Insulation materials with a vapor-absorbent structure do not offer any protection from condensation. When condensation occurs within the insulation material, most of the thermal performance is lost; condensation leads to an accelerated ageing process in any material that becomes damp. Over the years insulation materials need to be replaced to ensure long term building efficiency.
Within any building, irrespective of the building structure or building use; condensation can occur, causing both structural corrosion and surface damage, jeopardizing the building’s stability, and commercial value.
Plastic insulation materials are good insulations; but are not completely vapour tight. They are used with adhesive jointing tape or additional Vapour Control Layer.
Cellular glass insulation is completely vapour tight, with a water vapour diffusion resistance factor of infinity. There is no risk of condensation penetration, into the insulation or into the construction. The material will not swell or be affected by mould. When vapour proof adhesives and sealants are used the cellular glass insulation does not require an additional vapour control layer.
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The compressive strength is the load bearing capability of a material without the material compressing. It is expressed as force (kN) divided by area (m²) = kPa.
The European standard EN826 determines the compressive strength of insulation materials, whilst allowing up to 10% compression before the load bearing capability is recorded. Most insulation materials are tested according to this European EN826 standard. As building thermal performance has increased, so has the insulation thickness. Today an insulation thickness of 200mm is not unusual.
Therefore, under the EN826 conditions, 20 cm of insulation will compress by 2 cm, leading to tension in the waterproofing membranes, resulting in splits and cracking.
FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is tested to EN826 Annex A, a test where compression under load is not allowed. With cellular glass insulation, there is no movement under compressive load, or tension in the waterproofing membranes. The waterproofing will perform as intended. The cellular glass insulation helps to protect the building from water ingress.
Architects, engineers and contractors face major challenges when the insulation upon a floor or roof must also be able to withstand heavy loads from parked cars, maintenance, service or emergency vehicles, If the insulation layer moves, paving, finishes, and waterproofing will fail. Water enters the roof system and insulation performance is lost.
With cellular glass insulation, there is no movement under compressive load, paving, finishes and waterproofing will perform as intended. The cellular glass insulation helps to protect the building from water ingress.
Materials shrink with cold and expand with heat. The thermal expansion coefficient indicates the extent to which this happens. Here are examples of the thermal expansion coefficients of a few building materials:
The lower the expansion coefficient, the less the material shrinks or expands with changing temperatures.
A high thermal expansion coefficient has an impact on the dimensional stability of an insulation system. Insulation installed during warm weather, will shrink causing open insulation joints leading to cold spots within the insulation system; having major consequences for the buildings insulation performance and energy efficiency.
Insulation installed during cold weather, will expand causing a stretching of the roof membrane. The thermal movement of the insulation causes the roof membrane to age faster than expected.
For insulation materials which have a high rate of thermal movement, that are sensitive it is best to use mechanical fixing methods. When these insulations expand and contract vapour control layers and waterproofing membranes are subjected to pressure or tension.
Despite the mechanical fixings, the formation of wrinkles, and stretching can be seen on hot and cold days, causing extra stresses, reducing the membrane’s lifespan. Mechanical fixing involves numerous penetrations through the insulation system to causing thermal bridging, and the potential for water ingress.
The thermal expansion coefficient of cellular glass insulation is similar to concrete and steel. Installing cellular glass is quick and simple. Cellular glass is secured into place using adhesive. The waterproofing is not subjected to the stresses associated with expansion and contraction of the insulation system. There are no thermal bridges or penetrations though the insulation system.
FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation significantly reduces thermal bridging, improves thermal efficiency and extends the service life of waterproofing membranes, and associated seals and perimeter closures.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Cellular Glass Pipe Insulation. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
The structure and chemicals used in various mineral and plastic insulation materials, makes them susceptible to various bacteria, parasites, solvents, acids, and alkalis, used in the construction industry and found on polluted and contaminated ground. These insulations also become nesting material for various vermin and insects.
Cellular glass insulation is glass, and therefore inorganic. It does not rot or attract living organisms. It is unaffected by hydrocarbons and is impervious to radon gas. Cellular glass remains intact. Even forty or fifty years later!
As FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is an inorganic material, it will not burn or support combustion. Flame spread and smoke development are prevented and it does not cause any dangerous droplets, making it a truly firesafe construction material. Additionally, because of the 100% inorganic nature of cellular glass, it does not interact with oxidising liquids, minimising explosion risks associated with the oxidising of organic materials.
It is the combination of all its protective properties that makes cellular glass insulation so unique. No other thermal insulation can offer all of these properties in one product. The importance of each is related to the specificities of the respective Industry and Building projects.
Consisting of pure glass, FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is free of environmentally damaging flame retardants and propellants and has no relevant eco-toxic components.
Third party testing (FIW Institute – Munich) has proven FOAMGLAS® insulation to be a truly durable insulation material. The insulation does not deteriorate over time, maintaining its thermal resistance and compressive strength throughout the lifetime of the building, industrial installation or storage tank.
During renovation work of the building, or when renovating the waterproofing membrane, our insulation can stay in place and does not need to be replaced. In case of stricter regulations regarding the thermal performance of a building in the future, you can easily add another layer of FOAMGLAS® insulation on top of the existing one, improving the U value of the building.
After generations of use as thermal insulation, FOAMGLAS® insulation can be recycled when the building is dismantled. It can then be reused as filler in landscaping or thermally insulating granulate in road construction. A perfect example of meaningful ecological recycling through re-use.
The average recycled content for FOAMGLAS® products is 50%*. The mix of raw materials, in combination with adjustments during the manufacturing process, determine the unique combination of FOAMGLAS® properties.
1. First, glass is obtained from a mix of recycled glass, sand, dolomite, lime and iron oxide with precisely defined properties.
2. The glass is then ground and mixed with a small amount of carbon in the ball mill.
3. The powder is put in high-grade steel moulds, which then pass through a furnace where the glass foam powder is expanded.
4. A material structure with thin glass air cells emerges. These are retained in a controlled cooling process. Due to the closed cell structure, millions of tiny hermetically sealed glass cells give the material extraordinary compressive strength, excellent insulation values and waterproofing properties.
5. After cooling, the produced material is cut to size, packed and stacked on pallets, ready for our warehouse or delivery to the jobsite.
* Weighted average based on total mass of final products put on the market. Calculation based on ISO rolling average percentage method.
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