SA Affordable Housing September / October 2020 | Page 15

FEATURE
SAINT-GOBAIN
being uniformly enforced by building inspectors. Thermguard
owner, Eric Quarmby, says he regularly sees new homes signed
off by an inspector with no insulation (notwithstanding its
provision in the building plans) whereas in other regions they
would not be signed off. He also sees plans for 50mm insulation
when the SANS climatic requirement may be for 135mm, and he
has also been asked to quote for insulation barely one third of
the regulated thickness.
However, Jolene Blundell, Product Manager for Saint-
Gobain Isover, manufacturers of ThinkPink Aerolite, says the
company has seen “better compliance” with new homes being
built with insulation, as required by SANS 10400-XA. “We
encourage homeowners to take active measures by inspecting
their ceiling and ensuring there is in fact ceiling insulation and
that the insulation is of the required thickness, then plan their
ceiling renovation accordingly. To aid homeowners and homeinstallers
with identifying their insulation requirements, we have
developed a free online calculator to try simplify the process.”
Quarmby adds: “Meeting that R-value can involve other
building materials, so we are not in a position to see the full
picture. You’d have thought that since 2011 all buildings would
have insulation – but I get new homeowners regularly calling
me for help with their freezing homes. Insulation of the entire
building envelope is common in countries such as the UK and US,
where 70% of homes are built with timber – and insulation of
wood is a lot easier – while in South Africa homes are not built or
designed with insulation in mind, and are also seldom made from
wood.” If they were, our homes would use less energy.
He says the ‘deemed to satisfy’ rule allows engineers to have
sharply different interpretations of what satisfies the SANS
10400-XA. “All architects should be designing homes with SANS
10400-XA in mind, but based on what we see, we know they are
not doing so where it might detract from the home’s appearance.”
An advantage of timber-built homes is that “a wooden house
can be factory-built and delivered on site much quicker, but it’s
not in our mindset. A US- or UK-built timber house uses far less
energy to heat and cool than South Africa’s brick houses.”
Factory manager Scott Quarmby says in retrofitted homes
insulation’s payback time is 18 months to two years in reduced
utility bills (depending on how frequently heaters are used).
“Our SABS-approved Thermguard will prevent up to 91% of the
heat generated in the home from escaping upwards through
the ceiling in winter and will keep 88% of summer heat out as
well (according to SABS tests).” Thermguard is made from 80%
recycled newsprint in a low
energy process.
“Insulation can be built
into walls at the time of
construction and that is
quite common abroad, but
The Isover family of glasswool products.
EAMONN RYAN
Scott (left) and Eric Quarmby, Thermguard factory manager and
owner, respectively.
typically is used in South Africa almost exclusively in ceilings.
You can insulate an entire house, including beneath floorboards
or between floors.” The application process is done by blowing
the newsprint particles onto the ceiling boards and between the
rafters, thereby getting into every crack and cranny to completely
stop the movement of air and heat.
It’s the same concept whereby homeless people scrunch rolled
up newsprint under their clothes to insulate themselves while
sleeping during freezing winters.
“The beauty of our system is that there is no need for
measuring and cutting to size, making it ideal for use in roof
areas with limited space. It is extremely quick and requires only
one person in the ceiling space, thereby reducing the potential
for damage,” says Eric Quarmby. With regard to high-end as well
as affordable housing, Scott Quarmby says the product
suits insulating walls in steel or wood frame homes,
which are becoming more popular, but not traditional
brick homes.
Eric Quarmby suggests that insulation is
trending in the direction of lessening its
environmental impact, in common with all
construction materials. It takes approximately
10 to 14 times less electricity to make
cellulose fibre compared to other insulation,
cellulose having the additional benefit of being
made from recycled newsprint and is also from renewable
and sustainable sources (trees).
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2020 13