Insulation for balcony

A good owner will certainly try to turn a balcony in his apartment into the most functional, room. It is clear that the as the balcony directly contacts the street, then the main problem, apart from glazing, is its thermal insulation. If is serious , then the planning of such activities should begin with a study of the characteristics, and then the correct choice of insulation materials.

When choosing a heater for a balcony, you must first of all take into account the average winter temperature of the region of residence. But, in addition, before buying, you must compare several different options, comparing their operational capabilities and the degree of safety for a person.

The proposed table shows the main characteristics of most building and insulation materials that can be used in converting a balcony into an additional useful area of ​​the apartment.

Materials	Coefficient of thermal conductivity, W / m × ° C	Density, kg / m³.	Operating temperature range, ° C	Water vapor permeability, mg /( m × h × Pa)
Polyurethane foam	0,025	40-60	From -100 to +150	0,04-0,05
Extruded polystyrene foam	0,05	30-45	From -50 to +75	0,015
Polyethylene foam	0,045	35	-60 to +90	0,001
Polyfoam	0,03	40-125	-50 to +75	0,23
Rock wool	0,047	35-150	From -60 to +180	0,53
Glass wool	0,056	15-100	From -60 to +480	0,53
Reinforced concrete	2,04	2500	0,03
Hollow ki	0,58	1400	0,16
Wood( across the fibers)	0,18	40-50	0,06

"Dry" numbers can already say a lot, but still need to look more closely at the most commonly used heaters. And for starters it will be useful to understand the criteria that the thermal insulation material for the balcony must meet.

As it will be a completely unheated room without thick walls, it is necessary to provide the following qualities of the thermal insulation material:

• It should have a low thermal conductivity - this will help to keep the heat coming to the balcony from the heated premises or from the heating devices, not allowing it to quickly leave the room.

Naturally, the lower the heat conductivity index, the more effective the thermal insulation.

• The value of the thermal conductivity directly depends on the density - if it is high, then means , you can only dream about good thermal insulation performance. If the insulation has a porous structure of the structure, then a low thermal conductivity will be ensured.
• It is necessary to choose a heater with a low water vapor permeability, or, in other words, a predisposition to hygroscopicity, since any impregnated moisture material loses its thermally insulating quality.
• The insulation must be non-flammable or at least self-extinguishing. On the package, the combustibility of the heater is indicated by the designations from Г1 to Г4.The number "1" means the minimum combustible material, and "4" - .

In addition to this it is important to pay attention to smoke formation burning insulation. This indicator is marked with designations from D1 to D3.

Another one important parameter from the category of fire safety is the speed of distribution of the source of the flame. On the insulation package this characteristic can be indicated by letters and numbers, from RP 1 to FP4 . FP1 means that the material will not become a fire carrier, and FP4 indicates a rapid spread of the flame after a fire.

The material correctly chosen for these criteria, it is possible, will save the life and health of the tenants of the apartment, if suddenly there will be a fire.

• Ecological cleanliness of the material is no less important for the health of people living in the apartment. Many modern heaters eventually start to release harmful substances for humans, which can cause various diseases.
• The longevity of the material will affect the operating time of the insulated balcony without repair. It should be borne in mind that some of the heaters have the property of decaying over time.
• It is necessary to take into account the complexity of the installation of the material - the technology for conducting insulation can vary significantly. It is advisable to choose an option that will be easier to implement, especially if is planned to be mounted independently.

Sound insulation qualities of the insulation will also not superfluous , as they will help to protect the apartment from street or yard noise.

The most commonly used materials for insulation of various parts of the balcony - are mineral wool and styrofoam in one or another modification, foam foam , expanded clay and others.

Expanded polystyrene

Probably the most popular thermal insulation material in recent decades is polystyrene foam, or, as more often it is called in everyday use - polystyrene foam. They are warmed by balconies and apartments, roofs and walls of houses , both from the outside, and from the inside. However, is it good for these purposes? To learn this, it is necessary to consider its characteristics more closely, so the material, besides numerous positive qualities, has its own significant "minuses".

