heat insulator.

Polyethylene- made of foamed polyethylene with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm. Foil insulation can be bought in Moscow in compact rolls, convenient for transportation. It is distinguished by minimal thermal conductivity, zero water absorption and is an ideal solution for installing a warm floor under a screed, insulating water supply and sewage pipes.

rubber- made on the basis of foamed rubber with an adhesive layer on the mounting side. Resistance to high temperatures, moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet, durability and ease of installation - all this is an elastomeric self-adhesive insulation with foil. The price of products allows you to save on the purchase and installation of an additional reflective layer.

Installation of thermal insulation for pipes with foil can be done in one go, while the installation of a separate technical insulation and a heat-reflecting surface will increase the complexity and cost of thermal insulation work by 2 times.

The main disadvantage of a puff cake made of thermal insulation and foil will be delamination and rustling at the slightest wind and draft. If you use a ready-made factory-made foil pipe thermal insulator with a firmly glued reflective layer, you can avoid unpleasant situations.

Special construction skills are not required to mount a self-adhesive foil insulation. The price of insulation with a ready-made adhesive layer is slightly higher than analogues without it, however, it will save on the work of the installation team, since you can install it yourself.

How to choose the perfect insulation with foil?

  1. Choose technical insulation in Moscow, "dressed" in foil on both sides. So you save yourself the dilemma of which side to put the foil insulation on the floor or other surfaces.
  2. Try to buy in Moscow foil insulation for pipes and technical facilities with a high-quality foil layer, and not just aluminum coating, otherwise there will be no reflection of infrared rays.
  3. Pay attention to the degree of polishing, which directly affects the reflective properties of aluminum. The higher the parameter, the more heat the pipe foil insulation will reflect from its surface.

Foil insulation (insulation) - price, buy in Moscow


Do you want to buy foil insulation in Moscow? The company GEOTEHIZOL offers insulation with foil at great prices! Quality assurance!

At the final stage of construction of a private house or wooden bath, the question certainly arises as to which insulation to choose for internal or exterior finish premises. On the market building materials there are so many types of heaters that an inexperienced person in this matter may feel dizzy.

In this article, we will consider several options for foil insulation. Let's talk about the features of each of them, options and installation methods.

Foil insulation is made on the basis of various porous materials, on which a layer of metal is applied, which contributes to the reflection of thermal energy. Such a heater works on the principle of a thermos, reliably retaining heat indoors.

The metal is able to reflect heat and prevent blowing, which is important when using metallized insulation when carrying out exterior finishing work.

One of the advantages of foil insulation is a thickness that starts from 1.5 cm. The most common aluminum insulation is 0.5 - 1 cm, there are also 5 cm or more.

Even the minimum thickness of the material is enough to reliably protect the room from excessive heat loss.

The advantages of insulating material with foil

Let's take a closer look General characteristics and advantages of metallized heat-insulating material:

  • a heat insulator with a metal film reflects heat and keeps it indoors or structures;
  • does not rot, or rots very slowly. According to manufacturers, the service life can reach 95 years;
  • in the case of aluminum insulation based on polyethylene foam, the material practically does not absorb moisture, which allows it to be used as a floor insulation in wet rooms (baths, steam rooms, showers, saunas);
  • almost all metallized heaters absorb sound waves well, so they can additionally be used as sound insulation;
  • ease of installation is another advantage. For example, in order to mount such a heater on the walls of a bath, it is enough to have a clerical knife and a construction stapler. Staple staples securely fasten the heat insulator to wooden walls.

This is interesting: there is an opinion that a foil-coated heat insulator protects a little from the penetration of radioactive particles into the room.

As a result, all the advantages of foil insulation allow savings during the construction and further operation of the premises, because. heating costs will be reduced.

Types of metallized heaters

There are a huge number of heaters with a foil layer. Almost every manufacturer of thermal insulation materials has a foil-coated line, and everyone calls their products differently, respectively, the same material can have a different name. Folgoizol, foil-plastic, energy isol, all this is practically the same material.

Consider the most popular types of metal-coated heaters.

Foil polyethylene foam

The most popular foil-coated material is made from polyethylene foam. It can be two or three layers.

It is used everywhere, in the construction of houses, baths, saunas. It is also used for soundproofing and warming of cars. Can be used as an underlay for laminate and other floor coverings.

The thickness of the foil coating rarely exceeds 15 microns. The foil layer can be applied on both sides of the insulation, due to which the material is able to reflect both internal warmth, and the cold penetrating from the outside of the room.

The basis from the made foam polyethylene is ecologically safe, is not subject to rotting and well resists to moisture. It has internal pores filled with air, thanks to which it has good thermal insulation characteristics.

Important! Such a heater is most often used for thermal insulation of bath rooms and bathrooms.

Foamed polyethylene with foil coating is produced by companies:

  • isover;
  • isocom;
  • technonicol;
  • isolon.

It should be noted that there are several technologies for the production of foamed polyethylene:

  • The usual, inexpensive one is produced using foaming technology, after which it does not undergo additional processing, as a result, its resistance to dynamic loads is not high enough. In other words, the material is subject to shrinkage.
  • The second method is cross-linked polyethylene, after production it undergoes special processing, due to which it becomes denser and, after removing the load, seeks to restore its original shape and dimensions.

Interesting: builders call foamed polyethylene with a metal film applied to the surface - “shiny”.

For the installation of such thermal insulation does not require certain skills:

  • It is enough to unfold the roll, cut off the required amount of material and fix it on the surface to be insulated.
  • For fastening, you can use a construction stapler.

The second option for fixing the "shiny" is pressing it with battens for siding or lining. The insulation is overlapped no more than 10 cm, the joints are glued with metallized tape and pressed with a rail, or fixed with brackets.

Foil mineral wool

Another type of insulation with a metal coating is mineral wool.

It is mainly used for external insulation or for thermal insulation of attic rooms. Mineral wool (glass wool), even without a metal layer, has good thermal insulation qualities. The presence of a metal layer on the surface only enhances its effectiveness.

Mineral wool also has disadvantages. First of all, it is afraid of moisture, therefore, during interior work, it is used only for dry rooms, mainly for roof insulation. The second feature that must be taken into account is the almost zero load resistance. This means that even a small weight of the load is able to compress the mineral wool, as a result of which the thermal insulation properties are sharply reduced. Using mineral wool for floor insulation is not effective.

Often, mineral wool with a metallized coating is used for chimneys. This is due to the low combustibility of the material and the ability to withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees.

Mounting such a heater is a little more difficult than the previous one:

  • For fastening to concrete, brick and gas-block bases, special dowels for insulating materials are used, the cap of which is wide, due to which it does not break the loose structure of the insulation.

When carrying out work on the insulation of the bath room, it is not recommended to use mineral wool with foil for thermal insulation of the ceiling from the inside. Wet steam, penetrating into the mineral wool structure, condenses, due to which the material becomes damp and, in contact with wooden details structures, can cause them to rot.

  • It is better to lay slabs of foil wool with reverse side ceiling boards, outside the room. Such a scheme will prevent the insulation from getting wet, resulting in losses useful heat the room will decrease.

Foil Styrofoam (with double-sided foil)

The material is used in wet rooms. Thanks to the foil layer, it reflects heat and prevents moisture from entering the material.

