Upstand insulation is an integral component of insulating concrete floors. It prevents heat from escaping through the flooring and maintains an ideal temperature inside a room.
The upstand depth should equal that of a screed and insulation thickness, yet not exceed skirting or wall plaster thickness.
Types
Upstand insulation can reduce thermal bridging between the edge of a floor slab or screed and an external wall, and the interior face. Furthermore, upstand insulation decreases both U-values of both floor and wall components and energy costs by helping to minimize thermal transference between them.
Thickness should be the cornerstone of selecting an upstand: at least 25mm should cover both wall and floor insulation by at least 150mm.
There is a range of upstand insulation products on the market, and it’s essential that you select one which best meets your requirements. Your choice could significantly alter the performance and occupant comfort within your building as well as complying with building regulations.
Specificing upstand insulation can be challenging for architects and engineers who are unfamiliar with its process, so seeking advice from an expert to make sure it fulfills your project requirements may be beneficial in getting things right first time and avoiding potential costs later on.
Materials
Upstand insulation comes in all sorts of materials. Some are more resistant to fire and water vapor diffusion than others, yet all serve to prevent cold bridging and increase thermal efficiency.
Insulation materials range from bulky fibers like fiberglass, cellulose and rock wool to rigid foam boards to sleek foils used for radiant barriers or reflective insulation systems. Bulky insulation helps block both convective and conduction heat flows in building cavities.
Foam board or liquid foam is commonly used to fabricate structural insulated panels (SIPs), which are widely installed in homes, schools, hospitals and office buildings. SIPs offer greater strength than typical wallboard while simultaneously increasing energy-efficiency ratings.
Polyurethane insulation is another popular material used in structural insulated panels (SIPs). It comes as spray foam or foamed-in-place options, or rigid or laminated boards. Although more costly than EPS, polyurethane provides 30 to 40% better insulation performance per thickness.
Installation
Upstand insulation can be installed to help prevent water seepage into walls and floors, reduce thermal bridge between floor and wall and avoid screed cracking.
Before beginning installation, the area must be prepared adequately. This involves taking steps such as removing skirting boards, architraves and electric sockets that may obstruct access.
Mark the locations of battens across the wall. These will give you something to attach the insulation board.
Now that you understand where you will place the battens, cut them down so that their sizes match those of the insulation boards and drill them into place.
After applying insulation and upstands (minimally 65mm thick), apply a vapour control layer over them with minimum thickness of 65mm. Finally, install a cement or sand screed over all areas for even coverage before finalising with plasterboard linings on upstands.
Final Words
Upstand insulation can save both money and space on new build or renovation projects. It involves using an insulation strip cut to fit the depth of a concrete slab or screed that sits between the base of walls and floor in an attempt to reduce thermal bridging – usually no thicker than 25mm in thickness.
Questions remain as to whether upstand insulation is the most practical and cost-effective means of insulate your home or business from cold weather, keeping costs under control while staying cozy during this season. While the answer could lie somewhere in between depending on the specifics of your project. A U-value and interstitial condensation risk assessment is the ideal way to determine how much upstand insulation would best serve you – giving a smarter, safer and cost-efficient option than ever. Once identified as suitable to you it’s time to request your free quote today.