Styrofoam can be ordinary expanded and extruded. The characteristics of these types are different, so do not think that this is practically the same thing.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is denoted by the letters EPAS and XPS .It differs from ordinary foam plastic manufacturing technology, which in many ways predetermines some of its qualities.

Its positive features include:

• Low water absorption, which allows the material to remain almost always dry, and means , this quality will not let it lose its main purpose - to keep the heat in the room.
• The low thermal conductivity of properly installed extruded polystyrene foam will give the balcony room a good protection against cold. Even at the temperature outside the walls of the house in - 25 degrees, the thermal conductivity is only 0.05 W / m × ° C .

• The small specific weight of the material facilitates its installation and lifting to the height of the building. The density of extruded polystyrene foam is from 35 to 45 kg / m³.
• The resistance to compression and deformation of EPS is much higher than conventional foam, and it is excellent for floor insulation. The force with a linear deformation of 10% is of the order of 0.25 - 0.4 MPa , and the flexural strength is 0.4 to 1 MPa .
• Resistance to solvents of inorganic origin, such as alkalis, acids and salts, allows the use of water-based paints for painting this material.
• The material is characterized by sufficient high durability - the service life can be calculated in 50 years and more, of course, with the correct installation and closing of polystyrene foam from UV rays by skin or painting compounds.
• In the closed state, polystyrene foam is almost non-toxic and does not emit harmful substances during operation, therefore, without affecting individual factors, it is completely safe.

The drawbacks of extruded polystyrene are its drawbacks:

• Styrofoam is not sufficiently resistant to high temperatures and their sharp jumps - the upper limit at which it can lose its predefined shape and performance characteristics - only about 75 degrees.

• Its marking is usually-G3 and G4. G3 materials contain additives fire retardants , and this increases the cost of insulation. If the package is labeled G4, then this foam polystyrene has a sufficiently high degree of flammability and is considered a thermal insulation category. Burning, polystyrene gives a strong smoke, and combustion products are very toxic, because they include vapors of formaldehyde and other substances hazardous to health and life.
• The material has a low vapor conductivity , that is, it is not breathable. Therefore, in rooms that are insulated by them, it is necessary to arrange good ventilation.
• Another can be considered as one minus a low resistance to adhesives and solvents made on an organic basis. This quality must be taken into account when choosing the compounds for the installation of insulation. Polystyrene can melt and dissolve from contact with organic acids and alcohols, as well as esters and hydrophobic solvents, so they should not come in contact with EPS boards. If this condition is not complied with, the polystyrene can eventually "swim", shrink, and the insulation will come down .

Video: example of balcony insulation extruded with polystyrene foam

Usual foam

Most often after all for thermal insulation use ordinary foam because it has a lower price. However, one must remember that almost always the price determines the quality of the material. The characteristics of this insulation are similar in many respects to extruded polystyrene foam, but they also have significant differences.

Polyfoam has a more porous structure, consists of 98% of air and only 2% - of expanded polystyrene. Its structure is a separate granule, having a size of 4 to 15 mm, which are glued together in the process of making blocks.

Thickness of blocks of material can be from 20 and even up to 1000 mm, and the size of plates varies usually a multiple of 500 mm: 1000 × 500,1000 × 1000, 2000 × 1000 mm .

The following qualities are attributed to the advantages of a conventional styrofoam:

• Low thermal conductivity of foam can be called its main advantage over many other heaters, including - and over extruded polystyrene foam. Usually this figure is in the region of only 0.03 W / m × ° C .This quality is achieved for account extremely porous structure, which is able to protect the room from the penetration of cold outside and keep the stored heat inside.
• Correctly installed foam ст сп it is especial to protect a balcony from a wind and from penetration of street sounds.
• Polyfoam is almost hygroscopic, as it can absorb a minimum amount of moisture. This can be explained by the fact that granules, which overwhelmingly predominate in the volume , are completely hermetic and do not absorb water - it can only seep into small channels between them.

• Ease of installation and ease lifting material to any floor of the building. Polyfoam is easy to install and fixed on any surface, it is easy to cut and customize to the desired size.
• In normal processing( without the use of thermal cutting), this material does not emit any odors and harmful substances, so for those working with it, no means of protection will be required.
• Foam, as well as extruded polystyrene foam, is resistant to aggressive alkaline and acidic environment, cement , lime and gypsum, salts and water-based paints.