Expanded polystyrene is a derivative of polystyrene. The structure is dense, finely porous, due to this it resists external loads well. It can easily withstand the weight of an adult, so you can step on it during installation. The material is recommended by manufacturers as the basis for laying underfloor heating systems.

Some companies apply special marking lines to the top layer of the metallized film, with which it is convenient to control the correct laying of the underfloor heating elements.

It is rarely used to insulate the walls of a house, because. costs a little more than regular polystyrene foam and its use is not economically feasible.

Basalt foil heat insulator

The material has features that distinguish it from other metal-coated insulation.

The fact is that, it is able to withstand temperatures up to +700 degrees. This makes it possible to use the material in the construction of buildings that must meet the highest fire safety requirements.

For example, foil basalt slabs are used in the construction of gas stations.

Features of the installation of insulation with a metal coating

Working with metallized heaters requires accuracy, because. violation of the integrity of the coating leads to a deterioration in the waterproofing and reflective properties of the material.

  • Thin rolled materials made on the basis of foamed polyethylene can be overlapped.
  • Thick, based on expanded polystyrene, are mounted in a joint, which must be glued with metallized tape.
  • Some manufacturers produce sheets of foiled polystyrene foam, along the edges of which special locks are made, with the help of which the sheets are brought together. In the process of laying, in order to avoid excessive heat loss, it is necessary to control the tightness of the locks.

Tip: when laying insulation sheets without locks, joints can be connected using mounting foam, after polymerization, excess foam is cut off and the joint is glued with tape.

  • To fix thermal insulation with a thickness of more than 5 cm to a wooden surface, you can use wood screws, under the caps of which put metal washers or special plastic substrates for thermal insulation.

Properly insulate the bath

Foil foamed polyethylene (teploizol) is very popular for warming bath rooms and steam rooms. Properly carried out work on the installation of insulation significantly reduces the amount of fuel needed to heat the bath to normal temperature.

Everyone who has ever heated a wooden bathhouse on a winter evening has observed how heat seeps between the logs, which turns into steam in the cold and rises. Even if the logs or beams of the bath are laid on a good insulation and the joints are additionally foamed mounting foam, this phenomenon cannot be avoided. Only isolation will help inner surface walls and ceiling with foil insulation.

The whole process of warming can be divided into several stages:

  • preparatory work;
  • installation of a heater;
  • installation of guides for fastening the finish;
  • installation of "lining".

Instead of "lining", planed boards can be used, but, as a rule, it is "lining" that is used more often.

At the stage of preparatory work, the walls must be freed as much as possible from all that is superfluous. Dismantle benches and shelves if they have already been installed earlier. Nails, self-tapping screws should not stick out of the walls, if they stick out they need to be dismantled or hammered deeper.

After, you can proceed with the installation of insulation:

  • First of all, the ceiling is insulated. The thermal insulation is cut into strips, the length of which is 20 cm longer than the length of the ceiling. This is necessary in order to create an overlap of the ceiling insulation with the insulation on the walls and prevent heat loss in the corners.
  • The strips are fixed on the ceiling on the staples of the construction stapler. It is convenient and takes a minimum of time. Insulation is attached to the walls according to the same principle.
  • The joints of the material at the corners can be glued with adhesive tape or secured with counter rails.
  • After the walls are sewn up, you can proceed with the installation of guide rails, which will additionally press the insulation, preventing it from breaking through.

Below we offer to watch a video on the topic: "How to insulate a bath with foil insulation."

How to insulate a heating pipe

  • characteristics of pipelines;
  • thermal conductivity;
  • moisture resistance;
  • sufficient thickness;

Note!

  • sprayed;
  • hard.

Note!

Note!

Note!

trubamaster.ru

Advantages of foil thermal insulation (insulation) of pipes

Pipe insulation performs very important functions. Without it, we would have to lay pipes exclusively in rooms with a normal temperature level, or deep underground.

Otherwise, the cavity of the pipes cannot be protected from freezing in the cold season, and hence from paralysis of the entire water supply system.

Foil pipe insulation

However, now the thermal insulation needed to protect pipes is in abundance on the market. We will pay attention to its interesting subspecies - foil insulation for pipes. What are its features and advantages?

Article content

Features and purpose of heaters

As we noted above, pipe insulation is used almost everywhere. Its main task is to protect pipes from freezing in the winter. If the pipes are not treated properly, then at best the water supply system will partially freeze. At worst, it is completely blocked.

Thaw water systems, and even in winter time- an expensive pleasure. Not to mention the fact that in such situations the risk of damage or breakthrough of one of the sections increases significantly.

Also, the insulation protects the surface of the pipes from heat loss, which means it increases the overall efficiency of the heating system.

Thermal insulation is used to protect chimneys and sewers. In the first case, the insulation plays the role of a limiter, so to speak, a protective layer that prevents drains from freezing and clogging the pipe. In the second, insulation is necessary to prevent steam condensation and improve draft inside the chimney.

Foil as insulation

Foil insulation is often used in construction. However, don't be fooled into thinking that foil is the standard material for thermal insulation.

On the contrary, the foil performs those functions that ordinary heaters, such as mineral wool or polystyrene, are simply unable to cope with.

It's all about the special properties of the foil. You probably already know about the types of thermal radiation. If not, we will now briefly recall.

There are three types of radiation:

  • convection;
  • heat transfer due to thermal conductivity;
  • ultraviolet or thermal.

The first option does not interest us, it is limited by special means. The second option is the main item of heat consumption. It consists in the fact that any structure or equipment quickly gains or releases heat from the atmosphere.

To reduce the rate of interaction with the thermal environment, standard thermal insulation is used. Its thermal conductivity is too low for heat transfer, which means that a structure protected by such a casing will not encounter low-temperature zones at all.

Polyethylene foam with foil sheath

But the third type of radiation is not able to level the usual insulation. For such tasks, a material is needed that is capable of reflecting heat waves that are not visible to the eye. Just for such purposes, foil is used.

It reflects heat radiation, preventing unnecessary energy consumption. At the same time, for effective interaction it is enough to have a layer of foil with a thickness of only 1 mm, or even less.

The need for combination

So why not use foil alone, you might ask. Surely you can do there, if not for one of its serious shortcomings. The foil is very fragile. Even building samples with a fairly serious thickness can be damaged with bare hands.

Yes, and it is really difficult to mount such a delicate material as thermal insulation.

Manufacturers immediately understood the essence of the problem, and offered an elegant, but at the same time extremely effective solution. They began to produce foil insulation. That is, combine standard materials for insulation with the foil itself.

In terms of effectiveness, the material received exceeded all our expectations. A man managed to create a heater that is able to cope with two main articles of heat loss at once.

Losses due to different levels of thermal conductivity are eliminated by the base thermal insulation material (mineral wool, polystyrene, etc.). And the foil shell reflects heat radiation.

At the same time, the risk of destruction of the foil no longer threatens us, and if the shell breaks somewhere, then it's okay. It is specially glued to the body of the insulation so that serious damage to even a large area does not affect the overall protection of the structure.

It is quite obvious that similar schemes began to be used for pipe insulation with the same enthusiasm. Moreover, foil thermal insulation for pipes has become the most popular solution in recent years.

Types of foil insulation

Foil thermal insulation is combined with several materials at once. You need to choose one or another sample carefully, weighing all their properties, and also taking into account the features of a particular insulation.

