Technical Bulletin 004/05

Actis admits R-value: 0.6m²K/W

The following extract, taken directly from a letter issued by Actis to their customers and Building Control Officers on
26th November 2004, states:
‘In our laboratories, using the same tools, in the test environment described by the actual norm [BS EN ISO 8990:2000],
we get the same results crediting the Thin Multi-reflective Insulation (IMTR) with an R between R=0.6 or R=1.9 whether
the insulation product is tested with or without an air cavity’.
So Actis have now acknowledged that using conventional test methods their product fails to perform as previously
described in their Document non Contractuel - FT 03.04 (R value = 5.0m²K/W). However, they have still failed to answer
issues raised in our Technical Bulletin 001/04 (summarised on page 2).

In 2004 Celotex took the unusual step of issuing a Technical

Bulletin challenging some of the product performance
claims for multi-foil insulation products. This opened up a
debate within the industry and raised questions about these
materials as set out in our bulletin.
On the 22nd of November 2004, Actis Limited, through
their lawyers, demanded that we retract our ‘Multi-foiled! ’
Technical Bulletin.
Without waiting for our response, Actis then published a
circular letter to its customers dated 26 th November 2004
informing them that ‘Actis is pursuing its legal claims against
Celotex and it expects that the matter will be resolved quickly,
through the courts if necessary ’.
The Celotex solution
Celotex responded on the 7 th of December 2004 with a full
One solution that Celotex would suggest when insulating a roof
and detailed rebuttal of the Actis objections.
to meet the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations
Having been pressed by us on several occasions, it appears or Part J in Scotland, comprises GA3100Z (R = 4.300m²K/W)
that Actis have dropped its threat and are not pursuing any insulation between the rafters with an additional layer of
claim against us. GA3030Z (R = 1.300m²K/W) below the rafters. This can then be
finished with 12.5mm plasterboard to line the internal face as
The Celotex Technical Services Department, using JPA Designer
shown in the illustration below.
Version 3.03h5 U-value calculation software (the same software
used by Actis), have calculated the U-value for a roof construction as The calculations for this kind of roof construction are shown,
described in the Actis literature using TRISO-Super 9 (also referred to in full, on our web site at www.celotex.co.uk. A calculation
as TRI-ISO SUPER 9 and TS9). R-values are shown in parentheses. tailored for a specific application can be provided by our
The roof construction comprises tiles, battens and roofing felt Technical Services Department on 01473 820888.
laid onto 125mm rafters (0.45m²K/W). 25mm of TRISO-Super 9
(0.60m²K/W) is then fixed to the underside of the rafters with 25mm
battens to retain the insulation. This is then finished with 12.5mm
plasterboard and skim (0.07m²K/W).
The external surface resistance (0.04m²K/W), air spaces between
the tiles, roofing felt, etc. (0.12m²K/W), an air gap either side of
the insulation (2 x 0.45m²K/W) and the internal surface resistance
(0.10m²K/W) have all been taken into consideration during the
calculation.
When this value, now reported by Actis, is used in the calculation
to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Part L of the
Building Regulations or Part J in Scotland, a U-value of 0.55W/m²K is
the result, when installed in a single layer as described in the Actis
literature. This is 175% higher than the maximum permitted value.
The unanswered issues
In the previously mentioned literature, Actis relied on BM TRADA
Certificate Number 0101 to back their test results.
1. TRADA report: another interpretation
The report by TRADA Technology, dated 21 st March 2003,
provides a full record of the energy consumption in each
test chalet as well as the temperatures inside and outside
the chalet. This gives sufficient information to estimate the
average thermal resistance value, rather than rely upon a
comparison against a competitor product.
The Celotex Technical Department have calculated from this
data that the average R-value of the whole chalet (roof, wall
and floor) in the test was actually 2.07m²K/W. This figure
correlates with the individual product test results provided
from the other multi-foil suppliers and the NPL figure for Actis
TRISO-Super 9 of just 1.71m²K/W (including enclosed air
spaces). Note: The higher figure of 2.07m²K/W reflects the
inclusion of the whole structure of the chalet in our average
calculation.
2. Actis failed to respond when challenged
Celotex wrote to TRADA in April 2004 detailing what we
believe are the flaws in the methodology of the Actis in-situ
tests and questioning the interpretation of the results
contained in TRADA’s report. Actis, despite our specific
request, declined to permit TRADA, who were bound by client
confidentiality, to respond.
3. Standardised Methods
The Thermal Resistance (R-value) of a material is fundamental
in calculating the Thermal Transmittance (U-Value) of a
structural element. The R value of any component in a
structural element can be calculated from its Thermal
Conductivity (λ-value) if the R-value is not known.
When harmonised European Standards were finally published
for Thermal Insulation products (BS-EN-13162:2001 to
BS EN 13171:2001), in compliance with the European Union’s
Construction Products Directive, they all required the R-value
of the product to be stated by the manufacturer on the product
labelling. This value does not include the beneficial effect
of any adjacent air spaces, whether or not a low emissivity
surface is incorporated into the product. Independent initial
type-testing of products by an approved laboratory is required
to support the Manufacturer’s claims. In the United Kingdom
the laboratory should be UKAS Accredited for the type testing
required (www.ukas.org.uk).
Compliance with harmonised Standards can be demonstrated
by the application of the CE mark and, although not mandatory
in this country, most major UK manufacturers of insulation
materials, including Celotex do so. This voluntary procedure
should be considered best practice.
Actis claim that the test methods applied to all other types of
insulation materials under these Standards are inappropriate
for innovative products such as TRISO-Super 9. However, the
Construction Products Directive makes specific provision for
the independent testing of new innovative products for which
no harmonised European Standard exists. The process is
called European Technical Approval (ETA) and is governed by
the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA).
The award of an ETA also allows the manufacturer to apply the
CE mark to his product.
At this time we have been unable to verify the existence of any
ETA certification for any of the Multi-foil products known to be
on the UK market.
4. BS EN ISO 8990:2000
(based around the Guarded Hot Box test)
This test is widely recognised by independent scientific
testing authorities across Europe and in North America, as an
accurate and definitive method for determining the thermal
resistance of any insulation material including multi-foils
or even a non-homogenous structural element. Its validity
for testing multi-foil materials has also been independently
confirmed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
When multi-foil products are tested in accordance with
BS EN ISO 8990:2000 the measured R-value including the
values of the enclosed air spaces is typically less than 2.
5. Actis in Germany
In Germany, products that do not comply with a DIN standard
are required to have a ‘Zulassung’ (a permit issued by the
Deutsches Insitüt für Bautechnik) before being placed on
the market. Zulassung Nr. Z-23.11-1305 gives the R-value of
Actis TRISO-Super 9 as 0.85m²K/W, 83% lower than Actis are
claiming within the UK. This Zulassung figure excludes the
insulation value of the cavity air spaces present in the NPL
test results.
6. Other ‘IMTR’ (Multi-foil) producers
Other multi-foil suppliers have, to date, relied on comparison
with the Actis product to support their own performance
claims. None has, to date, published any third party
verification from a UKAS Accredited source to support claims
of R-values in excess of 5m²K/W.
Conclusion
We recognise that CE marking for multi-foil products
is currently voluntary, nevertheless, our ongoing
advice is that, when specifying thermal insulation
products you should insist on CE marking.
However, if you are using a product that is not CE
marked, satisfy yourself that the basis of the claimed
R-value is valid.
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