To negative qualities of foam it is possible to carry:

• Low resistance to ignition. Most often this foam is labeled as a combustible material - G4.Less often it is set to low combustibility G3 - in this case, the insulation is more expensive, because when they were manufactured, flame retardants were used. If on the package the is not marked with the name of flammability or the material is marked as completely incombustible( to what can not be believed), then it is not worth buying such a foam, as it is unknown of what from it can be expected.

When burning foam st Plaster comes and flows, releasing very dangerous to humans gases that can cause chemical and thermal burn of the respiratory system. In addition, together with smoke, highly toxic substances are released into the air, which quickly lead to serious poisoning of the body.

• Polystyrene manufactured by the factory technology should without loss of its quality in keep the temperature to + 75 degrees - the threshold, as you can see, is not too high.

• Polyfoam with time begins to decompose chemically and release into the room a significant amount of hazardous substances for humans that can penetrate even through brick walls.
• The material should not be left open for a long time, since ultraviolet rays contribute to its rapid decomposition.
• The material is exposed to m m of technical fluids such as turpentine, ethyl alcohol, acetone, gasoline, etc. When touching these substances, ordinary foam simply dissolves into them.
• Polyfoam, unlike extruded polystyrene, is difficult to be called a particularly strong material, therefore, if they are insulated with a floor, then it requires additional reinforcement in the form of wooden log or concrete screed. Fastened on the wall, and then sheathed with decorative material, this insulation should last without loss of heat-insulating qualities of the order of 15-20 years.

Mineral wool

The second according to is a mineral wool insulation that is used to house a balcony with mineral wool that has excellent thermal insulation qualities .There are several types of this material, manufactured on different raw materials, and they differ somewhat in some technical characteristics.

Name of parameters	Slag	Glass wool	Stone wool
Application temperature limit, ° C	up to 250	from -60 to +450	to 1000
Average fiber diameter, μm	from 4 to 12	from 5 to 15	from 4 to 12
Hygroscopicity of the material for 24 hours( no more),%	1,9	1,7	0,095
Compression	yes	yes	no
Coefficient of thermal conductivity, W /( m × °C)	0.46-0.48	0.038-0.046	0.035-0.042
Sound coefficientgrindings	from 0,75 to 0,82	from 0,8 to 92	from 0,75 to 95
Presence of binder,%	from 2,5 to 10	from 2,5 to 10	from 2,5 to 10
Flammability of	NG - non-flammable	NG - non-flammable	NG - non-flammable
Heat capacity, J / kg × ° C	1000	1050	1050
Vibration resistance	no	no	no
Elasticity,%	no data	no data	75
Sintering temperature, ° C	250-300	450-500	600
Fiber length, mm	16	15-50	16
Chemical resistance( weight loss),% in water	7.8	6.2	4.5
Chemich(weight loss),% in alkaline medium	7	6	6.4
Chemical resistance( weight loss),% in acid medium	68.7	38.9	24

So, mineral wool has the following positive qualities that predetermine its Convenience for the insulation of balconies and loggias:

• Low thermal conductivity - Minvate creates an excellent barrier to penetration of cold or heat.
• The material has a strong enough and at the same time - a plastic and elastic structure.
• The heater is absolutely non-toxic during installation and during operation.
• Mineral wool has not only excellent thermal insulation, but also protects the room from extraneous noise.
• Any mineral wool is marked with NG, that is, the material is not combustible.
• The material is practically not susceptible to destructive effects of chemicals.
• Mineral wool is available in roll form or in the form of slabs, which adds comfort to the installation.

To the general negative qualities of mineral wool are:

• Hygroscopicity - it can for some types of minivates to be and not too high, but all will equally require the installation of the coating with a hydro vapor barrier material.
• The roughness of the material, which causes inconvenience during installation and will require the use of skin protection and respiratory protection. The exception is stone wool.

Other advantages and disadvantages characteristic for each type of mineral wool, it is better to consider separately, because they are somewhat different.