There is foil thermal insulation:

  1. Mineral wool.
  2. Styrofoam.
  3. With polyethylene foam.
  4. With foam base.

Heating and sewerage pipes insulated with foil thermal insulation

We have listed only the main samples. There are also less popular, specialized options, so to speak, but they are either too expensive or used in a narrow direction.

Mineral wool insulation

Mineral wool insulation with Rockwool foil is deservedly considered one of the most versatile options.

Pipes finished with such material do not need additional protection. Mineral wool eliminates the main article of heat loss. It has an extremely low thermal conductivity, that is, the pipe does not contact the external environment at all, and also does not give up its heat.

The foil reflects inward all the heat waves of radiation, which cotton wool is simply not able to isolate.

The foil is glued directly onto the mineral wool layer. Its thickness is determined by the diameter of the pipe and the approximate temperature level. As a rule, a thickness of 3-6 cm is also enough for domestic needs. If large main pipelines are considered, then here the working thickness will already increase to 10 cm or more.

Sold mineral wool insulation for pipes in the form of cut half blanks. You only need to fasten them around the pipe and blind them together. Then glue the joints with foil tape. That's the whole working procedure. It takes a few minutes at the most.

Foam insulation

Foam has always competed with mineral wool. And pipe insulation is no exception.

If the mineral wool is quite expensive and has excellent performance, then the foam is similar in its parameters to it, only it is several times cheaper. It would seem, why then buy wool insulation at all, if you can take polystyrene.

The answer is simple - foam material is an artificial material, mineral wool is natural. Plus, Styrofoam burns in fire and is completely vapor-tight.

However, here it is necessary to understand the specifics of the insulation of pipelines. In the case of interaction with pipes, we are not interested in vapor permeability or the structure of the insulation. Therefore, foam can be used without fear.

Main pipeline treated with foil insulation

The only drawback that should still be taken into account is flammability. Try to either not use Styrofoam at all in areas with a high risk of fire, or use it in appropriate protection.

In part, the foil just forms this very protection, but only in part. Upon contact with high temperatures, the foam will quickly catch fire, becoming essentially one of the sources of fire.

As for the design of the insulation, the foam is produced in the same way as the minuvata - in specially cast half-forms, around which foil is glued.

Polyethylene foam foil

Foamed polyethylene with foil is a more modern insulation. It cannot boast the same thermal conductivity as mineral wool, or the cheapness of polystyrene, but it is light and easy to handle.

Foamed polyethylene is probably the easiest to install. After all, the blanks are very plastic, made in the form of ready-made shells for pipes, cut along the axis.

You just need to put the insulation on the pipe like a peel, and then blind the seams with special glue for polyethylene. It is sold at any hardware store.

Foamed polyethylene has a soft structure, does not corrode, does not react to moisture. It is produced in blanks with wall thicknesses from 1 cm to 5 cm. There are also larger samples, but there is no use for them in domestic construction.

Foil polyethylene is so easy to use that it is even placed on those systems that, by and large, do not need insulation. In this case, thermal insulation performs protective and aesthetic functions.

Features of pipe insulation (video)

The use of penofol

The last sample under consideration is a penofol insulation. Penofol is a material that consists of two components: foil and a thin layer of hardened foam. It cannot be called a traditional solution.

The thickness of the material rarely exceeds a few millimeters. Penofol cannot boast of high thermal insulation properties. In fact, it is just a protective wrapper with a reflective effect. However, for basic protection of pipes, it is sometimes used.

Penofol is very cheap. A square meter sells for $1 or even less. It is also easy to cut and glue. That is, a pipe of any diameter can be quickly wrapped as you need.

The quality of the result, of course, cannot be compared with the use of the same polystyrene or foamed polyethylene, but if there are no other options, then this one will be a joy.

Moreover, you can work with it with your own hands, practically without spending additional funds.

tubepro.ru

Foil insulation for walls and pipes

The technical characteristics of foil insulation make it possible to use it for insulating pipelines, roofs, walls inside and outside the premises. Installation behind a heating radiator is also possible, which will increase heat transfer. In fact, such material has found wide application in the arrangement of the attic, roofing, for sound insulation, insulation entrance doors. Let us consider in more detail the types and features of heaters with foil, because they can be called differently.

Types of foil insulators

By the name it is clear that this is not just a foil, but a material with heat-insulating properties, on which it is glued. The following can be used as a basis:

  • mineral wool;
  • expanded polystyrene;
  • foam polyethylene.

Regardless of the name, foil insulation works on the same principle. The insulator consists of two layers, one of which reflects IR rays, and the second is endowed with thermal insulation properties. When infrared radiation hits the heat reflector, the main part of the rays is reflected. Heat transfer occurs by convection, i.e. through the air. Since the foil has no resistance, when heated, it passes all the heat through itself. After that, the main material, which is a heat-insulating layer, which has a very high resistance to heat transfer, comes into operation.

The name of the insulator used as a base will determine the overall resistance of the insulation with foil to heat transfer. It is important to understand that the use of the material indoors implies the presence of a finish, and in order for the IR rays to be reflected, the distance between the foil and the insulated surface should be no more than 20 mm. Heat will be transferred to the foil layer through the trim.

Scopes of foil heaters

A material such as polyethylene foam has another name - teplofol. The scope of its application is wide: insulation of walls, floors, roofs, pipelines, systems warm floors, baths, saunas.

Can be used for indoor and outdoor installation. Such an insulator is a rolled material 1 m wide, 1 to 20 mm thick. Due to the porous structure, it does not allow moisture to penetrate, which eliminates the accumulation of condensate. This gives the material good vapor barrier properties. It can be ceiling, wall or floor. But experts recommend using thermal insulation of the same thickness. In addition, such material is environmentally friendly, safe, characterized by a high level of thermal insulation. In addition, it is offered not only as a regular, but also as a self-adhesive insulation.

There are several varieties of the considered insulator on the market. The differences lie in the technical characteristics and areas of application. Walls and ventilation ducts are insulated with polyethylene foam. The floors are insulated with foil polystyrene foam, which is a thick slab.

For rooms with a high level of humidity, foil mineral wool has proven itself well. Such material can be used to insulate roofs and chimneys. Basalt-based heat insulator is used at very low and high
temperatures.

The considered type of insulation is characterized by good flexibility, which allows thermal insulation of non-standard structures. The material can also be used to protect metal structures from corrosion. Insulation with foil appeared on the market not so long ago, but it already has
numerous positive reviews. This is due to significant savings during the heating season. But before making a choice in favor of this material, in addition to the positive qualities, you need to know about one significant disadvantage: the foil may be subject to corrosion after a while. We will figure out with what and how to fix this insulation.

How to insulate walls with foil material?

To work with foil insulation, you will need the following kit:

  • heat insulator;
  • stapler;
  • small nails;
  • hammer;
  • dowels;
  • wooden slats;
  • foil tape.

Warming has found application both in country houses and in apartments. In a private house, for thermal insulation of walls from the inside, you will need to fill the slats, which will make the installation of insulation more convenient. In this case, a space for ventilation will be formed between the wall and the heat-insulating layer. The rails are mounted to the wall with dowels in increments of 1 m. The material is overlapped, then it is attached to the rails, for which it is better to use building brackets or self-tapping screws. More secure fastening dowels will be provided. For gluing the joints use double-sided foil tape. Thermal insulation is laid with the foil side inside the room, after which drywall is mounted. To eliminate the gap between the wall and the insulation, before installing the thermal insulation, additional rails are mounted, to which drywall is fastened.

