Thermal insulation

Abstract

A method of insulating a building having a frame construction wherein the wall of said building comprises an outer cladding layer, a cavity, and a load bearing frame, said method comprising the step of introducing into said cavity an insulating membrane comprising: (i) a reflective layer; and (ii) a breathable textile layer.

1 . A method of insulating a building having a frame construction wherein the wall of said building comprises an outer cladding layer, a cavity, and a load bearing frame, said method comprising the step of introducing into said cavity an insulating membrane comprising: 
 (i) a reflective layer; and    (ii) a breathable textile layer.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer comprises a non-woven textile.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer comprises a woven textile.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer comprises a fleece.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the fleece is compressed.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer comprises felt.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer comprises paper.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable textile layer is formed from a plastics material.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plastics material is selected from a group comprising: 
 polypropylene    polyethylene    polyester    polyamide    polycarbonate    polyvinyl chloride    or a mixture thereof.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer comprises a metallised layer.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the metallised layer comprises aluminium.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the aluminium is in a form selected from a group comprising: foil, laminate, veneer, vapour-deposited.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reflective layer is applied to the textile in the form of a vacuum vaporised aluminium coating in a form which does not materially reduce the permeability/breathability of the textile layer.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to any of claims  10 , wherein the metallised layer is coated with a protective layer to protect the metal surface from damp.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer incorporates perforations.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the perforations are micro perforations.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating membrane comprises a non-woven polypropylene fleece having an aluminium layer deposited onto the textile by vapour deposition.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface emissivity coefficient of the insulating membrane is in the range 0.01 to 0.25.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water resistivity of the insulating membrane is in the range 0.05 to 1 MNsg −1 .  
     
     
         20 . A frame building insulated according to the method of  claim 1.