Tri Iso Super 10

Does anyone have any thoughts on this stuff as a substitute for standard fibre glass insulation? (I'm looking at Gervase in particular here). If you believe one argument (from the manufacturer) it sounds like a great product; if you believe another (from the manufacturers of normal insulation materials) it isn't half as good as it claims to be.

www.tri-isosuper10.co.uk

Gervase

There is a huge amount of controversy surrounding multifoil insulation generally.
It was designed for use in space, and works very well there (or anywhere where there is a vacuum). On Earth it's another matter. It is more compact than fibre insulation, but no-one has been able to duplicate the manufacturer's claims, and it is currently not certified by building control officers, despite those claims.
On the basis of heat-box experiments, there's not a lot to choose between tri-iso-super-whatever and a simple "bubble-wrap and baco-foil" jobbie costing less than a fifth of the price.
It's better than nothing, but for the price I'd rather use something else. Anything else, in fact!
To get a flavour of the heated debate surround multifoils, take a look at the thread on the Green Building Forum here.

dougal

I'm not sure that you should be viewing it as an alternative - especially to glass fibre.

The stuff is for using in the roof construction (outside the rafters) rather than between the joists in the upstairs ceiling (normal application of glassfibre).
It needs correct battening and airspaces.

Its USP is that it is possible to provide a decent amount of insulation where you don't have the thickness/depth to use more usual products.

Its fairly expensive.

Gervase

The problem is that many architects do specify it as a direct replacement for fibre insulation. It's the commonest spec for drylining and for loft conversions these days - even though BCOs are rightly sceptical of the claims made for the stuff. The manufacturers have taken a leaf from the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to marketing the stuff, and most architects will sing its praises even if they have never actually handled the stuff and haven't the faintest idea how it's 'supposed' to work.
If you can afford TIS10 you can afford Thermofleece, and that is far better. Failing that, look at Warmcell or some of the flax-based products, some of which will be significantly cheaper than a multi-foil.

Armchair

Thanks for the replies gents. It seems the jury is still out.

The reason the topic sprung to mind is that I saw new build house yesterday that used TIS10 in the loft instead of fibre. The foil was between the rafters, rather than the joists, and the rafters themselves were not covered. In my mind, this will allow heat to escape 1) conducted through the rafters and 2) removed by the draughts from the ventilation.

I can only assume that the house complies with building regs and according to the estate agent it did have an NHBC certificate but it got me wondering whether the use of foils has been thought through properly.

tahir

The AECB think it's the work of the devil. Over hyped and in most cases mis sold.

dougal

Armchair wrote:

... The foil was between the rafters, rather than the joists, and the rafters themselves were not covered. In my mind, this will allow heat to escape 1) conducted through the rafters and 2) removed by the draughts from the ventilation.

I don't know how effective it really is in practice.

However, as I tried to indicate previously, tri-iso is one possible tactic that is part of a different strategy.
Putting fibre insulation in the ceiling and having a draughty attic is part of the 'cold roof' strategy.
Putting the insulation in the roof, and draught-proofing the attic is a whole different concept.
As Gervase said, this multifoil stuff is commonly used as part of attic conversions - where you really don't want conventional British well-ventilated (draughty) attics.

When it comes to insulating between the inclined rafters (which I believe to be the usual method to which tri-iso is an alternative), I didn't think that fibre was suitable.
I believed that blocks (like celotex) were the 'norm', rather than fibre, for that specific job.
And that the foil would normally be used, not between, but outside the rafters (when it might be visible between the rafters).

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