Foil insulation for walls is also used for thermal insulation of apartments. In particular, this applies to high-rise premises, which are problematic to insulate from the outside. In addition, it will be relevant to use this kind of thermal insulation from the inside if there is an elevator shaft, a corridor and other unheated premises behind the wall. Before starting work, it is necessary to inspect the walls: if there are cracks and cracks, they will need to be eliminated. On the walls, the material can be glued with a special adhesive after surface preparation.

Thermal insulation for pipes

Foil insulation for pipes is used when installing communications underground or by air. In addition, this material can be used to reduce heat losses by the coolant in unheated rooms. These include, for example, a boiler room in country house, which in most cases is located on the ground floor. In addition to foil, a metallized film can be used to cover the insulation. The simplest insulators for such tasks include foil mineral wool. In addition to mineral wool, foam plastic, penofol, teplofol can be used as the basis of insulation.

For domestic needs, a material thickness of 3-6 cm is quite enough.

There are no special difficulties when installing insulation under the pipeline. To do this, the shell is put on the required length, and, depending on the case, the protective film is removed from the adhesive layer. The film is applied along the end of the longitudinal section. When using a material with a foil coating only from the outside, the communication is protected from solar exposure. The foil, if present on the inside, reflects heat back into the pipe.

How to insulate the ceiling with foil insulation?

If you follow the recommendations of experts, then the thickness of the insulation with foil for both the ceiling and the walls and floor should be at least 50 mm. The ceiling of a brick or wooden building should be given special attention, because through it the largest number heat. When using mineral wool as insulation, it is important to know that this material absorbs moisture well and when wet, all its positive qualities are lost. At the same time, it gives off moisture very poorly. To protect the insulation with foil for the ceiling, walls and floor, special films are used. In this case, mineral wool is considered, since it has such positive characteristics as fire resistance, environmental friendliness, good sound insulation and resistance to decay.

Ceiling insulation should be carried out in the following sequence (installation begins from inside the room):

  1. Decoration Materials. For wooden house lining is often used.
  2. Steam protection. A film that prevents the ingress of moisture. Installation is carried out tightly to the finish.
  3. Ventilated gap. It is created during the assembly of the crate for the ceiling and is an air gap.
  4. Insulation. Installation is carried out in such a way that heat is reflected inside the room.
  5. waterproofing layer. It is necessary in order to prevent the ingress of moisture, but at the same time the material passes steam. Installation is carried out close to the heater.

The material is laid between the crate, for which wooden bars are used. Their thickness should be slightly larger than that of the insulation to ensure the ventilation gap. Waterproofing must be attached to the ends of the crate with brackets. In order for the insulation to hold tightly in the cells of the crate, the distance between the bars must be made 3 cm less than the dimensions of the heat insulator. A vapor barrier is mounted on top of the crate, and after that - finishing.

It was considered how to lay heat-insulating foil material, what types of it exist and in what areas they have found application. It is impossible to say unequivocally that this or that isolation has undeniable advantages. After all, much depends on the specific tasks in which each of the materials exhibits inherent positive properties. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting teplofol, because this material has practicality and versatility.

uteplix.com

Foil insulation for heating pipes: types and uses

Quite often there is a need to isolate communications. If the place where the boiler room is located is not heated in the house, then when the coolant moves through them to the premises, approximately 20% of the heat is lost. To maximize the efficiency of the system and reduce heat loss, heating pipes are insulated. It can be done by hand using various materials - mineral wool, polyurethane foam (PUF), liquid insulation, penofol.

With the help of foil insulation, it is possible to insulate heating pipes of any diameter

Why is it necessary to insulate pipes for heating

The rational use of thermal energy involves heating only those rooms in an apartment or house that need it. If there is no insulation for heating pipes, then the heat in non-residential premises, for example, in the attic or in the basement, is dissipated without much benefit to the consumer. This reduces overall system performance and increases energy costs.

Insulation for heating pipes of external routes also reduces the risk of freezing of the coolant during a sharp drop in temperature. Although freezing of the system is unlikely, however, plugs can form. Therefore, the thermal insulation of the heating pipeline located outside the building is a mandatory and important condition for the installation of external and internal routes.

Properly selected characteristics and thickness of the insulation of the heating pipeline can protect the network elements from condensation, mechanical damage and corrosion.

Pipe insulation helps to significantly reduce heat loss and reduce fuel consumption

How to insulate a heating pipe

There are many thermal insulation materials for heating pipes. The choice of the necessary is influenced by the parameters of the room and specifications operation of the heating network. The main criteria are:

  • location of pipelines requiring insulation;
  • system coolant temperature;
  • characteristics of pipelines;
  • technical parameters of materials for insulation of heating pipes.

The main operational parameters that the heat-insulating material has are:

  • thermal conductivity;
  • moisture resistance;
  • heat resistance and fire resistance;
  • resistance to the influence of microorganisms and decay;
  • sufficient thickness;
  • installation cost and manufacturability.

The lower the thermal conductivity of the material for insulating heating pipes with your own hands, the better its thermal insulation properties. Moisture resistance affects the quality of protection of metal (steel) pipelines from corrosion and condensate.

It is most convenient to insulate pipes with a ready-made "shell", it is made from a variety of materials

Note! The fire resistance parameters of thermal insulation for heating pipes must fully comply with the established fire safety standards in heated structures.

The thickness of the insulation is calculated for each specific case using complex formulas.

Basic materials for pipeline insulation

To obtain the maximum effect, it is important to clearly determine how to insulate the heating pipes in the basement, apartment or attic. Allocate soft rolled, solid piece and liquid heat-insulating material. When making a choice, it is necessary to take into account the diameter of communications in order to choose the right size for piece insulation.

All types of insulation for heating pipes perform their functions due to the air contained inside and differ only in ease of installation. Thermal insulation "shell" is one of the easiest ways to insulate. It is produced in the form of semi-cylinders. Installation can be done by hand by connecting the halves.

The shell provides high-quality insulation of heating pipes in the basement (in the attic) through grooves in the halves of the cylinder. The most popular and practical pipeline insulation materials include expanded polystyrene, fiberglass and mineral wool, polyurethane foam, penoizol, foamed polyethylene, foil penofol.

Placement of heating pipes in polyurethane foam insulation

Insulation for heating pipes made of polyurethane foam can be of two types:

  • sprayed;
  • hard.

The first type (mounting foam) is applicable to insulate small sections of pipes when absolutely necessary. Rigid insulation for heating pipes made of polyurethane foam is used for individual circuits. This material is lightweight, durable and has a low thermal conductivity.

One of the ways to insulate pipes is to apply polyurethane foam to them.

Note! One of the advantages of polyurethane foam is its high water repellency.

The material is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and chemically resistant. Its installation is carried out around communications of the "shell" type. Insulation for heating pipes is crimped around them, fixed with wire, clamps, screeds or staples. It is able to withstand temperatures up to +150 degrees.

Polyurethane foam spraying can be used to isolate the pipeline. This requires a 4-bar compensator and special equipment. PPU is firmly connected to the surface of the pipe, forming a strong mass. Such material does not tolerate the action of sunlight, so it is necessary to use a protective winding or aluminum foil. Works on applying PPU coating must be carried out in protective clothing.

