COMPANYWATCH
PROFILE OF A LEADING COMPANY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Established more than 40 years ago, Knauf Insulation is one of the fastest growing and well respected
names in insulation worldwide. It manufacturers high-performance, non-combustible Glass and Rock
Mineral Wool insulation solutions for buildings and technical applications.
For many companies, a mission
statement is nothing more than
a forgotten, faded poster on the
wall, but not for Knauf Insulation.
Its mission to ‘challenge, create, care’ is
reflected in everything it does in South
Africa. It aims to challenge conventional
thinking; create innovative insulation
solutions that shape the way people
live and build; and care for the people
who use them and the world on which
we depend.
This is essential, not least because
South Africa is facing an energy crisis
and needs to find ways to reduce its
energy consumption.
Providing a Solution
The company first entered the South
African market in 2017 with a range of
innovative insulation solutions that had
already helped transform the energy
efficiency of buildings across Europe.
Since then, demand for its products
has steadily increased, thanks to a
greater focus on sustainability and
changing regulations.
One such regulation is the Part XA
update to 2011 SANS-10400 regulation,
which will define the required R-values
(resistance to heat transfer) for new
buildings based on use and location. In
five of South Africa’s seven climate zones,
properties will require a minimum 50mm
cavity (an air gap) for concrete and external
masonry walls.
Demand for more energy efficient
buildings will also be driven by the
introduction of Energy Performance
Certificates (EPCs) which rate buildings
on their energy consumption. Initially,
EPCs will only be required for commercial
premises but it is likely they’ll be adopted
for domestic properties too.
As EPCs will give occupants information
about energy consumption and running
costs of a building, it will therefore be
essential that new buildings not only meet
the regulations but are perceived to be
energy efficient too.
Insulation helps prevent
heat loss in cold weather
and heat gain in hot weather
Challenging Conventional Thinking
Most energy used to heat or cool an
uninsulated property is lost by heat
10 Company Watch