Description

Aluminium Foil Membrane – Vapour Barrier and Thermal Insulation – 1m x 50m (50 SQ/M)

Our aluminium foil membrane is a three-layer aluminium foil, a high-quality option which is used extensively in both new-build constructions and renovations.

Serving as a fully waterproof vapour barrier and thermal insulation upgrading system, this foil insulation is utilised in walls, roofs, attics, ceilings and floors.

Check out our installation video’s and further information for this product below.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

• Risk of condensation — the product is a vapour control layer and will reduce the risk of interstitial condensation
• Air permeability — the product is an air barrier and can reduce heat loss by air infiltration
• Thermal insulation — the product can contribute to limiting heat loss through walls and floors
• Strength — the product has adequate strength to resist the loads associated with the construction of the wall or floor
• Properties in relation to fire — the product is classified as Class E in accordance with EN 13501-1 : 2007.
• Durability — the product will have a lifetime equal to that of the building element in which it is installed.
• NHBC: In our opinion if installed, used and maintained in accordance with this Certificate, can satisfy or contribute to satisfying the relevant requirements in relation to NHBC Standards, Chapters 6.2 External timber framed walls, 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding, 6.10 Light steel framed walls and floors and 9.2 Wall and ceiling finishes
  

What are the key qualities of aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane?

We ensure our vapour barrier membrane and waterproof insulation offers excellent value and durability, which is certainly the case with this aluminium foil insulation membrane. Key qualities include:

• The product’s highly reflective and durable surface reduces heat loss through the roof, ceiling, wall or floor, therefore enhancing the thermal performance of the system. The upper and lower layers are made of aluminium polyethylene film and the inner part is reinforced with PP network, which gives this foil insulation an extremely high tensile strength.
• The top layer of polyethylene is metallized with the heat-reflective surface of aluminium. The internally reinforced membrane sheet covers both the structure from the ingress of water, acting as a reliable heat absorption layer.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

Length: 50m
Width: 1m
Area per roll: 50m2
Grade: 90g/m2 +/- 10%
Roll Weight: 8kg
Resistance to longitudinal tear: 250 N/50 mm
Resistance to transversal tear: 120 N/50 mm
SD value: 0.02 mm
Product Thickness: 1mm +/- 10%
Certification: PZH: HK/B/0316/01/99 AT-2001-11-017
Recommended operating temperature (°C): -50 to +80
Water-tightness: W1
Certification: This product is fully CPR Compliant and CE Approved

What are the main applications of aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane?

Aluminium foil membranes are typically used in applications to minimise the thickness of the insulation required. In the best cases, the use of a foil membrane could reduce the amount of insulation needed by between 10-20mm (but typically 5-10mm), although this varies with construction type and target U-value.

This type of aluminium foil insulation outperforms standard foil membranes. Our premium aluminium foil is of equivalent quality, but offers a much more cost-effective alternative to other aluminium foil / vapour barrier membranes which are scarcely available in many builder’s merchants.

In terms of specific locations for application, the most common options include:

• Floors – under floor boards, carpets / vinyl, tiles and laminate floor and between floor joists
• Underfloor Heating – under heating pipes (wet and dry systems)
• Ceilings – between ceiling joists and under plasterboard
• Roof – can be used in ventilated and non-ventilated roofs
• Walls – in dry lined stud walls and against solid walls

IINSTALLATION GUIDE

The product can also be used in conservatory, steel, timber frame and modular construction. Please note, this membrane is not self-adhesive, it must be fixed in place to ensure its full effectiveness as a thermal waterproof insulation. Self-adhesive foil tape is available for this purpose which can be purchased on our site separately see the recommended products on this page.

• This Aluminium foil membrane is an air barrier and vapour control layer with a low-emissivity aluminium foil face on one It is placed on the warm side of the insulation with the foil surface facing the interior of the building. A typical wall and floor installation is shown in Figure 1.
• The shiny side of this product should face in-towards the room when installed.

The product can be fixed to the substrate using contact adhesive, staples, nails, insulation fixings or most other common fixing methods.

