All three products in the new Actis Hybrid insulation range have been accepted by both the NHBC and LABC.
The range includes a new insulation material, Hybris, a vapour control layer with an unrivalled built-in thermal performance, HControl Hybrid, and an insulating breather membrane, Boost‘R Hybrid.
As they are fully certified in the UK and Europe by accredited bodies according to European harmonised standards, the products have recently been approved by the LABC and are also covered by the NHBC warranty when used strictly in accordance with the principles set out in their respective certifications.
LABC members have been notified of the decision in an LABC statement which said: “These new products have been tested and certified to national and European harmonised testing standards, including BS EN 16012:2012, by organisations which have been accredited to do so. LABC would therefore currently consider the use of these products to be acceptable, providing they are used strictly in accordance with the manner described on the certification.”
They comply with new Part L regulations and can be used, separately or together, in new builds and refurbishments, to achieve the highest U-value requirements with a minimal thickness.
All three products combine both insulation and air tightness properties, with HControl Hybrid and Boost‘R Hybrid in particular addressing the new Part L requirement for continuity of insulation and avoidance of thermal bridges.
Among the amended Part L regulations is a directive stating that insulation must be “reasonably contiguous over the whole building envelope.” It goes on to state: “The building fabric should be constructed so that there are no reasonably avoidable thermal bridges in the insulation layers caused by gaps within the various elements, at the joints between elements such as those around the window and door openings. Reduction in thermal performance can occur where the air barrier and the insulation layer are not contiguous and the cavity between them is subject to air movement.”
HControl Hybrid, which is used on the warm side of walls and roofs, works not only as an air and moisture barrier but also as a good thermal insulation, offering an R-value of 3,20 m2.K/W with two air voids of 20mm according to EN 16012. It can be installed in a continuous application, thus providing an unbroken air barrier and reducing thermal bridging. Other insulation types fit around and within the building structure and are independent of the air and moisture barrier.
Boost‘R Hybrid is used on the cold side of walls and roofs, as a breather membrane providing built in thermal performance, offering an R-value of 2,40 m2.K/W with 2 air voids of 20mm according to EN 16012 – again in a continuous layer.
Actis UK and Ireland director Matthew King explained: “Because Hybrid products are flexible, forgiving and thus straightforward to install, the margin for error is very small, making the chances of thermal bridging very slight, thus ensuring a high quality installation.”
The range is complemented by a free online simulator, found at http://hybrid.insulation-ACTIS.com, which enables to estimate the U-value of a project in seconds.