Foil insulation for heating pipes

When deciding how to insulate a heating pipe, it is better to choose a foil version. Effective thermal insulation heating pipes is not only the preservation of heat, but also its reflection. For these purposes, materials with aluminum foil are used.

The reflective properties of the polished foil are very high, which allows you to keep the temperature of the coolant and keep the efficiency of the heating system at a maximum. The flow of heat that comes from the heating pipe is reflected back. In addition, the insulation for heating pipes with foil has the properties of hydro and vapor barrier, and also does not let the cold in from the outside.

During manufacture, the base material is applied to the foil layer - mineral wool, polyethylene foam, expanded polystyrene. Such thermal insulation for heating pipes in an apartment (in the attic, in the basement) is produced in the form of plates, rolls, linen, mats, shells, the thickness of which is different.

Foil insulation not only retains heat, but also has waterproofing properties.

Foil material can be used at air temperatures from -60 to +150 ° C, so it is well suited for insulating outdoor routes. Its vapor permeability is 0.001%, and water absorption is 0.74% in 24 hours. An important indicator is the high thermal conductivity of the foil, so it cannot be used separately.

Foil insulation options

The simplest option for insulating heating pipes in the basement is to use mineral wool covered with a layer of foil. The thickness of the wool is up to 50 mm, the thickness of the reflective layer is 10-30 microns.

Before insulating heating pipes in the attic (in the basement), it is necessary to study in detail the conditions for using suitable materials. The foil used with polyethylene foam is more brittle and can deform under external influences. The use of foil with foam can significantly improve its strength characteristics.

Note! Basalt thermal insulation is similar in characteristics to mineral wool, however, it is heavier, since its density is greater.

Very easy to use self-adhesive insulation. If the foil is damaged, you can use aluminum tape.

Polyethylene foam and lavsan film with foil are capable of transmitting infrared (thermal) radiation. For this reason, it is necessary to choose a film with a significant thickness of the foil layer.

Important points about the use of insulation

When purchasing roll insulation for insulating heating pipes in the attic or basement, you need to make sure that it is applicable specifically for communications. If the material is rigid and has the shape of semicircles, then it is designed for pipes of a specific diameter.

When buying a ready-made “shell”, you need to know the diameter of the pipes that are planned to be insulated, because the rigid insulating material also has certain dimensions

Maintain a distance of 25 mm between the aluminum foil and the wall. The price of a heat-insulating coating is affected by the base material and the thickness of the reflective layer. There is also a significant difference between aluminum foil and aluminum sputtering. In the latter case, the operation of the heat insulator will be less effective, and the reflectivity will be small.

It is not necessary to purchase ready-made foil material; you can wrap the heat-insulating layer for pipes in the basement or in the attic with foil yourself. Such insulation can be produced either in the form of hollow tubes or in rolls. Laying the foil is done with the front side out. A gap of 10-20 mm should be provided between it and the pipeline.

Do-it-yourself insulation installation

Consider how to properly insulate a heating pipe using the example of a heat-insulating shell made of polystyrene foam. First, the shell half-cylinders are put on the pipe, providing the offset relative to each other, which is required for overlapping. Its size can be from 10 to 20 cm.

The halves to be put on must be fastened with adhesive tape in advance. In the case of using a protective material located on the surface, its fastening is carried out after completion of work.

Note! For a more reliable abutment of the shell, the joints are glued with adhesive tape.

If thermal insulation for heating pipes is used to insulate their turns, as well as corners or nodes of the system, then it is better to use shaped shells. There are no special requirements for them.

How to insulate the heating pipe depends on the specific features and conditions of the location of the tracks (in the basement, in the attic, in the apartment). The choice of materials on the modern market is very large, so you can choose a heater for any occasion.

teplosila-tambov.ru

Foil insulation: application and installation features

Heaters with foil or metallized film are made on the basis of polyethylene foam. These are convenient and practical heat-insulating materials with a fairly wide scope. The distribution of the material is due to the characteristics that provide the advantages of their use in comparison with other heaters.

Among the most significant characteristics that distinguish foil heaters from other heaters, it is customary to take into account the following:

  • Low thermal conductivity
  • Almost complete moisture and vapor impermeability
  • Simple and easy installation

Foil thermal insulation, unlike polynor insulation, creates the effect of a "thermos". The low thermal conductivity of the material, combined with the heat-reflecting properties of the foil, retains heat, which significantly reduces heat loss.

Moisture-repellent properties and vapor impermeability protect materials covered with foil insulation, prevent condensation, protect against corrosion and increase the life of pipelines, stone and other walls, wooden structures.

Additionally, the use of foil insulation provides better sound insulation properties.

Most manufacturers produce foil insulation in rolls. Being quite flexible, elastic and soft, it is very comfortable to work with. It cuts perfectly without the use of special tools and is easily fixed on flat surfaces, regardless of their area.

The use of foil insulation

This heat-insulating material is an excellent insulation for heating pipes, including industrial ones. Moreover, their use is equally practical not only for protecting heat losses in heating systems and hot water supply, but also for protecting cold pipes from freezing. For the same purpose, they are used in external sewer systems or in unheated rooms with sub-zero temperatures.

Foil insulation is also used in the construction of hinged ventilated facades, replacing them with other rolled vapor barrier and moisture barrier materials. Their use protects the walls of buildings much more reliably. They are also successfully used in roofing and to protect foundations. Foil insulation also plays a significant role in improving the efficiency of using the “warm floor”.

Ease of installation is also different liquid insulation for walls. Thanks to special equipment, it is quickly applied to any type of wall, be it stone or brick.

In addition, there are other thermal insulation materials. This article will answer the question which wall insulation is better to choose? However, it is necessary to buy insulation based on certain parameters that will be optimal for internal and external insulation.

Features of mounting insulation with foil

Features of the installation of foil insulation are directly related to the scope of its application. For example, when insulating pipelines, it is sufficient to use a material strapping along the entire length of the pipes with a thin knitting wire.

For fastening on stone walls, adhesive building mixtures can be used. Under the facades - using self-tapping screws or other fasteners. In wooden roof structures and under roofing materials it is enough to “shoot” the insulation with paper clips using a construction stapler. For fixing on the floor over the "warm floor" systems, you can use double-sided tape.

Scheme of installation of foil insulation for pipes

To ensure complete tightness of the entire insulation layer, the joints of the strips of foil insulation should be glued with adhesive tape or sealant.

Video about foil insulation and its areas of application

Foil insulation is used in various areas of construction, but is not limited to this. You can learn more about where else this insulation is used by watching the video. The structure and properties of foil insulation are also considered.

Scope of insulation with foil.

Structure and properties of foil insulation.

megabeaver.ru

Thermal insulation for outdoor heating pipes

There are usually three reasons why thermal insulation is needed for outdoor heating pipes for a private house. The first is when it is necessary to lay heating engineering communications from the central heating main to the building along the street. The second is when an autonomous boiler room is used for heating. Third, heating communications must be extended to other buildings located in the backyard.

Why is thermal insulation for outdoor heating pipes

It would seem that the procedure for insulating pipes for heating is an unnecessary exercise: they are almost always hot anyway. Therefore, if we are talking about pipe insulation heating systems, it would be more correct to use the term "thermal insulation". This applies primarily to pipelines of DHW systems (Hot Water Supply). Here, it is not insulation that comes to the fore, but maintaining the temperature of the pumped working medium at a certain level and reducing heat losses. The same precautionary measure would be useful for main pipelines of hot water supply and for heating lines, regardless of the type of pipes themselves - steel, copper or plastic.

