Knauf Insulation has launched its new online ‘Housebuilders Hub’, providing tools and guidance to help housebuilders comply with the updated Approved Document L (ADL) building regulations. The Hub is accessible via Knauf Insulation’s website, where housebuilders and their suppliers will find a range of free, practical resources, including example ADL-compliant
Knauf Insulation has been selected as a net zero ‘Business Champion’ by the Construction Leadership Council and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the CO2nstructZero initiative. It joins a select group of major contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, manufacturers and sub-contractors committed to demonstrating leadership and promoting best
New packaging design simplifies product choice Industry-leading 10:1 compression ratio upgrade makes transport, storage and handling even more efficient, and cuts products’ carbon footprint Packaging will use recycled content, less ink and is even easier to recycle Introduction of Rocksilk® as the brand for its Rock Mineral Wool range Knauf
Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has earned the industry’s first BBA certification for double layering and for use below the damp proof course (DPC), making it certified for the broadest range of build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. “We know how much contractors value the peace of mind
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Knauf Insulation has launched its new online ‘Housebuilders Hub’, providing tools and guidance to help housebuilders comply with the updated Approved Document L (ADL) building regulations. The Hub is accessible via Knauf Insulation’s website, where housebuilders and their suppliers will find a range of free, practical resources, including example ADL-compliant whole-house recipes*, a Part L Guide, a U-value calculator and advice on different approaches to achieving compliance. Further resources will be added to the Hub over the coming months and visitors have the option to register for alerts, as these become available. In the long-term, the business plans to develop the platform further, and provide expert insights and practical information around a range of key industry topics, such as innovation and sustainability. The Hub forms part of Knauf Insulation’s ‘partnership’ approach, which offers support services to housebuilders, alongside the products they know and trust. “With changes to the regulations now in force, housebuilders are under pressure to adapt quickly”, explains James Hulbert, Head of Housing for Knauf Insulation. “We understand that different projects have different needs, so we’ve taken the opportunity to extend our support, by offering compliance advice and solutions to suit a broad range of scenarios.” The Knauf Insulation Housebuilders Hub can be accessed at: https://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/Housebuilders-hub
Knauf Insulation has been selected as a net zero ‘Business Champion’ by the Construction Leadership Council and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the CO2nstructZero initiative. It joins a select group of major contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, manufacturers and sub-contractors committed to demonstrating leadership and promoting best practice to reduce construction carbon emissions. “Net zero is a colossal challenge, and to achieve it will require unprecedented collaboration” said Neil Hargreaves, Managing Director, Knauf Insulation Northern Europe. “As the biggest supplier of insulation into newbuild homes in the UK, and the nation’s only manufacturer of both Glass and Rock Mineral Wool, we know we have an important role to play. Especially as the industry transitions towards much stricter ‘real performance’ standards. We look forward to working with our partners across the supply chain to create a built environment that’s fit for the future.” Established earlier this year, CO2nstruct Zero is the construction industry’s zero carbon change programme. Business Champions are required to share tangible evidence of the steps they are taking to respond to the net zero carbon challenge, and to commit to sharing data and learnings with the industry. Business Champions include Arcadis, Costain, JCB, Laing O’Rourke, Mace and Travis Perkins. “Improved insulation will be at the heart of UK construction’s efforts to decarbonise, but operational carbon is only one side of the equation,” said Hargreaves. “To create genuinely low-carbon buildings, we’ll need to create them using low-carbon materials. That’s why we’re taking bold action now to reduce the embodied carbon and environmental impact of our products.” Knauf Insulation has set specific targets for 2025 as part of its recently published sustainability strategy, ‘For a Better World’. These include: Reducing the embodied carbon of its products by 15% compared with 2019; Investing 10% of its general capital expenditure on new sustainability projects; Cutting its organisational carbon footprint by at least 25%; Sending zero waste to landfill from its manufacturing plants across the group; Reducing virgin plastic packaging by 25%; Setting new higher minimum levels of recycled materials in products and packaging. For further information on Knauf Insulation’s ‘For A Better World’ sustainability strategy, visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/for-a-better-world.
