Timber iQ August- September 2018 // Issue: 39 | Page 38

FEATURES
Bulk insulation installed between rafters.
Achieving thermal comfort
Timber iQ investigates the latest trends of using thermal insulation
in timber construction.
By Candace Sofianos King
W
ith the cost of heating and cooling in buildings
escalating, timber structures are being increasingly
favoured as the building method to keep these
costs in check. Insulation in hollow structure walls regulate
indoor temperatures, keeping homes warm in winter and
cool in summer.
Apart from timber’s superior insulation properties, such
buildings can be well insulated as ceilings and external walls
can be filled with insulation. “The building envelope is the
36 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 //
interface between the interior of the building and the
outdoor environment, including the walls, roof and
foundation,” says Des Schnetler, chairperson of Thermal
Insulation Products and Systems Association SA (TIPSASA),
a non-profit company that consists of manufacturers,
suppliers, contractors and consultants in the South African
thermal insulation industry.
See more on page 38