Useful advice! Sometimes the insulation of heating pipes for laying in the ground, made using only traditional thermal insulation, is insufficient. In this case, experts recommend heating them forcibly using heating cables.

Pipeline heat exchange area

The cylindrical configuration of the pipes predetermines a considerable area of ​​heat exchange with the atmosphere or the ground (if they are laid in the ground). With an increase in the diameter of the pipeline, heat losses increase. From the table below, you will find out how critical their increase is to the temperature difference outside and inside the pipe, on its diameter and the thickness of the thermal insulation layer.

Requirements for insulating material

On the modern market in the segment of thermal insulation for outdoor heating pipes, there are a lot of offers. It is necessary to give preference to the following thermal insulation structures:

  1. For insulation of heating pipes on the street, as well as in the basement, only hydrophobic material is suitable.
  2. Thermal insulation of heating pipes must have reliable external protection. The reasons for this requirement lie both in natural phenomena and in the human factor:
  • if the insulation is able to absorb water, it must be reliably protected from atmospheric moisture;
  • external protection will not allow the destruction of pipelines on the street from the negative effects of UV radiation;
  • external protection resists excessive wind load.

In addition, it is impossible to exclude the possibility of damage to the thermal insulation of external DHW and heating routes by animals that are released into the backyard, as well as from banal manifestations of vandalism.

Criteria for choosing thermal insulation

In search of an answer to the question of how heating pipes are insulated on the street and in the attic, in addition to the above requirements, the following characteristics of the heat-insulating material should be taken into account:

  • thermal conductivity;
  • ability to withstand aggressive environmental influences;
  • Operating temperature range;
  • service life. This is especially true if the pipes are laid in the ground, and not in the open air;
  • ease of installation.

Variants of heat-insulating structures

A variety of materials makes it possible to implement high-quality thermal insulation of pipelines laid both in the ground and above its surface. And although the production of insulated pipes for heating in our country is well established high level, many of our compatriots carry out their thermal insulation on their own.

Of course, one cannot do without certain knowledge. After all, a wide choice implies a difference in the characteristics of heat-insulating materials. Therefore, for those who have decided to perform this procedure without involving professionals, it would be useful to know that the following are used to insulate heating pipes with their own hands:

Foamed insulation. These products are available in the form of covers, for the manufacture of which polyurethane, polystyrene foam or rubber is used. A layer of thermal insulation is created without problems: the cover is simply put on the pipeline through a longitudinal section, and not by pulling the pipe through its cavity.

Useful advice! If you do this do it yourself , do not forget to glue the ends of the cut with a special adhesive at the final stage.

Special mineral wool.

  • Basalt. The raw material for its manufacture is a rock with a high content of the mineral basalt. This insulation attracts attention because, firstly, it is able to operate at a temperature of +650˚С, and, secondly, it does not emit toxic substances when heated.
  • Fiberglass. Quartz sand is its main component. In addition, the composition of such a heater includes glass made from it. Its feature is a relatively low operating temperature - about 180˚С. Therefore, fiberglass wool is used mainly for the manufacture of insulated heating pipes for outdoor routes and for those laid in the ground.

Since both of these types of thermal insulation are characterized by increased hygroscopicity, they can only be used in combination with waterproofing:

  • Reflective winding. The procedure for insulating heating pipes on the street with your own hands using such thermal insulation does not require the performer to have professional skills. Everything is very simple. Over the main layer of thermal insulation, made, for example, from foamed polyurethane or polyethylene, aluminum foil is wound, after which it is fixed with a metal wire.
  • Styrofoam. For engineering communications, special shapes are made that repeat their geometry, in the form of a ring, consisting of two parts. Each of them has a groove connection. This design makes it quite easy to insulate the pipeline with your own hands.

Useful advice! Polyfoam practically does not absorb moisture. But since insulating DHW pipes trails in the ground it is necessary to have an absolutely waterproof material, foam plastic is not the best way. From this point of view, it would be better to opt for extruded polystyrene foam.

Styrofoam is the best material for creating thermal insulation for heating pipes in an apartment. Not many of our compatriots understand the relevance of this issue. Yes, not on the street, but in a residential area, even non-insulated heating pipes will not freeze. But on the way to the radiator, useful degrees are spent on heating walls and furniture. Thus, the degree of heating of the radiator will be significantly less than the expected value, which, in turn, will lead to a decrease in the level of heat transfer to the rooms of the apartment.

Pipe insulation in the attic and basement

Having finished the construction of a private house, its owner must find out how the heating pipes are insulated. The choice of material depends on the type of room in which they are laid: in the attic or in the basement.

The attic room is characterized by increased ventilation, therefore high humidity here, as a rule, it is not fixed: it is the same as on the street. And for the reason that it is very difficult to create complete insulation in the attic, sub-zero temperatures are not uncommon there.

Those who want to insulate the pipes laid in this room with their own hands should be guided not only by the thermal conductivity of the material. It should also be considered whether it is possible to connect the segments without forming cold bridges. As practice shows, for the insulation of heating pipes in the attic the best way glass wool, slag wool, stone and basalt wool are suitable. And not only because of the affordable price. Indeed, even for those who do not know how to insulate heating pipes in the attic, an independent solution to this problem is within their reach. And this is additional savings.

The basement is the most critical place for heating pipes in a residential building. They are laid in the ground below the freezing depth of the soil. But even this does not exempt from the need for insulation of pipelines. And from the point of entry of the heating main into the basement to the place where the pipes approach the location of the plumbing, they must be thermally insulated.

Useful advice! Regardless of the type of material used for thermal insulation of pipes laid in the ground, it must be covered with a layer of waterproofing.

Searching for an answer to the question of how to insulate heating pipes in the basement will not take much time. According to experts, from the point of view of the Price / Quality ratio, the best choice is polystyrene foam insulation. It is produced for pipes of different diameters and any owner can use it to insulate the pipeline in the basement with his own hands.

The use of mineral wool involves the implementation of two stages of the process of insulating heating pipes in the basement:

  • the canvas is tightly wrapped around the pipe and secured with a nylon cord;
  • waterproofing protection is formed from the roofing material. Being pre-cut into pieces, this material, in turn, is wound over the mineral wool. For fixing, a nylon rope is also used.

The correct choice of the heat-insulating structure and the correctness of its installation determine the duration of the service life and the efficiency of the pipelines.

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Thermal insulation of heating pipes: how and with what to insulate?

A very topical issue for many people is the thermal insulation of heating pipes. On the one hand, it will be necessary to devote time to carrying out all the work and invest in the purchase of thermal insulation materials. But on the other hand, thermal insulation provides many advantages and solves serious problems:

  • does not allow freezing of pipes;
  • protects them from mechanical damage and other negative environmental influences;
  • reduces heat loss and therefore saves money;

PPU pipe insulation

Agree, the advantages of insulation are so significant that there should be no a priori discussions on the topic “is it worth it to spend on thermal insulation of the pipeline”. In this case, all costs are more than offset by the resulting benefits.