Glass wool

Glass wool consists of fibers made of sand or glass battles, which are melted at a temperature of 1450 ÷ 1500 degrees. Fibers have a thickness of only 5 ÷ 15 μm and a length of 15 ÷ 50 mm - they make this heater resilient and durable.

Glass wool has excellent resistance to chemical attack, and development of any biological life forms in .When properly installed, it is not rotted, and besides it does not live in mice and rats, which is very important for balconies located on the first floor.

The disadvantage that manifests itself during the installation of this insulation is the fragility of brittle fibers. The fragments have sharp edges, so they easily penetrate the thin fabric of clothes, they can stuck into the skin, get into the eyes, and they can easily be inhaled, which will cause damage to the airways.

To avoid these troubles, warming work needs to be carefully prepared by purchasing clothing made of dense material, gloves or mittens, goggles and a respirator. It should also be noted that after the installation of glass wool, the used clothes and gloves will have to be discarded by , as they will not be able to be cleaned.

Basalt( stone) wool

Rock wool is made from gabbro-basalt and similar groups of minerals. The insulation has a low thermal conductivity and excellent resistance to high temperatures. Rock wool fibers can withstand temperatures up to 800 ÷ 1000 degrees , but the binding compounds are designed only for temperature up to 200 ÷ 250 degrees , so when they burn, the stone fibers decay. However, for the conditions of the balcony this is of no importance.

With this type of cotton wool it is easy to work, since it does not have brittle fibers, therefore it is safe for skin, eyes and respiratory tract.

Stone wool is a "breathable" material, which is especially important when insulating external walls.

This material can be called environmentally friendly, since it does not contain or emit harmful substances for the human body.

It is the basalt insulation that fully corresponds to the name "mineral wool", and it can be called the best option for warming the balcony. As is produced today, stone wool with a foil layer, which enhances the insulating effect.

Slag

Slag fiber is made from blast furnace slags. It has a sufficiently high hygroscopicity, that is, it easily absorbs moisture, which leads to a rapid loss of the original insulating qualities.

Fibers are not as brittle as glass wool, but the effect of tartness is present, so its installation should also be carried out in the appropriate outfit.

Another one significant minus - blast furnace slag does not always differ in ecological purity, passing this "train" and materials on its own basis. All this suggests that it is still not worth using slag wool for insulation of living quarters.

Expanded claydite

Expanded claydite - is a bulk material that perfectly will suit for floor insulation on the balcony. It has remarkable qualities, and the main one is - absolute ecological cleanliness of the heater. It is made from low-melting rocks of clay by and is thoroughly cleaned, thoroughly mixed, molded and quickly baked at high temperatures, reaching 1,250-1,300 degrees.

This table will describe the characteristics of the material with the

:
fraction size 10-20 mm	5-10 mm	0-5 mm
Bulk density, kg / m³	280-370	300-400	500-700
Pressure strength, N / mm²( MPa)	1.0-1.8	1,2-2,0	3,0-4,0
Frost resistance 20 cycles, weight loss of gravel in%	0, 4-0,2	0,2-1,2	Not regulated
Thermal conductivity W / m × ° C	0,0912	0,0912	0,1099
Water absorption,%	10 - 15	15 - 20	up to 25

But, in order for the to understand how suitable it is for insulating operations on the balcony, all its qualities should be considered in detail.

Ceramsite is produced in the form of granules of different sizes - these can be pellets up to 40 mm or smaller size - up to expanded clay sand. is lightweight and durable, moisture resistant, which is very important for the floor on the balcony, has low thermal conductivity and good sound insulation properties. The claydite is durable, it can be exploited for at least a hundred years without losing its positive qualities.

Its light weight does not weight the design of the balcony, and voluminous bags with insulation can easily be lifted to the high floor. In addition, it is easily distributed over the surface of the base with a rake or a conventional wooden sweeper.

To keep the floor on the balcony from moisture, it is recommended to lay the first layer of expanded clay, as even if there is a condensation from the temperature difference on the bottom of the balcony, the claydite layer will not allow it to penetrate the insulator laid above.

