Knauf Insulation’s Polyfoam® Supadeck® Insulated Loft Decking is a
unique system that provides loft insulation and storage decking
using just one, convenient and easy-to-use board. Made from
high-performance, Polyfoam® extruded polystyrene insulation and
flooring-grade chipboard, it’s an easy answer to a common problem –
how to effectively insulate a loft and provide a deck for storage
purposes.
As hot-air rises it’s not surprising that the single, most
important element to insulate in a house’s construction is its
roof! And, with domestic energy efficiency an increasingly
hot-topic, the requirement for effective insulation has also risen
with Part L of the Building Regulations currently specifying that
an Elemental U-value of 0.16 W/m2K has to be achieved. That’s the
target for both new-build and refurbishment work and, of course,
also sets a recommendation for DIY and home-improvement work.
The most cost-effective way to insulate a loft is with a 270mm
thick layer of glass mineral wool insulation laid at ceiling joist
level. As most roofs use 100mm deep ceiling joists, it’s usual to
install a 100mm thick layer between the joists and a second, 170mm
thick layer running across them. This is good for insulation
performance but does present a problem if, to make the most
effective use of available space in the building, the loft is to be
decked to create some highly desirable storage space. The obvious
answer is to crush the insulation under the decking but this
prevents it from doing it’s job. The method of retaining the
insulation’s performance is, unfortunately, just as unsatisfactory:
installing cross-joists to raise the decking above the second layer
of insulation is an awkward, expensive and time-consuming
job.
But there is an easy answer! Polyfoam® Supadeck® Insulated Loft
Decking. Supadeck® is a unique solution consisting of
high-performance Polyfoam® extruded polystyrene insulation and
flooring-grade chipboard. This simple idea combines the second
layer of insulation with the decking and completely overcomes the
need for the supporting cross-joists. Installed over a 100mm thick
layer of Crown® Loft Roll laid between the ceiling joists, the
combination achieves a U-value of 0.16 W/m2K – problem
solved!
Polyfoam® Supadeck® Insulated Loft Decking comes in conveniently
sized boards of 1200mm x 600mm which fit through all but the
smallest loft hatches and are easy to handle within the confines of
a loft. All four edges of the board are tongued-and-grooved and
this allows them to interlock, forming a flat deck of uniform
strength. Installing Supadeck® is easy: the boards are laid across
the ceiling joists, the edges glued and the boards can be fixed,
where necessary, to the joists with 150mm screws.
“Supadeck is a great time and labour saving product,” said John
Gaunt, Knauf Insulation’s marketing manager for residential
buildings. “It does away with the need for cross-joists to raise
the deck and maintain the insulation’s performance. It combines the
two key components needed – the second layer of insulation and the
decking – in one, unique product which makes loft decking much
easier and quicker to install.”
For further information about Knauf Insulation’s products, please
visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk or call 08700 668 660, quote KR 255
04.
® Registered Trademark of Knauf Insulation
– Ends –
(512 words)