Sound Absorption

Now if that same fish tank was made of cardboard, then water would soon start leaking through.

Jan

2020

Noisy household appliances and how to stop them being a nuisance

You may be used to the familiar sounds of your household appliances whirring, buzzing and humming, but have you considered how the noise pollution in your home could be affecting your health?

According to the World Health Organisation, being exposed to noise that exceeds 55db can disturb sleep and cause stress, having a negative effect on health and wellbeing.

Other more serious illnesses that have been linked to exposure to high noise levels include heart disease, hearing problems, high blood pressure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Whilst we may quickly find excessive noise from our neighbours or traffic outside extremely irritating, many of us accept and put up with the noise made by our household appliances.

Some of the noisiest appliances in our homes include:

Hairdryers
Vacuum cleaners
Food processors
Washing machines
Dishwashers
Air conditioning
Extractor fans
Refrigerators
Lawnmowers

If you have appliances in your home that make an excessive noise, there are steps you can take to try to minimise the effect they have on your health and wellbeing.

Close doors

Unless you have a home with an open plan design, simply remembering to close doors whilst very noisy appliances are being used can help to reduce the level of noise you and your family are being subjected to.

Replace noisy appliances with low noise Quiet Mark appliances

Quiet Mark is an international mark of approval given to certain low noise appliances by the UK’s Noise Abatement Society.

Soundproof your home

Speak to our team of experts here at Metropolitan Insulation about our domestic soundproofing and sound insulation services. We install a variety of different acoustic insulation solutions including absorbing foams, sound barrier mats, acoustic tiles, sound absorbing diffusers, and sound screens.

For more information about our services or to discuss your requirements, give us a call on 0800 028 4042.

Dec

2019

Does vermiculate insulation contain asbestos?

Should you be concerned if you have vermiculate insulation in your roof?

Vermiculate insulation is commonly used to insulate building roofs and walls. If you have vermiculate insulation in your home, you may be concerned by reports that some vermiculate can contain asbestos.

If your vermiculate insulation was installed after 1990 then you’ll be relieved to know that it is unlikely to contain asbestos. There is however a chance that older vermiculate insulation could be contaminated with the dangerous substance.

What is vermiculate?

Vermiculate is a natural material that expands when it is heated, making it ideal for insulation. It is flaky material that looks a little like grey, lightweight gravel.

Vermiculate and asbestos

In its natural form, vermiculate is not dangerous and does not contain asbestos. However, prior to the 1990s, most vermiculate originated from one mine in America which was contaminated with asbestos, later causing problems for over 35 million homeowners in the USA.

Unfortunately, vermiculate from the same mine was imported to the UK for use as insulation in our homes prior to the 1990s, so it is possible that if your home contains very old vermiculate insulation it could too be contaminated with asbestos.

How to deal with old vermiculate insulation

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance that poses numerous health risks. It is a known carcinogen and can cause a variety of serious lung diseases and health problems.

If you suspect that your insulation could be contaminated by asbestos, then it is very important not to touch or disturb it any way as asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes airborne.

Instead, seek help from a professional who is licensed in the removal of asbestos. They can then test for the presence of asbestos and safely remove the insulation if necessary.

Spray foam insulation

If you are removing old insulation from your roof, then it will need to be replaced with a new insulation material to keep your home warm, comfortable and energy efficient.

Speak to our team here at Metropolitan Insulation about the benefits of our spray foam roof insulation by calling us on 0800 028 4042.

Oct

2019

Home improvements to help fight climate change

Fighting climate change starts at home. Make one or more of these eco-friendly home improvements to reduce your carbon footprint.

According to the Committee on Climate Change’s report ‘UK housing: Fit for the future?’ domestic energy use accounts for 14% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.

As well as helping to fight climate change, living more sustainably and reducing your energy consumption can also help you to save money.

Insulate

Over half of domestic energy is used to heat our homes so it’s very important to insulate your home to minimise heat loss. Heat escapes through your home’s walls, roof, floors, windows and doors. Insulating one or more of these areas can help to reduce the amount of energy your home uses, cutting your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills.

Here at Metropolitan Insulation ourspray foam insulationbonds to the structure of your roof, filling and sealing all gaps and cracks to get rid of all air leakages and strengthen your roof’s structure. To find out more, give our team a call on 0800 028 4042.

