Web/086/08
Octoberl 2008
Case study – TLX RafterFit
TLX - giving time and space back to installers
Background
Many months of research with installers and builders to get to grips with the key
issues of working with insulation materials has paid off for British manufacturers
and innovators Web Dynamics.
Their efforts have led to the development and subsequent launch at Interbuild
last year of TLX Rafterfit (formally Thinsulex Rafterfit) – the between rafter multifoil.
It has proved a timely launch for Web Dynamics. Many homeowners face the
long wait to sell homes with a lull in the housing market, and the trend to invest in
redeveloping properties rather than move continues.
This has given rise to a growth in the demand for loft conversions – seen as a
popular method to gaining extra living space without increasing the footprint of a
building.
1
Loft installations enable home owners to help improve the quality of housing
stock and also provide an opportunity to increase insulation levels and reduce
the carbon emissions of a home.
With most builders now well aware of the revisions under Part L to the Building
Regulations, talk of achieving necessary U-values is commonplace and a key
requirement of all home redevelopment from extensions to conversions.
Project
Loft conversion in a terrace house on a steeply sloping street in Greater
Manchester.
The conversion of the loft in the property consisted of a large dormer extension at
the rear of the property and three Velux windows at the front. The loft space has
75mm depth rafters at 400mm centres and very large purlins.
Solution
Working in these areas, and particularly in older properties, can be notoriously
difficult and the installer can be working in cramped spaces with little headroom.
In this particular instance the installer was also working with a sloping roof.
TLX RafterFit is a product designed specifically for loft conversions. It is a faster
and cleaner insulation option for the installer and works by combining a core air
layer with mirrored surfaces that reflect infra-red heat. Ultra-sonic technology
joins material without stitching holes that can cause air leakage or moisture
contamination.
2
TLX Rafterfit can be fitted between 100mm rafters at 400mm spacings, cutting
out the need for measuring as it automatically sets a 50mm air gap between the
insulation and the non-breathable felt ensuring a roof is well ventilated. In this
instance, the existing rafters were of 75mm depth and so needed to be increased
in depth by fixing 25mm dp battens to give 100mm which is the recommended
rafter depth for TLX Rafterfit.
This insulation was specified for use on the front elevation, rolled out and fitted
neatly behind the purlin maintaining the airspace. Location wings either side of
the insulation helped line it up to the edge of the rafter for stapling and then the
relevant thickness of rigid board was installed beneath to achieve the necessary
U-value – in this case 75mm of Celotex followed by plasterboard.
Verdict
Structural Engineer, Mark Bradbury of Healey Consulting, Milnow, Great
Manchester.
“I originally came across TLX when asked to design a loft conversion for a local
builder/joiner. While considering the insulation specification and the
requirements of Part L of the Building Regs it was clear that using traditional
insulation materials would be unacceptable to the end client in that this would
vastly reduce headroom within the loft. At this point, the use of TLX was
considered.”
“Having qualified how to use TLX, it soon became clear just what a clever system
this was, for several reasons. Firstly, cutting PUR has always proved to be a
labour intensive operation but with TLX this is avoided. You don’t have to
measure and cut rigid board to fit the gaps between rafters (which always vary).
TLX is available in one standard width and fits perfectly with no adjustment
required. Secondly, the valuable headroom is not compromised. Thirdly,
problematic screw fixings into multi-foil wool are avoided.
3
“I specify TLX on all loft conversion projects now and would recommend this to
any builder or loft conversion specialist. If you want to save time, labour costs
and space then TLX is the product you should be using.”
Notes to editors
The popularity of multi-foils continues and Web Dynamics’ TLX remains the
original multi-foil insulation to be BBA approved and the only multi-foil to be
LABC certified.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Sally Neary
Acumen PR
01704 834772
[email protected]
4