ALFRETON: Recticel Insulation Products has added its weight to a recent call to help homeowners improve the levels of resilience which their homes offer against the damage caused by flooding. The call was made by Environment Agency chairman, Lord Chris Smith, in response to the dangers faced by the 5.5m properties at risk of flooding in England and Wales.
Mr Smith called for more action to tackle the effects of climate change which look set to make flooding more commonplace in the future.
Research carried out by the Building Research Establishment for the ABI identified various cost-effective ways to boost a property’s flood resilience. One of these was to replace mineral insulation within walls with closed cell insulation. By its very nature, closed cell insulation cannot absorb water in the same way as mineral wool which can remain wet several months after exposure. This low moisture take-up helps the insulation retain its integrity, which not only limits the amount of damage but also speeds up the drying-out process.
Other complementary measures include replacing gypsum plaster with more water-resistant material such as lime plaster or cement render and substituting chipboard/MDF kitchen and bathroom units with plastic equivalents. “These sorts of measures can go a long way to making the process of drying out and cleaning up after a flood far easier and faster,” adds Chris Hall, sales and marketing manager of Recticel. “They can all be done during normal renovation projects or during repairs after a previous flood. That’s why we support Lord Chris Smith when he suggests that retailers and builders' merchants should be able to advise homeowners on this point, especially as the cost involved in these sorts of measures is often far outweighed by the reduction in damage and inconvenience caused by subsequent floods.
“The British Rigid Urethane Manufacturers Association (BRUFMA) has long been calling for the intended 2010 revisions to the Building Regulations to make recommendations on this point and it’s good to see support for this coming from such an eminent source.”
In addition to helping Recticel products deliver outstanding thermal insulation performance, their closed cell structure also makes them lightweight and easy to handle and gives them excellent compressive strength and good resistance to foot traffic.