Low-carbon heating systems

Many homes still use very old and inefficient gas or oil boilers and heating systems. Updating your boiler to a new and efficient model or a renewable energy heating system can significantly reduce your home’s carbon emissions

Solar panels

Installing solar panels on your roof can be very expensive, but the savings you will make on your energy bills should mean that the investment pays for itself over time. The renewable energy you generate can then be used for heating, hot water and electricity in your home.

Energy efficient home appliances

If you’re renovating your kitchen or utility room always shop around for energy efficient appliances. Check the energy ratings label on an appliance before buying, those with A+ ratings are more environmentally friendly and will cost less to run.

Aug

2019

What grant schemes are available in the UK for sound insulation?

If transport noise pollution is disrupting your home life, you may be able to get help with paying for soundproofing with one of these schemes.

Constant exposure to noise pollution can have a negative effect on sleep, health, and wellbeing, it has even been linked to serious health problems like stroke and heart attack.

If you’re suffering from excessive noise pollution at home because of a nearby road or air traffic, then you may be able to receive financial help towards the cost of having sound insulation installed in your home.

Noise pollution from Highways England roads

If the rumbling sound of traffic from a Highways England road is affecting you at home, you may be eligible to apply for sound insulation.

The Highways England noise insulation schemeis available to properties that lie within a Highways England “Noise Important Area” that contains fewer than 10 properties.

“Noise Important Areas” are the areas that experiences the highest levels of noise from Highways England roads.

If you meet the scheme’s criteria then your property will be assessed and Highways England contractors will carry out the soundproofing work for you, it is not a grant scheme.

Noise pollution from airports

Most airports have noise limits and restrictions on flight paths, to minimise noise and disruption to residents living nearby. Despite these restrictions, noise from aircraft can still be very disrupting and even damaging to the health of those living nearby.

Because of this, UK airports run grant schemes to help those affected by noise pollution to soundproof their homes.

The airport in question will usually have a boundary in place that identifies the properties that are eligible.

Contact your local airport by telephone or check their website to find out details about their scheme and whether you are eligible to help with soundproofing.

For more information about the soundproofing and sound insulationproducts we provide here at Metropolitan Insulation, give our team a call on 0800 028 4042.

Jul

2019

The effect of noise pollution on health and wellbeing

Noise pollution above a certain level is not only disruptive and irritating, it can also be very damaging to health and wellbeing.

We’ve all experienced annoyance due to loud or persistent noises before. But did you know that noise exposure also causes physiological effects within our bodies?

Physiological effects of noise pollution

When noise exceeds a certain level, it can cause constriction of blood vessels and tightening of muscles, this then increases heart rate and blood pressure.

In fact, a study by Dr Yutong Samuel Cai, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, found that long-term exposure to traffic noise affects our blood biochemistry, over and above the effects of exhaust fumes.

Over time and with prolonged exposure to the noise, these affects can leave us vulnerable to some serious health conditions.

Research has linked long-term exposure to high levels of noise pollution with a variety of serious health problems including:

High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
Heart attack
Stroke
Type 2 Diabetes
Coronary heart disease

According to the World Health Organisation at least 1m healthy life-years are lost every year in western European countries because of environmental noise.

Short-term effects of noise pollution

As well as long-term health problems, in the short-term, exposure to noise pollution can leave us feeling stressed and disrupt our sleep.

Getting enough good quality sleep is extremely important to health and wellbeing, and disrupted sleep can cause symptoms like fatigue, inability to concentrate, and low performance levels.

In children, this can also reduce their cognitive performance and ability to learn.

Soundproofing your home

If you live in a high noise area, soundproofing your home can help to protect you and your family from the damaging effects of noise pollution.

Here at Metropolitan Insulation we provide a wide range of soundproofing solutionsfor requirements and budgets of all shapes and sizes.

For further help and advice finding a suitable and effective sound proofing solution, get in touch with our team of experts by calling us on 0800 028 4042.

Apr

2019

Common places to find asbestos in commercial buildings

If you own a commercial property that was built before the year 2000 then there could be asbestos lurking inside.

Up until 1999 asbestos was a common building material that was used for a variety of purposes in construction. After it was found to be linked to a number of serious health conditions it was banned from use and legislation was put in place to regulate its management.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 state that it is the dutyholder’s responsibility to determine whether asbestos is present in a building and then ensure that it is managed safely.

As the owner of a commercial property, you should ensure that a survey is carried out to assess whether there is any asbestos present in your building.

Where could asbestos be lurking?

Key areas of your commercial property that may contain asbestos include:

Sprayed interior coatings
Water tank
Insulation
Partition walls
Ceiling tiles
Vinyl floor tiles
Textured decorative coatings
Roof, gutters and downpipes

Asbestos insulating board is a fireproof material that was commonly used in ceiling tiles, partition walls, fireproof doors, and lift shafts. To the untrained eye, it is difficult to tell an asbestos board apart from a non-asbestos one.

There is also a risk that the exterior of your building could feature asbestos cement. Asbestos cement is simply normal cement with asbestos mixed in. It was often used in the construction of roofs, downpipes, gutters, soffits and flues.

What to do if asbestos is found in your commercial property

If a survey does find asbestos present in your building, then you will be required to take measures to manage the risk to protect yourself and the building’s tenants.

The correct action to take will depend on the location of the asbestos and its extent and condition. Options for management may include monitoring, maintenance, removal or encapsulation.

To find out about how our spray foam can be used to encapsulate asbestos in commercial properties,give us a call on 0800 028 4042.

Mar

2019

Difference between surface & interstitial condensation?

Condensation is an annoying and potentially damaging household problem that most homeowners will encounter at some point.

Signs of condensation include water droplets on windows and walls, damp patches, and mould. Condensation can look unsightly, cause damage to your home, and create unhealthy living conditions.

How is condensation formed?

Condensation is caused when warm water vapour in the air hits a cold surface. The cold surface cools the water vapour to a temperature that is below its condensing point, turning it from a gas back to a liquid.

Interstitial condensation versus surface condensation

There are two different types of condensation, interstitial and surface. The main difference between the two is where they occur.

Whilst surface condensation appears on the surface where it is visible, interstitial condensation occurs inside the layers of your building’s walls, roof or floor where it cannot be seen.

Of the two, interstitial condensation is usually the more damaging problem. As this type of condensation occurs within your building’s fabric, it may have caused considerable deterioration of your building’s internal elements before you notice the signs that there is a problem.

Top tips for banishing condensation

A few simple ways to reduce levels of condensation in the home include:

Open vents, windows or doors when steam from washing or cooking is present.
Keep the temperature in your home consistent.
Ensure your home has adequate ventilation.
Ensure your home has adequate insulation.
Insulate your home using a water vapour resistant material like our spray-applied polyurethane foam.

For more information about how insulating your home with polyurethane foamcan help to tackle condensation, give our insulation experts a call on 0800 028 4042.

Feb

2019

Points to Consider When Soundproofing A Historic Listed Building

If you own a listed building then you will be well aware of the constraints this puts on development work and even basic maintenance. Even soundproofing will require a certain degree of planning so as not to alter the character of the building. So how do you best approach insulating and soundproofing your listed building?

The first place to start is a survey of the building. This will give you all the technical details you need so you can plan the project and adhere to building regulations. The survey will also tell you what materials to use.

Once you have gained this information you can then put together a plan of the work you intend to do and submit it in order to get planning consent. This is critically important as anything that alters the character of a listed building or replaces existing materials with materials of inferior quality or that will cause deterioration in other parts of the building will be deemed unsuitable.

If you are not confident of managing this process yourself it is highly advisable to seek expert help even if the soundproofing you are installing will be largely hidden from view.

Oct

2018

How Long Can You Expect Your Insulation To Last?

Most people will ask about how long things like roof tiles and flooring will last but few people consider insulation. One thing is certain, no matter what insulation you use, it won’t last forever and certain types of insulation are known to last longer than others. So let’s look at the different types of insulation commonly used and compare their lifespans and durability.

Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation has increased in popularity due to its excellent durability and ease of application. It is also much better at resisting mold growth and sealing any air leaks than alternative forms of insulation. You can also look forward to low maintenance over its lifetime. The only drawback is that its lifespan is around 80 years but this is a minor one unless you expect to still be around 80 years from so you can still technically say it will last you more than a lifetime.

Fiberglass Insulation
Fibreglass is the type of insulation you will find in most homes. The material is also extremely durable and provides an excellent defence against humidity. It is also cheaper than most alternatives which is why you will still find this type of insulation in most homes. This type of insulation is expected to last 100 years but wear and tear can take its toll and reduce lifespan if it isn’t inspected regularly.

Recycled Paper Insulation
Recycled paper is another excellent choice and the main thing it has going for it is its limited impact on the environment. This type of insulation can last for 100 years although it is less commonly used than other materials such as fibre glass and spray foam.

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.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog