An underfloor insulation product called Expol Black with a higher thermal resistance rating has been added to the Expol range. It earnt its name because it contains graphite that is added to the expanded polystyrene (EPS) giving it a charcoal colour.
Foamex has been manufacturing Expol White underfloor insulation for over 15 years, and Expol Black provides a product that is 30 percent more efficient making it better for climates with extreme temperatures. It takes the R-value (thermal resistance rating) from 1.4 for Expol White to R1.8 for Expol Black.
Not only does underfloor insulation make homes more comfortable, but it also reduces energy bills, saving money and the environment. Insulation, including the underfloor variety, slows the transfer of heat between the building and the outside.
It is timely to launch Expol Black into the Australian market, as energy ratings of new homes will soon increase from six to seven-star. Insulation helps with energy ratings by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a home, because it slows the transfer of heat between the inside and outside. As a result, homes with more insulation tend to have higher energy ratings.
Expol Black has been sold in New Zealand for many years, so it makes sense to add it to the range and manufacture it in Australia.
Why are Australian homes so cold?
A study of the temperatures of 100 homes in NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia during winter fell short of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The new study by the Adelaide-based Australian Centre for Housing Research found more than 80 per cent of the homes surveyed across five “temperate” states failed to meet a WHO minimum recommendation for winter warmth.
Residents across the five states were sent sensors to track household temperatures. The findings were consistent across the five states and income levels. The researchers suggested that one of the reasons that homes were so cold was because of the perception that Australia has a warm climate throughout.
“We haven’t really required or mandated that our homes are super-insulated … and protect us from the weather, like our northern hemisphere counterparts,” said study joint author Dr Lyrian Daniel, who is an associate professor in architecture at the University of South Australia.
What does an R-value measure?
The R-value of an insulation product tells you how well it resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer, the greater the insulating effect, and the greater the energy and money savings.
To calculate the R-value, you add the various materials together. For a suspended timber floor, you add the R-value of the floor, the R-value of any floor covering like carpet, and the R-value of the underfloor insulation. Different products with the same R-value will provide similar insulation performance, regardless of thickness or the type of material.
For example, timber floors have an R-value of around 0.3, if you add carpet you can add around another 0.3 to bring the total to 0.6. If you then add Expol Black underfloor insulation which has an R-value of 1.8 you come up with a grand total of 2.4.
Sustainability Victoria says for the Victorian climate it recommends that the R-value for floor insulation should be R2, with a minimum requirement of R1.
How to reduce heat loss and draughtproof
According to Sustainability Victoria, up to 25 percent of winter heat loss in existing homes is caused by draughts, while nine out of 10 homes in Victoria have unwanted draughts. The effects are worse during the extremes of summer and winter when it is more difficult to lock in comfortable temperatures because indoor air can easily be lost outdoors through the multitude of draughty areas.
Draught proofing, such as installing expanded polystyrene underfloor insulation like Expol Black, minimises the amount of warm air that escapes during winter and the amount of hot air that enters in summer.
Expol Black underfloor insulation can be installed by a DIY homeowner
Unlike some underfloor insulation products, Expol Underfloor Insulation has been designed to be used by DIY-ers or professionals.A competent DIY enthusiast could install Expol underneath their home on a weekend.
Expol underfloor insulation is easy to install with concertina cuts which allow for compression of up to 20 mm. It can be fitted to new floors during construction, or retrofitted to existing dwellings. All that’s required is to measure up, cut to fit, install the Expol panels, fix with fittings, and place wire guard around cables.
How to buy Expol Black R1.8 underfloor insulation
Expol Black R 1.8 underfloor insulation to fit 410 mm joists, is available to buy online here. Additionally, your favourite leading hardware stores in Victoria offer the option of buying Expol Black by special order. Just ask them!