There are several ways to insulate the floor on the balcony with expanded clay. The material can be used both as a single thermal insulator , and in combination with other materials.

• The first method is the in the backfilling of claydite on the prepared surface between the log , and closing this warming layer with floorboards or thick plywood.

• Another variant - is carefully leveled claydite concrete , laid between the wooden logs-lag. After it has solidified, the insulation can be strengthened with extruded polystyrene foam or other insulation, increasing the logs to the desired height.

• The third option may be a bulk floor, which is often referred to as a "dry screed".This is done with clay aggregate and gypsum-fiber slabs.

Detailed information about the device of the insulated floor on the technology "dry screed" can be found by referring to a special article of the portal, following the link:

Sprayed foamed polyurethane

Recently, many hosts resort to a new, modern way to insulate the balcony - spraying on the walls of polyurethane foam. This is extremely convenient - because the process of applying it takes only one day. The only drawback of this method of warming lies in the fact that it is practically impossible to carry out it yourself, since for the application of liquid foaming material on walls, special equipment and equipment, practical skills will be required. And the cost of such services remains enough high.

Sprayed polyurethane foam has a solid number of advantages. And the first of them is then , after creating this layer you can not think about additional insulation - directly on top of it after drying, you can mount the decorative finish.

Due insulation quality, speed, reliability and uniformity of coating, a polyurethane foam can be described as the most effective way and to insulate and soundproof balcony:

• During deposition polyure on at surface of walls, floors and ceiling created monolithic seamless coverage, which covers absolutely all cold bridges, quite possible when laying other thermal insulation materials. The balcony turns into a kind of thermos, which in winter keeps the inside warm, and in the summer - cool.

• The thermal insulation qualities of this material depend on the thickness of the spraying, all is equal to the coefficient tt The conductivity is the minimum, is only 0,020 ÷ 0,027 W / m × ° From .This super-score is achieved for account with a unique fine-celled, air-filled material structure. Even the smallest layer of the sprayed polyurethane foam is able to give the effect of much thicker interlayers of other materials.

For comparison of the thickness, you can refer to this diagram. It clearly shows how thick different materials should be laid in order to achieve the same thermal insulation efficiency of the room.

• Such thermal insulation has a very wide temperature operating range - without compromising its quality and human health from - 150 to + 150 degrees.
• To produce any foamed polyurethane on any surfaces, they do not need to be specially prepared - fasten crate , create waterproofing and .
• Insulation is highly resistant to chemical attack, it is not a nutrient medium for any life forms.
• Protected from ultraviolet rays, polyurethane foam does not decompose into components. and retain all their thermal insulation qualities and physical characteristics for 50 years or more.

• We can not forget about such an important quality as the combustibility of the material. In his characteristics, one often encounters the notation of Г1 and НГ, but, unfortunately, this is not entirely true. With long exposure to an open flame, polyurethane foam can catch fire , and products that are flushed with are also dangerous to human health. However, , for fireproof it is "head and shoulders" of any type of expanded polystyrene.

For more information about thermal insulation technology using foamed polyurethane, please see the article posted by on the pages of our portal

. There are other thermal insulation materials like manufactured using modern technologies and proven for decades. So, balcony insulation practically never does without using a thin roll material - foamed polyethylene with one - or even two-sided foil ( for example, foam foil ).

. Whichever type of basic insulation is used, it is recommended to lay the layer of foam on top of it, which in addition to having a porous structure, the still has the and has the property of reflecting the heat flows back to the sideRoom( this was clearly shown in the given by above the video).In some cases, when too much warming is not required, such material can act even as the main thermal insulator .For more information about the characteristics and use of roll-fed insulation foils , please refer to the relevant portal publication.

The heaters mentioned in the article are the most popular of those sold in construction shops and offered by construction companies engaged in insulation work. In order for to stay on one of them or to compose a complex of several materials, it is necessary to carefully study not only their merits, but also the negative qualities of so that the can protect the family from possible negative consequences.

And in the end - a fairly detailed video about the insulation of the balcony, which also helps to understand the choice of thermal insulation materials:

Video: an integrated approach to the insulation of the standard balcony high-rise building