SAVING ADVICE - INSULATION

Effective insulation and draught proofing is essential to reduce heat loss from buildings and there is usually considerable scope for improvement. Good insulation is best fitted during the construction or refurbishment of buildings where it becomes more cost effective and less disruptive.

Key Measures

• Reduce draughts on all windows and doors
• Use automatic door closures
• Consider improving insulation levels with refurbishment
• Loading bays will benefit from air locks
• Ensure pipes and valves are effectively insulated

Practical Tips

Sealing doors and windows using inexpensive self-adhesive draught excluder reduces air infiltration and can reduce around 10 % of heat loss.

Entrance doors can add substantially to heat loss. Ensure external doors have automatic closures. At busy doorways, consider fitting a draught lobby or porch.

Plastic strip curtains reduce heat loss and create a visual security barrier at loading bays and service doors yet still allow easy access.

Fitting docking seals to temperature-controlled warehouses reduces heat loss and helps combat the ingress of dust, maintaining product quality.

Rapid roller shutters reduce loading bay heat loss by automatically opening and shutting using presence detectors, causing little inconvenience to deliveries.

Cavity walls and many roof voids may be insulated cost effectively with little disturbance to commercial activities reducing heat loss by up to 35%.

Refurbishment offers great potential for upgrading insulation levels of factory roofs and metal clad buildings. Internal linings can drastically reduce heat loss in winter and improve working conditions throughout the year by helping to limit excessive summer temperatures.

Further information on insulation

• The Council for Energy Efficiency Development includes trade associations for the draught proofing and insulation industries. Tel: 01428 654011 for local installer information.