Bradley Hirst, Technical Services Manager at Knauf Insulation, explores why insulation impacts indoor air quality more than you think.

With the Future Homes Standard on the horizon and the government’s stated target of building 1.5 million homes in the next five years, housebuilders are under pressure to deliver more for less. Insulation will play a key role in the drive to lower carbon emissions and energy costs. But the right approach to insulation also has other, sometimes overlooked, benefits – including helping to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Housebuilders that understand this can differentiate themselves not just on lower running costs and improved comfort, but on occupant health.

Occupational hazards

To appreciate insulation’s role in IAQ, it’s important to first understand some common health concerns. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) refers to a range of nonspecific symptoms, such as headaches or fatigue, that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building. While poor air quality can be a contributing factor, SBS can also stem from other environmental issues like dust, lighting, or excessive noise.1

In contrast, Building-Related Illness (BRI) refers to health conditions caused by identifiable factors such as exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or mould spores.2 While the causes of SBS symptoms may be ambiguous, BRI is directly linked to a building’s environment – and housebuilders can take targeted actions to reduce the risks. There are three main factors that influence IAQ: the external environment, occupant behaviour, and the building’s construction. Outdoor air pollution can infiltrate buildings, while indoor activities like cooking, smoking, or owning pets can release pollutants. For housebuilders, the third factor is the most important, and that is the design and construction of the building itself. Building performance, and the materials used to deliver it, are crucial for managing air quality, reducing the risk of SBS and tackling the causes of BRI.

Ventilation, insulation and mould

One of the most visible and harmful indicators of poor IAQ is black mould, which thrives in damp conditions and can cause respiratory issues or aggravate allergies. High indoor humidity and poor ventilation will cause water vapour to condense on cold surfaces such as poorly insulated walls. This provides all the required conditions for mould to flourish – which can feed off any organic material including wood, dust particles, wallpaper, cardboard, cellulose or even gypsum board.

This is where insulation becomes vital. Well-insulated walls retain heat during colder months, reducing surface condensation and the likelihood of mould. However, insulation must be installed correctly to be effective. Any air gaps or discontinuities in the thermal envelope can lead to cold spots where condensation forms more easily. A continuous, properly installed insulation layer ensures surface temperatures remain consistent and discourages moisture build-up.

Ventilation works in conjunction with insulation to reduce mould growth. Without sufficient ventilation, even the best insulation can’t prevent poor IAQ. Effective systems, whether passive (like trickle vents) or mechanical (such as extractor fans), ventilate moisture-laden air to prevent the conditions that allow mould to flourish.

Construction products and VOCs

Building performance isn’t the only way housebuilders can improve IAQ. The materials used during construction can have an impact on indoor levels of VOCs – gases emitted from common construction products that can cause a variety of acute health symptoms for building occupants.3 By using products with low VOCs, housebuilders can help to mitigate some of the potential risks of harmful chemicals.

When choosing low VOC insulation, we recommend housebuilders look for Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Certification. Eurofins Scientific has developed a European-wide standard for testing the VOCs emitted by consumer products, including building products. There are two certifications for indoor air comfort, ‘standard’ and ‘gold’. The latter is awarded to those products that go beyond legislated standards and contain no formaldehyde or phenols.

For example, Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool range uses ECOSE®, their unique plant-based binder that is low- VOC and contains no added formaldehyde. As a result, these products have been awarded Eurofins Gold Certification for indoor air quality.

Healthier buildings

By combining proper ventilation, low-VOC materials, and a continuous thermal envelope, housebuilders can reduce risks like condensation, black mould, and exposure to harmful chemicals. With growing demand for healthier, more sustainable homes, those who prioritise indoor air quality will be well-positioned to meet regulatory standards and exceed customer expectations.

More information on Knauf Insulation

Sources:

1 NHS website: Sick Building Syndrome

2 Design Buildings website

3 Environmental Protection Agency website

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Knauf Insulation believes that its Rocksilk RainScreen FFCB built-in cavity barrier is the first of its kind designed to be affixed to the surface of insulation during the construction of masonry facades.

Being attached directly to the insulation surface as the brickwork is constructed eliminates the need for post-installation insulation cuts. This innovation streamlines installation, minimizes waste, and reduces the risk of performance-compromising air gaps.

The product is part of a certified system designed to provide up to 90 minutes of fire resistance (EI90) in the residual cavities of buildings with masonry facades and is classified as non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification.

Because it is installed between the insulation and the masonry façade, just three width and depth variations are required to cover all sizes of cavity – something that makes product selection much easier.

