Fireplace

Mineral is regarded as one of the best materials when it comes to fire resistance.

06
Dec
2018

Is Your Insulation Fire Rated?

You may be starting a new insulation project or considering replacing the insulation you have as the cold winter months set in but have you thought about the fire resistance of the material you’re using? Before fitting insulation, it is important to consider how it might behave in a fire to ensure you are making the best choice and don’t end up with a material that catches fire easily or readily emits toxic smoke. With this in mind here are the most common insulation types together with information on how resistant they are to fire.

Rockwool
Mineral is regarded as one of the best materials when it comes to fire resistance. It is able to withstand heat more than 700 ºF above that of the average home fire.

Spray Foam
Many people assume spray foam to be flammable but it actually contains fire retardants. The material also fills air gaps more effectively than other insulation types cutting off the air that is a major ingredient allowing fires to spread.

Foam Board
Foam board might be cheap and readily available but it certainly isn’t a good performer when it is subjected to heat from fires. Add to this the toxic fumes you get when it burns and you may need to reconsider installing it

Posted by admin in Fireplace, Home Insulation, Insulation Fire Rated, Soundproofing, Spray Foam Insulation, Thermal Insulation
29
Jun
2018

Could Your Fireplace Be The Source Of Your Noise Issues?

If you are noticing that noise from your neighbours is worse during the evenings when they are watching TV then the culprit could be thin walls around your fireplace.

This was the case recently when we were asked how to advise on this issue.

TV’s are often placed above TVs in terraced housing with the chimney breast providing an ideal area to hang a tv from the wall. Of course this wasn’t the case in the old days when people simply sat their TVs on a stand which was usually a few feet away from the wall.

To exacerbate the problem, some older terraced housing may have alcoves which were once popular places to display ornaments and so on. These areas will not have the extra layer of brock you see around the chimney breast therefore sound can more easily find its way through.

So often the way to reduce noise levels is simply to add soundproofing to the areas where the wall is at its thinnest to improve insulation against your neighbour’s noisy TV and any other noise that may be coming through the wall.

For more advice on sound insulation and sound proofing in your home, contact us today.

Posted by admin in Fireplace, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property