Materials used for insulation

The modern building materials market is ready to offer the buyer many answers to this question. Listing all the possible materials would take too long, so let's focus on the most popular of them:

  • Mineral and fiberglass wool. Fairly easy to install, can be used for pipes different sizes and is sold at the lowest price of all thermal insulation materials. Also, the advantages include high thermal performance. However, you should be aware that the wool must be additionally covered with a waterproofing layer. As for the installation technology, cotton wool is wound around the pipeline and fixed with stainless wire (synthetic twine can also be used).

Thermal insulation of pipes with mineral wool

  • Styrofoam. It is a material that has already managed to prove its effectiveness and expediency of use. It has a cylindrical shape and is sold in various sizes. When buying it, be sure to measure the diameter of the pipe that will be insulated, and select an insulator that is suitable in size. Expanded polystyrene for thermal insulation of pipes is easy to install - it is divided into 2 halves, the edges of which have a castle shape. It is only necessary to dock them until they click and that's it - the installation process has come to an end. Sometimes, for additional fasteners, they resort to wrapping with tape, but this is not at all necessary, because the foam plastic sits well even without it.

Styrofoam for pipe insulation

  • Foamed polyethylene. It is used quite often, and mainly for the insulation of plumbing communications, but it is also excellent for thermal insulation of the internal sections of heating systems. Extremely easy to install - it consists only in cutting a line of suitable size, winding and fixing with tape. It is also presented on the market in the form of pipes cut along the length of one of the sides - such thermal insulation is even easier to install.

Thermal insulation of heating pipes with polyethylene foam

  • Penoizol. It is a liquid mixture and due to the fact that it requires the use of a special spraying machine for application, it is used mainly on an industrial scale. After application and hardening, it “rings” the pipe very tightly, so that heat practically does not pass through this shell. That is, this material is characterized by excellent thermal characteristics, but it is quite expensive. Similarly, you can use foamed polyurethane foam (colloquially called polyurethane foam) - if you need to insulate a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe pipeline, they take a can for spraying. In addition to the fact that penoizol negates heat loss, it is also resistant to frost and does not need additional fastening.


Thermal insulation of heating pipes with foam insulation

  • Penofol. It began to be used as a heater quite recently, but this did not prevent him from quickly gaining a good reputation and consumer demand. This material is a foil coated with polyethylene foam. Such a “sandwich” keeps heat well, and in addition to this it has excellent heat-reflecting qualities, due to which it is used not only for pipe insulation, but also, for example, is fixed to heating radiators on the wall (this allows you to significantly increase the heating efficiency).

Penofol for pipe insulation

Conclusion

From what we read, we can conclude that today there are really a lot of materials for insulation, the choice is far from scarce, and thermal insulation of heating pipes can be carried out using any of the heat insulators listed above. When choosing one or another heater, we advise, first of all, to pay attention to its thermal characteristics, then to the ease of installation, and only after that to the cost. For, as they say, “the miser pays twice”, and, having coveted a low price, you can purchase products that will eventually disappoint you with their extremely low efficiency.

Dealing with the problems of insulation during the repair of an apartment, the construction of a house, a bathhouse, other utility or utility buildings, any owner always faces the problem of choosing the optimal thermal insulation materials. It is good that in our time the range of them on sale is quite wide. But this variety of choice can play a “cruel joke” with an ignorant person - it is not surprising to get confused in such an abundance and make a mistake. Therefore, when going to the store for a purchase or about to place an online order, the consumer should already have an idea about the characteristics of the material, its features, applications and basic installation techniques.

This article will review thermal insulation materials, which, despite the fact that they may have a different basic base, are still united by one common important feature - a foil surface. So, we consider the varieties, advantages and disadvantages, price levels and practical use foil insulation.

Advantages and disadvantages of heaters with foiling

Any of the insulating materials has its own insulating qualities due to a foamed, porous, fluffy, fibrous or other base, which allows you to create and retain an air layer. Well, the air itself has an extremely low thermal conductivity, and in total a thermal insulation layer is obtained, the transfer of thermal energy through which, if not completely excluded, is significantly reduced. It is clear that any material has its own thermal resistance indicators, and the general capabilities of the insulation also depend on its thickness.


1 - mineral wool.

2 - foamed polyethylene.

3 - expanded polystyrene.

4 - foamed concrete.

But this, so to speak, is a passive role of a heater. Is it possible to make sure that the thermal insulator not only does not let heat pass through its structure, but also participates more actively, reflecting thermal energy in the right direction? It turns out that it is possible - and for this foiling is used.

The wavelength of infrared radiation is close to visible light, and the heat flux, just like a light beam, can be reflected from a mirror surface and redirected back. It is on this principle that any thermos works - a thin glass or metal flask for liquid with an internal mirror or polished surface, and an air (or vacuum) layer around.

Heat in such a simple design is stored for a very long time. Exactly the same principle is used for the insulation of residential premises, baths, industrial buildings and technological lines, agricultural facilities, etc. For this, foil insulation is used.

Modern technologies make it possible to apply a layer of aluminum foil on almost any thermal insulation materials, so that the strength of the resulting multilayer structure is maintained, without delamination. As a result, new heaters acquire a number of remarkable qualities:

  • The created "thermos effect" in the room allows you to keep warm much better in winter, and vice versa - cool in summer.
  • Increasing the efficiency of thermal insulation entails a reduction in energy consumption for heating needs.
  • The foil surface itself is a good barrier against the penetration of moisture and water vapor, which in some cases makes it possible to do without an additional waterproofing layer.
  • Foiling does not in any way reduce the thermal insulation qualities of the material, on the contrary, it enhances them and allows the use of heaters of much smaller thickness, which is sometimes extremely important in tight spaces.
  • Any type of foil insulation is also a good sound insulator.
  • Applying foil to the thermal insulator does not pose any threat from an environmental point of view. On the contrary, it often becomes a reinforcing barrier against the penetration of the smallest particles of material into the space of the room.
  • The material is easy to install, which does not require any special professional skills. Moreover, it can, if necessary, be dismantled and then installed in the same or another place.
  • The form of release of the material - rolls or panels, is very convenient for installation work.

Among the shortcomings, the following can be noted:

  • Aluminum is still subject to gradual corrosion, which is why it begins to become cloudy, and over time its reflective qualities weaken somewhat.
  • The metal layer can become very hot, and therefore, during installation, it is necessary to provide a small air gap between the insulation and finishing surfaces. By the way, the same air gap will contribute to the ventilation of the aluminum coating, and the absence of moisture on the surface of the foil will greatly reduce the aggressiveness of corrosion processes and thereby increase the service life of the material.

Prices for thermal insulation materials

Thermal insulation materials

The main types of insulation with foil

Now it is worth considering in more detail the main types of foil insulation, their characteristic features and applications. In private construction, materials made of polyethylene foam, mineral wool or expanded polystyrene are widely used. There are other materials, for example, foil-coated basalt-fiber boards, but this material is expensive and has a specific purpose - for thermal insulation of technological lines, power plants, special industrial facilities, etc.

Foil insulation based on polyethylene foam

This is one of the most common and easy-to-use types of foil insulation. It is a layer foamed by a special technology, covered with one or two layers of foil 10 ÷ 15 microns thick.


The thickness of the insulation layer can be different - from 2 to 15 mm. The release form is usually rolls, but there may also be sheets of a standardized size, which is especially typical for the thickest (15 mm) types.