For more information, please go to www.rdr.link/xxx

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Matthew Prowse, specification and housing director for Knauf Insulation, discusses the changing Building Regulations and how housebuilders can keep ahead of the curve as the industry evolves.

This month marks a year since the introduction of uplifts to Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) of England’s Building Regulations and, consequently, the deadline for compliance. As of June 15^th, all new homes must produce 31% less CO2 emissions and meet higher fabric efficiency standards, to name just two of the changes.[1]

There’s been a lot for the industry to adapt to, but this is still only a transitional step towards a more ambitious goal. By 2025 the CO2 reduction figure for new homes will shift to 75%[2] and the only way to achieve this is with a ‘fabric first’ approach.

As regulatory changes gain momentum over the coming years, how can you ensure your specifications keep up?

Cavity width

Some housebuilders have been understandably reluctant to increase their cavity widths up to this point. But whilst it’s possible to achieve Part L compliance with a 100mm cavity, it limits your options and could result in costly redesigns as regulations evolve.

A thickness of 150mm will provide optimal fabric performance and when the Future Homes Standard arrives in 2025, most homes are likely to be built with a wider cavity. Adding an extra 50mm now has a minimal impact on floor space and gives you more insulation options to choose from.

Buildability

A home’s energy efficiency relies as much on correct installation as it does on the insulation itself. Lambda values are important, but they only tell you the potential thermal performance of a product. Whether this is met in the real world depends on how it’s installed. Rigid foam board insulation is a good example; unless a cavity is perfectly uniform and flat, rigid boards won’t sit flush against it. Joints between boards also need to be taped with precision, leaving ample room for human error. This can lead to unintentional air gaps, which reduce thermal performance. Mineral wool on the other hand is flexible and will adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate, minimising gaps and maximising performance. Its ‘buildable’ nature makes mineral wool easier to ‘get right’.

The bigger picture

Energy efficiency isn’t the only item on the agenda for change. Part B (Fire safety) for example, now requires all residential buildings between 11m and 18m to use non-combustible materials in certain external wall system build-ups, such as rainscreen façades and timber frames, unless a full-scale fire test to BS 8414-1 or BS 8414-2 has been conducted[3]

With so many moving parts to consider, it makes sense to choose products that tick multiple boxes and are likely to stand the test of time. Mineral wool by its nature is non-combustible, easier to install correctly, and it can be used in both larger and smaller cavities, in any building of any height. That’s why it’s the reliable choice for Part L and beyond.

[1] Approved Document L.

[2] Future Homes Standard.

[3] Approved Document B.

For more information on Knauf Insulation, go to www.rdr.link/xxx

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Knauf Insulation has launched Rocksilk RainScreen FFCB (Fixed-face Cavity Barrier), the first cavity barrier that is fixed to the face of the insulation and built in to masonry façades during construction.

The patented non-combustible solution was developed in response to customer feedback. It is part of a certified system that provides fire resistance for up to 90 minutes insulation and integrity (EI90) in the residual cavities of buildings with masonry façades.

“Unlike other products, our cavity barrier is fixed to the face of the insulation as the brickwork is built, so the insulation doesn’t need to be cut post-installation,” explained Luke Davies, Product Manager – Rock Mineral Wool, at Knauf Insulation. “This means it’s quicker and easier for brickwork contractors to install, reduces waste on site and gives architects reassurance that performance won’t be compromised by the creation of unintentional air gaps during installation.”

Rocksilk RainScreen FFCB is non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. It is part of a certified system that comprises Rocksilk RainScreen Slab sheathing insulation for behind masonry façades and the fixings . It has been tested for use with steel frame, timber frames, masonry and concrete substrates and can be used for both high and low-rise constructions, so is suitable for a broad range of projects.

It has been designed following feedback from installers and contractors that traditional installation methods required extensive cutting of the insulation post-installation. Not only is this laborious and time consuming, but it introduces a potential risk in the form of air gaps which can compromise thermal, fire safety, and acoustic performance. 

In contrast, Knauf Insulation’s new cavity barrier is installed against the face of the insulation as the brickwork is built. This means that fixings can be installed from the outer leaf rather than to the inner leaf. Both of which make it easier and more efficient to install.

Because it is installed between the insulation and the masonry façade, just three width and depth variations are required to cover all sizes of cavity – something that makes product selection much easier.

A detailed installation guide is available, with clear and simple advice to installers for a wide range of detailing considerations.

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