Timber iQ August- September 2018 // Issue: 39 | Page 42

FEATURES
Timber boasts superior insulation properties.
Continued from page 38
The product used should also offer good acoustic insulation
for better comfort. The correct thermal resistance as per the
National Building Regulations needs to be complied with.
Moisture barriers are critical for performance of thermal
insulation and no shortcuts should be taken here.”
“Needless to say workmanship is one of the biggest
challenges in the timber frame industry. Any potential
homeowner should get references and follow up with the
associations like the Institute for Timber Construction South
Africa (ITC-SA). Clients should only deal with reputable
companies that can back up claims of performance with
tests done on their products. Well established
manufacturers should be strongly considered first. Suppliers
must be able to back up claims of sustainability with
independent tests,” advises Henwick.
In the midst of an energy crisis, South Africa’s buildings
consume 40% of the country’s energy. An un-insulated
building loses as much as 35% of its energy via its ceiling.
Schnetler highlights that timber construction is heavily
guided by Energy Efficiency Regulations. The current SANS
10400-XA: 2011 Edition 1 Energy Usage in Buildings
provides clear performance requirements regarding the
building envelope, notes Schnetler.
With sustainability at the top of the construction agenda,
new innovative product developments have been made
which are increasing the built environment’s green
40 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 //
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FORE
"Every year, millions
of plastic PET
bottles are thrown
away into rubbish
dumps and landfill
sites. In addressing
this major
environmental
problem, plastic
bottles are
converted into
thermal insulation
to be used to
insulate buildings."
Recycled plastic bottles have become
a thermal insulation solution.
See more on page 42