Insulation for residential buildings refers to the energy-saving process of creating a heat barrier between the interior and exterior of a building to prevent the movement of heat to the outside of a building by using insulation materials, therefore, reducing heat loss in cold weather places. Thermal insulation in Kenya bears with it some great benefits.
Benefits of heat insulation
-
Energy saving
by conserving the heat temperature inside a building will save energy because it will reduce the demand to heat up the building using electrical appliances like heaters. this will in turn save energy.
-
To provide comfort
by insulating the house you provide comfortable temperatures and comfortable living conditions for the people living inside, especially during cold seasons.
-
Save costs
Insulating the house helps to save costs and expenses that would have otherwise been used to pay for electricity when using heaters.
Requirements for residential building insulation in Kenya.
-
Adequate thickness
The materials used for thermal insulation in residential buildings should have adequate thickness.
-
Adequate insulation value
The materials to be adopted for thermal insulation in a residential home in Kenya should be able to have adequate heat insulation value, and their thermal conductivity should be low.
-
Provision of open spaces
Open spaces like cavity walls provide a great insulation material for residential buildings in Kenya.
-
Proper orientation of windows and doors
The exterior positioning of windows ventilators and doors plays a vital role in thermal insulation for residential houses in Kenya.
-
Adequate fire resistance
Materials used for thermal insulation should have adequate fire resistance, moisture, and termite resistance.
- Adequate strength and stability– The thermal insulation materials for residential houses should have adequate strength and durability so that they can have a prolonged lifespan.
Methods of thermal insulation in Kenya
It is not economically logical to insulate the entire building, therefore we only concentrate on insulating only the areas that are the causes of heat transfer, which include, the roof, exposed walls and external doors, and windows.
-
Exposed walls insulation
Insulation of the exposed walls can be done through the provision of cavity walls which act as thermal insulators, heat insulators may be fixed either inside or outside the exposed walls to reduce heat transmission, heat insulating materials can also be used during construction or increase the thickness of the walls to reduce transmission of heat.
-
Roof insulation
The roof can also be insulated from both the inside and outside .this insulation can be done through the creation of a false ceiling with insulating material, like gypsum, provision of air spaces on the flat roof using asbestos, and also providing shading over the exposed roof surface to reduce heat flow. heat insulating materials may also be installed over the roof though below the waterproofing material.
-
Insulation of exposed windows and doors
To insulate the exposed windows and doors from heat loss, can be done through the provision of shadings like louvers and sun breakers to reduce direct sun heat.in the case of glazed windows, heat insulation could be done by insulating the glass or double glazing.
Common Insulation materials for residential buildings in Kenya.
-
Fiberglass insulation
This is the most common insulation material used to minimize heat transfer. It is fire-resistant and effectively minimizes heat transfer.
-
GCS roof insulation
GCS with reflective foil is an effective roof insulation material
-
Rock wool insulation
This material is highly effective in both heat and sound insulation. it is economical and can withstand high temperatures.
Conclusion
We highly recommend insulating your residential home in Kenya given the great benefits that come with it, However, before doing it you should air seal your home properly and consider moisture control first. It is more cost-efficient to do insulation of your residential home during the construction period.