New packaging design simplifies product choice Industry-leading 10:1 compression ratio upgrade makes transport, storage and handling even more efficient, and cuts products’ carbon footprint Packaging will use recycled content, less ink and is even easier to recycle Introduction of Rocksilk® as the brand for its Rock Mineral Wool range Knauf Insulation has launched new packaging to make it easier to choose, use, transport and handle its high-performance, non-combustible insulation products, and to further reduce their carbon footprint. The changes include new designs across the whole range, an upgrade taking its industry-leading compression technology to a 10:1 ratio, and new, more environmentally-friendly packaging. “We’ve listened to our customers, but we have also been proactive, trying to pre-empt future needs,” said Vanessa Rae, Marketing Director at Knauf Insulation Northern Europe. “We know how important it is to choose the right product for the application quickly, and move and store it efficiently, whether in-branch or on-site. We also know that sustainability matters more than ever, so we’ve taken these steps to reduce our products’ carbon footprint further so customers can rely on us to help them tick the green boxes for their projects.” The new packaging designs feature bigger and clearer product names. Products are colour-coded into thermal conductivity groups consistent across the whole Glass Mineral Wool range, and essential features such as the Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification and ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder, are more easily identifiable. The Earthwool® brand has been phased out to simplify the branding structure, and a new brand, Rocksilk®, has been introduced for its Rock Mineral Wool product range. The further upgrade of the compression technology on the Glass Mineral Wool range enables, on average, 15% more insulation per roll and 25% more packs on each pallet for slabs. Rae continued: “Space is always at a premium, whether in-branch, in a vehicle or on site, so we’ve pushed our industry-leading compression technology even further. It means less handling and transport, and more efficient storage for all our customers across the supply chain. It’s another example of how you always get more with Knauf Insulation.” These changes further reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Enhanced compression means more product per truck, fewer vehicles on the roads and less packaging is used per m2 of insulation. Knauf Insulation is also introducing a new packaging film made from a minimum of 30% recycled plastic, and the new designs use less ink, which makes the packaging even easier to recycle. This helps fulfil the commitments made in Knauf Insulation’s ‘For A Better World’ sustainability strategy. “By simplifying product choice and making our high-performance insulation more environmentally friendly, we’re ensuring our customers can focus on delivering better buildings” said Rae. To find out more, visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/the-best-keeps-getting-better.
Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has earned the industry’s first BBA certification for double layering and for use below the damp proof course (DPC), making it certified for the broadest range of build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. “We know how much contractors value the peace of mind that comes from BBA certification,” said Luke Davies, Product Manager at Knauf Insulation. “Our RainScreen Slab is already certified for use in steel frames and behind masonry. Adding these applications and installation methods means customers can rely on Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab to provide a robust and durable solution, certified for all common rainscreen build-ups.” Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is a non-combustible Rock Mineral Wool slab with Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, which means it complies with the strictest requirements of Approved Document B for dwelling buildings over 18m tall. It is available in the widest range of thicknesses up to 250mm, with a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab can be used in situations where it bridges the DPCs of the inner and outer leaf because it does not absorb water by capillary action. It is manufactured with a water repellent additive which also preserves its integrity while exposed during construction, and it has been wind load tested by the Building Research Establishment to a maximum design pressure of 3,600Pa or 76m/s – the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane. The BBA certification also covers timber frame applications with a masonry outer leaf, and on reinforced concrete substrates. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is optimised for ease of installation. The improved robustness of the product makes it easy to manoeuvre in place, while still being able to adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate. The product is supported with extensive installation guides, which cover the double layering and below DPC applications. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured using ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder, which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. Mineral Wool insulation made with ECOSE® Technology is more environmentally friendly than insulation made using traditional oil-based binders. It is also soft to touch, easy to handle, and it generates low levels of dust and VOCs. For more information on Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab, visit https://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/rainscreen-solutions To speak with a member of the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team about your project call 01744 766 666.
