Welcome to the latest issue of Kingspan news!

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Climate change is redefining how we design, specify, construct and maintain our built environment and, as we look to the future, its influence is only likely to increase. Global surface temperatures are on the rise and naturally, this raises significant concerns about overheating.
 
One solution is to install active air conditioning technologies. However, these products have high energy demand and can substantially increase the carbon footprint of a building. For this reason, future regulations are likely to prioritise passive solutions.

Recent research from AECOM has suggested that the use of an enhanced specification of pipe insulation and insulated pipe supports on hot water and heating pipework can drastically reduce overheating in some buildings. 

Pipe insulation products offer a simple, low maintenance solution for limiting heat transfer from pipework.  Minimum insulation requirements for hot water and heating systems are laid out in the Domestic and Non-domestic Building Service Compliance Guides, building on the specifications within BS 5422: 2009 (Method for specifying thermal insulating materials for pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment operating within the temperature range -40°C to +700°C). To effectively reduce heat transference and ensure optimal system efficiency, it is worth looking beyond these requirements.

To investigate how different pipe insulation specifications can affect overheating and system performance, AECOM carried out a detailed evaluation using IES dynamic thermal modelling. The research assessed the performance of three insulation systems on LTHW (Low Temperature Hot Water) and DHW (Domestic Hot Water) pipework within a multi-unit residential extra-care building.

To view the results, please download the White Paper from our website using the button below.