Walls:

• The product is positioned on the warm side of the thermal insulation and held in place by staples at approximately 500 mm centres to the background Joints between adjacent sheets of the material should be lapped 100 mm over a support and be sealed with a strip of our self adhesive Aluminium foil tape
• At all penetrations and abutments the product is cut neatly to fit as closely as possible and the joint sealed with a strip of our self adhesive Aluminium foil tape. Penetrations must be kept to a minimum.
• The product is made vapour- and convection-tight at all window and door openings and at other detailing. The membrane is sealed tight against the frame with our self adhesive Aluminium foil tape and compressed with a timber batten fixed over. All membrane laps and penetrations should be sealed with our self adhesive Aluminium foil tape
• Internal lining must be set on spacer battens, leaving a minimum gap of 25 mm behind the lining to accommodate wiring and other services and reduce the need for penetrations of the vapour control layer/air barrier. When used without a void, the product does not contribute to the thermal value of the construction but continues to act as a vapour control layer/air barrier

Floors:

• The product is either installed above or beneath the floor boarding and beneath the internal floor
• Joints between adjacent sheets of the material should be lapped 100 mm and be sealed with a strip of our self adhesive Aluminium foil tape

PRODUCT USES:

• This foil membrane is satisfactory for use as an air barrier and vapour control layer in conventional timber-frame, masonry and steel-frame walls and floor
• The product is effective in reducing the U value (thermal transmittance) of walls and floors in which it is installed. Further information is given in BRE Report BR 262 : 2002.
• Walls in new buildings should be designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant recommendations of the UK National Annexes of BS EN 1996-1-1 : 2005 and BS EN 1996-2 : 2006.
• Suspended concrete and suspended timber ground floors incorporating the product must include suitable ventilation.

Air Permeability: When lapped, fixed and taped correctly, the product acts as an air barrier and can contribute to elements and junctions minimising heat loss by unplanned air infiltration and exfiltration. Guidance in this respect can be found in the documents supporting the national Building Regulations.

Strength: The product will resist the normal loads associated with installation of the wall or floor.

Fire Rating: The product is classified as Class E in accordance with EN 13501-1 : 2007⁽

Durability: The product will have a lifetime equal to that of the building element in which it is installed.

Thermal Insulation: Calculations of thermal transmittance (U value) should be carried out in accordance with BS EN ISO 6946 : 2017 and BRE Report BR 443 : 2006, using an emissivity value of 0.05 for the foil surface of the product. Where this faces into an unventilated cavity this corresponds to the following cavity thermal resistance values:

• Walls
  • a cavity > 20 mm thick, 67 m²·K·W^–1
  • Floors
    • a cavity > 17 mm thick, 58 m²·K·W^–1
  • a cavity > 25 mm thick, 0.80 m²·K·W^–1.

What are the key features of aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane?

• Foil insulation can reduce the radiant heat transfer by up 97%
• Excellent stability, strength and cohesion
• Highly tear resistant
• Corrosion and damage resistant
• Good nail tear resistance
• Helps prevent mould and damp, enhances thermal resistance, and reduces risk of condensation
• Specially designed to keep homes warm in winter, but the unique foil properties are also great at reflecting excessive heat during the summer
• A much more cost-effective alternative to other vapour barriers / aluminium foil membranes scarcely available in builder’s merchants

Are there any further benefits to aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane?

As one of the leading waterproof insulation and vapour barrier membrane available, there are extensive range of benefits to this option. Further benefits of this type of foil insulation include:

• Low-emissivity reflective surface used to improve the overall u-value of the building helps to meet the requirements of Approved Document Part L
• Extremely economical and waste-free Very lightweight and easy to cut (no special equipment required)
• Offers a real ease of application
• High weather resistance
• Multi-layered aluminium
• Thermally insulating properties: equivalent to 55mm Polystyrene Insulation
• Ideal for use in both Refurbishments & New Builds
• Prevents the ingress of water/moisture and the passage of wind-blown snow and dust into the interior of the building
• The reflection foil is designed for direct application in underfloor heating systems; under heating pipes and can be easily cut to fit shaped areas. The foil reflects heat and deflects the cold temperature down to prevent heat loss to the subfloor and increase the system’s efficiency

How will my aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane be delivered?

Your aluminium foil / vapour barrier membrane will be sent on a free next working day (24 hour) UK delivery service. Your order will be dispatched the same working day if received by 1pm otherwise it will be dispatched the next working day.

Also see

Damp-proof Membrane