Metropolitan Insulation

Don’t make it easy for thieves to access your roof. Remove ladders, bins, or garden furniture.

Mar

2018

SoundProofing & Complying With Part E of Building Regulations

Satisfying Part ‘E’ of building regulations relating to noise may seem like an onerous task but it is a necessary for residential buildings from general housing to student halls and care homes.

As well as being part of building regulations better soundproofing contributes to everyone having a better quality of life free from the intrusion of noise from neighbours. Unfortunately, many treat Part E of building regulations as a target rather than a minimum standard and this creates problems particularly when renting out properties. For example, if soundproofing only marginally passes the requirements of Part E, tenants may be put off and move elsewhere.

To satisfy part E it needs to be shown that the various aspects of soundproofing are present including the decoupling of floor joists from ceilings. This is one of the most effective ways to limit noise from footsteps on floors above.

Stud walls and the application of acoustic mineral wool adds sound insulation to walls to limit noise from adjoining rooms. Mass is a further consideration and if you use higher mass mineral wool this will improve soundproofing further and go well beyond the standards required for Part E.

Damping and air tight seals are further areas that will improve sound insulation and ensure that you’re not just complying with Part E but committed to creating a better environment for the people who spend their time in the building on a daily basis.

Mar

2018

Advice On Insulating Barn Conversions

Insulating a barn conversion is no easy task using conventional insulation methods. Not only do you have a large space with high ceilings, but also it is desirable to retain some of the original features to make the property more appealing. With this in mind here is some advice on approaching the insulation of your barn conversion.

Most barns will have wall made of brick or stone without the cavity you get in a conventional house. This presents the first problem. How do you insulate the wall without spoiling it appearance inside and out? To meet building regulations you will need to fit the required level of insulation. This can be done by fitting internal partitions or cladding.

When it comes to the roof things can get a bit trickier. Barn roofs are often removed so that alterations can be made which can be an expensive and time consuming process.

Fortunately polyurethane foam applied via a spray can provide a cost effective and speedier alternative to other methods of insulation. The foam can simply be sprayed onto the underside of roof tiles and this can even be done without the need for a ventilated airspace.

Feb

2018

Soundproofing for Hospitals and Clinics

Hospitals and clinics have particular requirements when it comes to sound proofing and arguably it is of greater importance than in most other buildings.

Noise can lead to stress related illness and this isn’t something anyone wants in a healthcare setting, yet hospitals are often filled with people and activity day and night and this can make it hard to sleep which is not something a patient is going to appreciate.

Creating quiet, peaceful environments for patients will not only reduce the harmful effects of noise but also potentially speed up recovery which reduces costs.

Another factor to consider is privacy. Consultation rooms must provide the utmost privacy while details are being discussed. A patient is unlikely to want to communicate in an environment where they can be heard by passers-by.

Soundproofing solutions for hospitals and clinics might include insulated ceiling tiles and the installation of other special noise control products such as insulated wall panels that not only reduce the reverberation of sound in rooms but also the transfer of noise between them.

We have several years of experience working on sound insulation for healthcare settings and understand the unique requirements of the sector. If you want to find out more about us and our services, contact us today.

Feb

2018

Read This Before Insulating Your Loft

Whether you already have some insulation in your loft or you need to start from scratch, here are some handy hints on the best ways to insulate.

When insulating a loft you will have two options – warm roof or cold roof. The latter might sound odd as we’re insulating right?
The problem with cold roof insulating is, you are only insulating the floor of the loft, which is only insulating the floors below against heat loss. The rest of the loft will be freezing cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

If you plan to store items in your loft, they will soon turn damp and musty in this environment. So the best solution all round is add warm roof insulation which can be sprayed on by a specialist like us for maximum coverage.

If you already have loft insulation, then there is the possibility that it doesn’t meet the current recommended thickness of 250mm to 270mm. Back in the 1980s the requirement was just 100mm. No wonder it was so cold in houses at that time!

If you are installing cold roof insulation you may need to strip out the existing insulation and replace it with new material to meet the correct thickness. Insulation panels tend to be supplied at standard thicknesses so the work can be done in one go.

If you require advice on insulating your loft, why not give us a call?

Jan

2018

Is Asbestos Present On Your Farm?

A recent case where a farmer died following years of exposure to harmful asbestos fibre highlights how the material is a significant hazard to health that cannot be ignored. There is a very good chance that on most farms, asbestos may still be lurking leading to the possibility of more people being exposed to its fibres while they work.

People who breathe in asbestos fibres are at an increased risk of developing a rare form of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Unfortunately, the illness has no cure, which means it is vital to ensure that asbestos is made safe and any risk of contamination with fibres is removed.

If asbestos is present on your farm it is often far to easy to disturb it through various tasks such as repairing clutches on old vehicles, carrying out repairs on insulated pipes and boilers and especially when demolishing old buildings.

The most common type of asbestos found on farms is white asbestos but there may be other types used in the construction of building prior to 2000 as well. White asbestos can typically be found in corrugated roofing, cladding and in wall panels.