Three types of material are produced:

  • type A - one-sided foiling;
  • type B - the foil is applied on both sides, which is sometimes required to enhance the thermal insulation properties;
  • a type WITH With foil on one side, covered on the other protective film self-adhesive layer, which facilitates, if necessary, the process of mounting on the ceiling or on vertical surfaces.

By type of application source material There may also be differences:

  • In inexpensive brands, ordinary polyethylene is used H PE, which is subjected to repeated foaming during the production process with the creation of a closed gas-filled porous structure. The disadvantage of this material is its low resistance to deformation loads, the property of gradual shrinkage.
  • The best performance has a heater based on specially processed, "cross-linked" polyethylene (PPE). Its density is somewhat higher, but due to the transverse intermolecular bonds, it not only withstands mechanical stress better, but also seeks to recreate its original shape after removing the dynamic load. When acquiring material, this nuance must be taken into account.

Some types of such heaters may additionally have a fiberglass reinforcing mesh in their structure.


You can find many types of heaters based on polyethylene foam. Certified products of the Penofol, Ecofol, Isoflex, Izolon, Germaflex, and Folgoizol brands enjoy well-deserved popularity. Some characteristics of these materials are given in the table:

Material namePenofolIzolonEcofolIsoflex
Miniature
0,049 0.04 0,049 0,035
Density, kg/m³35 26 ÷ 3333 35 ÷ 45
Heat reflectivityat least 90%up to 95 ÷ 97%at least 80%at least 90%
Operating temperature rangefrom -60° to +100°Сfrom -80° to +80°Cfrom -60° to +90°Сfrom -60° to +80°C
Vapor permeability of the material, mg/m×h×Pa0,001 0,001 0,001 0,001
Release formThickness 2, 4, 5 mm with foil layer 14 µm, rolls 1.2 × 30 m; thickness 8 and 10 mm - rolls 1.2 × 15 mWeb width - 1.5 m, thickness 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 mm, length per roll, respectively, 200, 170, 130, 100, 80 and 50 m. Individual sheets 15 mm thick, dimensions 1500 × 2000 mmRolls 1200 mm wide, insulation thickness 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 mm, length 25 and 15 m.Rolls 1200 mm wide, insulation thickness 2, 3, 5, 8 or 10 mm, length 25 and 15 m. Foiling thickness - 10 microns.

Foil polyethylene foam finds the widest application in repair and construction work. Sheets or strips of insulation are attached to the surface in any convenient way, but in such a way as to prevent a strong violation of the integrity of the foil (for example, it is permissible to fasten it with construction stapler brackets). As a rule, the sheets are laid end-to-end, which is then glued with foil tape to provide a single integral reflective and insulating surface.


  • Floor insulation. It is used as an additional or even main (for example, in multi-storey buildings) thermal insulation layer, which can also play the role of a waterproofing layer. It is laid with the foil part up before laying the floor finish.

  • Thermal insulation and additional sound insulation of walls and ceilings, especially in conditions where the size of the room does not allow the use of thicker types of insulation (a classic example is a narrow balcony or loggia). Fastened with the foil side towards the room. Be sure to provide a gap between the foil and the finish coating (lining, panels, etc.). It is usually fixed on the surface with battens (counter-lattices), which become the basis for cladding.

  • Insulation of roof slopes. Can be used alone or in combination with other materials. In any case, foil-wrapped polyethylene foam is attached last towards the attic space, and on top of it, observing the gap, the sheathing is mounted.

  • . The foil layer simultaneously plays the role of a reliable vapor barrier, protecting the wall material from waterlogging. True, in the conditions of a steam room, where there can be critical high temperatures, the use of the material is not always justified due to the limited temperature range of its operation.

  • Thermal reflective screens behind radiators. Such a measure prevents thermal energy from being wasted on unnecessary heating in the outer wall, redirecting the infrared flux back into the room.

Interestingly, this material is widely used for other purposes not related to construction. So, it is great for warming and soundproofing car interiors. It is also used to make warm insoles for winter shoes.

Video: comparative tests of foil insulation polyethylene foam

Mineral wool with foil

The thermal insulation properties of mineral wool are very high in themselves. But additional foiling will only increase the effectiveness of insulation. In addition, this material is very hygroscopic, and an additional barrier against the penetration of moisture and water vapor will not allow the mineral wool to get wet and lose its qualities.


The form of release of the material is rolls, pre-compressed or sectional, or individual plates.

Name of insulationISOVER SaunaRockwool Sauna ButtsKnauf Insulation LMF AluRPAROC
Miniature
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/m×°С0,041 0,036 0.04 0,039
Density, kg/mm³11 40 36 32
Thickness50 or 100 mm50 or 100 m20 or 50 mm50 or 100 mm
Release formRolls 1200 mm wide, 12.5 or 6.25 m long, with triple compression of the material.Packs of 10 or 5 mineral wool foil boards with dimensions 1000 × 600 mmRolls 1000 mm wide, 10 or 5 m longMats 1200 × 600 mm or rolls up to 5 m

Due to the fact that the upper temperature limit of the operation of mineral wool exceeds 300 degrees, it is the best suited for ceilings in baths. In principle, this is the main purpose of such a foil insulation, although, of course, nothing prevents it from being used for other purposes, for example, for roof thermal insulation.


In any case, slabs or mats are placed between the batten guides. Guide step is initially set to 10 ÷ 20 m m less than the width of the insulation - so it fits snugly into the niche intended for it. The density of foiling is usually such that the insulation can be fastened with brackets to the aluminum layer. The joints must be glued with foil tape to maintain the effect of hydrovapor barrier. A 20 ÷ 25 mm air gap is left between the insulation and the wall (ceiling) cladding.


Mineral wool insulation is also available in the form of collapsible cylinders or half-cylinders - these products are excellent for thermal insulation of pipelines.

The thermal resistance of mineral foil wool allows it to be used for additional thermal insulation of boilers, boilers, storage tanks, and other heat engineering devices.

Mineral wool prices

Mineral wool

Video: thermal insulation of the bath with foil insulation "ISOVER Sauna"

Styrofoam mats with foil

Not so often, but still another type of foil insulation is used. We are talking about plates (mats) of expanded polystyrene with aluminum foil on one side.

Such products can be produced in single mats, or in rolls of several meters, made in sections, like a tractor caterpillar.


The main purpose of such insulating foil materials is both independent and in the "" system. A layer of aluminum foil reflects the heat flow upwards to warm up the finish coating so that expensive energy is not wasted on heating massive floor slabs or a subfloor laid on the ground.

To facilitate the process of laying the contours of the "warm floor" on most models of such mats, convenient, clearly visible markings are applied. Fixing the pipes will not present any particular difficulty - for this you can use special clamps with "harpoon" tips, which will securely hold the element in the thickness of polystyrene foam.


Fastening the "warm floor" pipe to the mat

It is better to purchase mats made from extruded polystyrene. Its increased density makes the material resistant to fairly significant mechanical stress, which is especially important when installing floors.

In conclusion of the review, one very important remark should be made. All of the listed advantages of foil insulation will be valid only if the material is of high quality. The fact is that some unscrupulous manufacturers are limited to applying a thin aluminized spraying. This is far from foiling, although outwardly the materials may be similar. A thin deposited layer is not able to adequately reflect the heat flow - infrared radiation for the most part will pass through it. And such a “decorative” shiny layer will also not become an obstacle to the penetration of moisture and water vapor.