LOFT INSULATION

Simply speaking, insulation your loft prevents heat loss in winter (and also heat gain in summer) and:

Reduces your energy consumption for heating leading to:

• Lower heating bills
• Lower ‘wear and tear’ on your boiler
• Reduced Global Warming and Climate Change

As much as a third of your heating costs could be escaping through your roof. Loft insulation is a very effective way to reduce your heating bills.

Simply by insulating your loft to the recommended depth of 270mm - 300mm, you can save wasted energy and money.

There are a number of grants available which can substantially reduce the cost of installing this product and you should contact your local installer to see if you are eligible. The Energy Saving Trust estimate that due to the amount of energy you will save in heating your home that if you qualify for a grant then the installation of Cavity Wall Insulation will pay for itself within 1 year for a loft with no insulation.  Ensure you take advantage of this saving now and reduce the cost of heating your home.”

Most loft insulation materials work by preventing the movement of heated air through the material. The fibres of matting insulation trap air within it, for the matting to be effective, the weave should not be over stretched or compressed as the structure trapping the air may be destroyed.

How much loft insulation do I need?
Government literature states that 'as much as 20% of your energy bill can be saved by effective loft insulation.' Effective loft insulation means a British Standard product, ideally laid by a professional installer to today's thermal insulation requirements.

Most UK houses have some degree of loft insulation, but the majority with 150 mm or less should be substantially topped up to 270 mm for glass wool, 250 mm for rock wool, or 220 mm for cellulose - the requirement for new homes. Nine million homes are insulated to 100 mm, a thickness which has not been considered adequate since the early 1980's.

Loft insulation is not an easy task and should be carried out by the experts - properly trained and experienced NIA members - to avoid technical risks.

For instance, a high standard can only be achieved by insulating across the top of the ceiling joists as well as between them, to avoid cold-bridging and including the loft hatch. Pipes and tanks also need to be insulated to avoid freezing. Other key considerations include ventilation to avoid condensation in the loft, access, safety aspects of electrical wiring and fittings, and safety information.

What Materials are Suitable ?
There are three types of British Standard material, all suitable for simple 'topping-up', leaving the existing insulation in place.

• mineral wool quilt
• blown mineral wool
• blown cellulose fibre
  

Quilt is rolled out in the loft space, whilst blown materials are installed loose using a purpose-built insulation blowing machine - including into areas where access by the technician may be difficult.

It is important to choose one of these approved materials, all of which have been properly tested to ensure they are safe for use in lofts.