Removal of asbestos can be expensive, but the good news is it can be encapsulated so that it can be made safe. Undisturbed asbestos poses no risk and encapsulation ensures that it remains undisturbed.

Jan

2018

£1m Added To Cost Of Leisure Centre Demolition Due To Asbestos

The BBC website reports this month that the demolition of a leisure centre in Blaenau Gwent has been held up after brown asbestos was found.

The asbestos was found to be present even though the building had been surveyed and the presence of the brown asbestos wasn’t detected. This highlights the continuing risk asbestos poses even though the use of this particular type of asbestos in building was banned way back in 1985.

Demolition work can often reveal hidden asbestos and any disturbance can lead to the risk of exposing workers to harmful fibres which can cause diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer.

Following the discovery of the asbestos, the BBC website reports that and extra £1 million has been added to the cost of the demolition work. Specialists in asbestos removal will need to be brought in to ensure the asbestos is removed and then disposed of safely which adds a substantial amount to the original cost.

The discovery of asbestos during demolition work can lead to all sorts of legal ramifications, but there is a way to make asbestos safe through encapsulation. IF you want to find out more about our asbestos encapsulation service, get in touch today.

Dec

2017

The Hidden Danger Of Asbestos And How To Deal With It

The number of deaths resulting from exposure to asbestos has peaked according to statistics, however there may still be hidden asbestos dangers lurking in homes as well as commercial building and schools.

A type of lung cancer called mesothelioma can result from even low levels of exposure to asbestos fibres and in 2014 2,567 people died as a result of the disease. While most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos it can be unwittingly disturbed during renovation projects leading to fibres finding their way into the surrounding air.

The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 as a result of the risks, however this doesn’t mean that the risk is eliminated either now or in the future in older properties that have yet to be modernised.

While having asbestos in the home is ok if it is left undisturbed, the risk to health is acute when it is disturbed. The cost of having a professional remove the material safely, however, can be high and there will be significant disruption during removal works.

To avoid this, homeowners can opt for asbestos encapsulation which coats the asbestos preventing fibres from escaping. The process is cheaper and faster than removal and in most cases safer.

Nov

2017

Why Consider Asbestos Encapsulation?

The dangers of asbestos are well known, yet there are still many buildings in the UK that have some of this potentially deadly material which lies hidden in roof spaces in particular. Worse still, the material is often found in schools and other public buildings, particularly those built between the 1950s to 1980s.

While asbestos that remains undamaged and in good condition is often left in place, there is always the outside risk that it could be disturbed and emit particles that can cause all sorts of lung diseases from lung cancer to asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. This is why it was made illegal to use the material in construction in 1999.

If asbestos is present in a building, its removal is governed by strict regulations due to the considerable health risks. If these guidelines are not adhered to and lives are put at risk, this can result in hefty penalties including jail terms for those involved.

One way to avoid damage to asbestos and the associated risks is to use a process called encapsulation, which as the name suggests involves coating the asbestos. This prevents any disturbance which might damage the asbestos.

It is also cost effective in reducing the amount of down time and the associated costs of safe removal of the material.

Nov

2017

Asbestos Encapsulation Methods

If you have a building which contains asbestos and you want to deal with the problem before any damage occurs which might result in fibres escaping into the air, then one method is to use encapsulation.

Encapsulation acts as a seal to prevent asbestos fibres escaping and can be a cost effective and safer alternative to removing the material altogether.

The encapsulation process involves applying a thick material which resembles paint being sprayed onto the asbestos, which then dries and hardens over the material to prevent any of the harmful fibres escaping.

There are two types of encapsulation, one called ‘bridging’ and the other ‘penetrating’. Bridging acts as a protective coating over the asbestos while penetrating as the name suggests, penetrates into the material before hardening and sealing it.

Encapsulant must be sprayed onto the asbestos with a low pressure spray and care must be taken to remove any damaged or loose asbestos before the chemical is applied. As the process involves working with asbestos, there is still the danger that the person applying the encapsulant material can be exposed to fibres, so it is essential to wear protective clothing including a suit and a respirator.

If you wish to find out more about encapsulation contact one of our experts today.

Oct

2017

What The World’s Noisiest Cities Tell Us About Excessive Noise

Depending on which study you find, the noisiest cities in the world tend to be found in cities that are densely populated with high volumes of traffic with poor planning which exacerbates the effects of noise on their populations.

The worst city in the world for noise pollution is Guangzhou in China and the effects on residents are really quite frightening. The average hearing loss in proportion to age in the city stands at nearly 17 years. In Delhi where noise pollution levels are not too far behind the hearing loss is 20 years.

In Western Europe, however, the effects of noise on the local population is in some cases considerably less at 10 years in proportion to age. Vienna tops the list in Europe followed by Zurich and Hamburg.

However Barcelona and Paris have the misfortune of appearing in the worlds top 10 worst cities for noise pollution at 7th and 9th respectively.

While studies have focused on actual hearing loss, the more subtle underlying effects are still a fertile area of study where links to dementia, cardiovascular disease and depression are only just coming to light.

Of course the best way to deal with noise if you live in a city is to insulate your property to keep it out. If you want to find out more about sound insulation for your home of business then contact us today.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog