Spray Foam Insulation

Four 20-storey apartment blocks and three 16-storey apartment blocks, built in the 60’s, all suffering from no cavity wall insulation, which was costly to the occupants in energy bills. Some of the blocks were suffering from on-going wall tie failure problems due to wind-driven rain penetration into the cavity, which over the last 15 years had to be addressed by costly wall tie replacement projects. Also various sections within the cavity construction were below 50mm in width, and together with the severe exposure conditions of the location and building height restrictions, this eliminated use of traditional cavity wall insulation measures. An external cladding system was considered as a potential solution but the cost of about £1 million per block was rightly considered too expensive.

Installing Technitherm® cavity wall insulation solved the on-going structural problems caused by failing wall ties, by permanently bonding the inner and out wall leaves together. The high thermal performance of Technitherm® will benefit all the occupants by reducing their energy bills far greater than any other retrofit cavity wall insulation system. As Technitherm® is a closed cell polyurethane foam system, it will not allow driving rain to enter the cavity in the highly exposed areas of the apartment blocks, and so cures the damp problems. It is also an extremely effective draughtproofing solution for the walls. The project work to the 7 high-rise tower blocks was carried out by Modern Plan Insulation, a BBA and Isothane approved Technitherm® Installer. The work commenced on 4th January 2010 and despite delays due to bad weather was completed in mid August 2010 - total duration (excluding bad weather) of only 7 months, or one block per month, significantly reducing disturbance to the tenants and consequent associated construction programme costs.

The seven high rise apartment blocks are now fully insulated for the future, saving between them 448 tonnes of carbon every year for the life of the buildings. The highly bonded inner and out walls now make all the blocks structurally sound, and also significantly reduce the wall tie replacement maintenance programmes, saving even more money. All 762 apartments will now contribute to a better quality of life for all the occupants, whilst benefiting financially from lower energy bills. This is the most cost effective method to insulate, stabilise, draughtproof and protect your building from severe wind driven rain penetration, in one simple application . All seven apartment blocks are covered by a 25 year insurance backed guarantee, and also a 25 year Isothane manufacturers guarantee.

Before Technitherm® treatment: red & yellow show areas of high heat loss

After Technitherm® treatment: blue & green show reduced heat loss