Thermal insulation

The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer.

Heat is transferred from one material to another by conduction, convection and/or radiation. Insulators are used to minimize the transfer of heat energy. In home insulation, the R-value is an indication of how well a material insulates. The major types of insulation are associated with the major types of heat transfer:

• Reflectors are used to reduce radiative heat transfer.
• Foams, fibrous materials or spaces are used to reduce conductive heat transfer by reducing physical contact between objects
• Foams, fibrous materials or evacuated spaces are used to reduce convective heat transfer by stopping or retarding the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) around the insulated object.

Combinations of some of these methods are often used, for example the combination of reflective surfaces and vacuum in a vacuum flask.

Understanding heat transfer is important when planning how to insulate an object or a person from heat or cold, for example with correct choice of insulated clothing, or laying insulating materials beneath in-floor heat cables or pipes in order to direct as much heat as possible upwards into the floor surface and reduce heat loss to the ground underneath.

Latest Thermal insulation news AlternEnergy Launches in Oldham 19/10/2008 FT Gordon electrical conttactors in Oldham announce the opening of their new renewable division - AlternEnergy. The company will be specialising in the installation of heat pumps. Air to water heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and solar solutions are provided.... Simply Renewable sponsors Highland Housing Fair 30/06/2008 simply renewable Ltd - proud sponsors of the highland housing fair. Scotland's First Housing Fair 1st to 31st August 2009 Inverness The Highlands of Scotland is staging a major housing fair to showcase the best of hou... Energy Performance revolution in the Outer Hebrides 07/04/2008 To understand the concept behind Greenspace, you don't have to under­stand the technology — which is just as well. Even someone with a fairly advanced understanding of computer systems would be left baffled by a pro­gramme which conducts &... 1st Professional qualification in renewable energy launched 20/03/2008 A Scottish college, Lews Castle College in Stornoway has secured a major coup by winning approval for Scotland's only professional qualification in renewable energy, with hundreds of on-line students from around the country expected to sign up.... Sustainable Construction degree designer joins UBC Group 15/03/2008 Kenneth MacLeod, formerly the subject network leader at Inverness College UHI has joined the the successful Scottish construction and civil enegineering company - the UBC Group, as Managing Surveyor. Welcoming Kenneth  to... UK's first science degree in sustainable construction 15/03/2008 A new science degree in sustainable construction, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, is due to be launched by the University of the Highlands and Islands in September of this year. ...

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