Ceiling Insulation is one of the essential additions to all new homes. However, as with all things, there are good and bad products. Ceiling Insulation Benefits vary depending on thickness and type of insulation. In most first-world countries, Ceiling Insulation is a standard part of the total building envelope. However, in South Africa, we must insulate all new homes with SANS compliant Thermal Insulation achieving an R-value of 3.70.

The Most Common Types of Ceiling Insulation Products in SA

There are several Insulation Manufacturers in South Africa

• Isotherm Insulation: is low-grade polyester insulation that is no longer SABS tested or approved
• Platinum Fiber Insulation: This is the highest polyester insulation type grade. It is not only SABS TESTED. It is also SABS-approved.
• Nutec Insulation: A new Ceiling Insulation is also manufactured locally. The product is not SABS-approved. However, it is SABS tested.
• Aerolite Insulation: Locally manufactured to the highest standards is SABS approved. Isover manufactures Aerolite in SA, and it is one of the largest insulation manufacturers on the planet.
• Cellulose Insulation: Cellulose is a tiny part of the Ceiling Insulation industry. Most Cellulose manufacturers in SA operate from small mini-factories to produce their products.
• Knauf Ecose Insulation: Imported into SA, and it is SABS approved. However, it is also manufactured to the highest international manufacturing standards.

What Are The Ceiling Insulation Benefits?

There are many types of ceiling insulation available. Ceiling or Loft Insulation are the best options for all roofs. However, many of these products are a waste of money and time.

• It makes homes and office buildings cooler in summer.
• In winter, the buildings are warmer because the insulation blocks the indoor warm air from escaping via the ceiling.
• Some more advanced Insulation products like Aerolite Insulation and Knauf Ecose also have exceptional noise reduction properties.
• Install class AA 1/1 Thermal Insulation reduces fire risk in the building because they are not combustible.
• Fit Ceiling Insulation correctly. We will have 5-8 degrees indoor temperature improvements.
• Aerolite and Knauf Ecose Insulation are the two best products as they are also non-combustible.

The Best Ceiling Insulation Benefit Is Comfort

Insulated homes are far more comfortable as the indoor temperature is improved by 5-8 degrees in summer and winter. Firstly the insulation blocks the hot air from entering the home via the ceiling by 90%. Secondly, in winter, the warm air in the house will not to lost to the cold roof space.

By reducing the need for heating and cooling, we reduce our electricity demand. Surveys have shown that Thermally Insulated homes will reduce the need for heating and cooling and save money. An average home will reduce energy consumption and cover the cost of insulation in two to three years on energy saving alone.

Some Ceiling Insulation Products Reduce Noise Pollution

The two best Ceiling Insulation Products for noise reduction are; 135mm Soft Touch Aerolite and 135 Knauf Ecose Insulation.

Is Ceiling Insulation Combustible?

The best brands are most certainly not combustible. However, the smaller brands manufactured in little mini-factories are often riskier. When considering insulation for your home, installing Thermal Insulation with a Class AA 1/1 rating makes sense. These Insulation products cant burn. For this reason, all Hospitals, Schools and Clinics by law are required to install Aerolite Insulation or Knauf Insulation for the safety of large numbers of people.

Why Is Combustible Ceiling Insulation A Risk?

The danger of Cellulose Insulation is that it burns from the inside. A fault wire can burn back to the DB box, causing a fire in the roof space. The risk of combustible insulation can be devastating in the home. Many home fires start in the ceiling as a result of faulty wiring. For example, products like Cellulose Insulation are recycled newspapers shredded to fine dust. At this point, they must add 25% of chemicals to prevent the paper from burning. However, these chemicals dissipate over five years, leaving the fire retardants ineffective as they dissipate. Cellulose will burn with a faulty wire causing substation damage to the home.

Non Combustible Insulation

• The New Soft Touch Aerolite Insulation has a Class AA 1/1. The Thermal Insulation is not combustible and will not burn.
• Knauf Ecose Insulation is also rated Class AA 1/1. For this reason, the insulation is also non-combustible and will not burn.

Combustible Insulation

There are a few high-risk ceiling insulation products. By high risk, we don’t mean they will burn easily. However, it is possible if there is a cause of action in the roof space, that will cause a fire.

• Polyester Insulation Products like Isotherm Insulation are highly combustible with a class rating of B/B 1/2. It means they will burn in the roof space.  Polyester insulation products like Isotherm Insulation will burn with a match or lighter. We must note this factor is not only with the Isothrtm product. It is with all polyester insulation products.
• Cellulose Insulation is even worse than polyester as it burns from the inside and smoulders. Because it is also manufactured from fine dust-like shredded paper, it seems to be high risk in the roof space. Another factor to consider with Cellulose Insulation is the massive amounts of chemicals in the insulation to try and prevent the burn factor. Many videos on the internet show that cellulose insulation cant burn. However, these videos do not tell the true story of how Cellulose Insulation burns. Cellulose Insulation burns or smoulders from the inside. For example, if you have a faulty electrical wire burning back to the DB box, it will cause Cellulose to burn. In particular, these fires are the hardest to detect until it is too late.