U-VALUE CALCULATOR

FAQ

Find out more about the most popular insulation topics.

Category Product Specific Questions

Absolutely not!

The majority of SuperFOIL products are composite products, made using a range of materials. The most common of these are the foil layers (including the reinforced, laminated outer foil layers), the internal wadding made from recycled plastic, and the foam separations between layers.

However, regardless of what they are made of, all SuperFOIL products are non-hazardous and do not contain any red list materials – a fact verified by COSHH assessment of our products.

SFUF can be lapped up the wall to act as edge insulation in its own right. However, if you’d prefer, SFUF can also work perfectly well in combination with an additional edge insulation product.

SFUF is suitable for use directly under carpet and underlay.

However, if you anticipate needing to move heavy loads over the area, then we would recommend a test area to ensure you are satisfied with its compression resistance.

Yes, SFUF can be used in multiple layers, although we recommend keeping it to one or two layers.

If you need to use multiple layers to meet your insulation needs, we would recommend creating a ‘sandwich’ by layering SFUF with traditional insulation such as PIR.

If you do intend to use more than two layers of SFUF, we recommend getting in touch with our technical team to find the best approach for your needs.

Not at all! We don’t believe in cutting corners here at SuperFOIL.

All of our standard SuperFOIL products comply with UK Building Regulations for residential use, with a fire rating of ‘E’ when installed behind plasterboard.

SFNC is our most fire resistant product, having achieved the highest possible Euroclass rating of ‘A1, non-combustible’ and is our recommendation when insulating high rise buildings or for any other project requiring a non-combustible solution.

We typically stipulate that our Radpacks cannot withstand anything greater than 70°C because anything higher than that runs the risk of beginning to melt the outer layers of the Radpack, which would obviously damage the performance of the product.

SuperFOIL SF19BB and SF40BB are breathable products, featuring an outer layer that acts as a W1 Watertight breathable membrane. When installed correctly, breathable products provide effective protection against water ingress.

In the event of a failure of the primary covering, such as roof tiles or cladding, breathable products can act as a reliable backup, preventing rainwater from penetrating into the structure. However, it’s important to understand that breathable products are designed to serve as a secondary rain barrier, typically installed behind roof tiles or wall cladding to ensure optimal performance and protection against the elements.

Whether you’re using your shed for storage, as a workshop, or for another purpose, SuperFOIL Shed Insulation Kits help to make shed insulation easier.
Each kit includes the following;

  • Three rolls of SuperFOIL multipurpose wrap to create a thermal barrier;
  • One SuperFOIL Stapler for securely affixing the insulation material in place;
  • Staples to fasten the foil in place;
  • SuperFOIL Aluminium Tape for sealing gaps and joints/

SuperFOIL Bubble Foil Insulation is perfect for a wide range of uses, offering a cost-effective and easy option for all your DIY projects. It is water and corrosion-resistant and the in-built vapour control layer (VCL) minimises the risks of moisture penetration, condensation, and mould growth.

The air bubble in the middle of the foil insulation, along with a foil-faced outer layer, creates an airtight and thicker barrier, significantly reducing solar heat gain in summers and retaining warmth within your property during winters.

Yes we do!

Some of our most popular DIY products include SF6, SFBA MP, and SFBA 2/2; but many SuperFOIL products are suitable for DIY projects, particularly given the relative ease of installing our insulation solutions.

If you’re planning a DIY project, then we would recommend getting in touch with our technical team to discuss which products would best suit your needs.

All you’ll need to install our multifoil products is a little know-how and the right materials.

For the know-how, you can check out our installation guides; and that just leaves the materials you’ll need:

  1. Timber Battens: these are key to ensuring your products can expand fully and still provide an appropriate air gap. The size of batten you need to use will depend on the product you are working with. For example, SF19+ would need a batten depth of at least 38mm. To learn about the batten size requirements for your products, you can always refer to this blog post.
  2. Staples and a Staple Gun: these are used to fix your SuperFOIL in place and because of that the size of staples used is incredibly important. Much like your batten size, the right staple size will depend on the product you are using. For example, you’ll want a minimum staple size of 20mm for SF19+, 30mm for SF40, and 40mm for SF60.
  3. Tape: this is used to seal the product after fixing and is important to ensure the optimal performance of our products. To ensure a consistent air-tight seal, 100mm wide foil tape should be used for all multifoil products. Of course, we would recommend using our SuperFOIL Superior Tape for its high strength and enhanced adhesive which allows it to be used even in cold weather.

Category Technical Detail Questions

Yes you can!

We have quality SuperFOIL options for both over and under rafter applications. Of course, the best choice for you will depend on the needs of your project; a consideration that our technical team would be happy to advise you on.

Yes! SuperFOIL can be used in flat roofs as well as pitched roofs.

Our expert team can help you find the ideal solution to suit your roof and can even provide you with an approved U-value calculation and a condensation risk analysis if needed.

Although it won’t always be the case, there may be situations where such ventilation is required in combination with our products.

Given that proper ventilation in your loft space is vital to the success of any installation project, we would recommend getting in touch with our technical support team when planning your projects.

The team is always available to provide insights into proper ventilation needs of your projects and, just as important, how you can maintain the unventilated air spaces needed for the highest performance of our products while you’re at it.

We do not recommend using this installation method.

SuperFOIL is designed to be installed as a continuous layer on the face of the timbers. This allows for the best performance from our products, not to mention a quick and hassle free installation process!

This depends on which SuperFOIL product is being used.

  • SF19+ require a min batten depth of 38mm
  • SF40 requires a min batten depth of 50mm
  • SF40 requires a min batten depth of 50mm
  • SF60 requires a min batten depth of 63mm
  • SF19BB should be counter battened with a min batten depth of 38mm
  • SF40BB should be counter battened with a min batten depth of 50mm

For a more in-depth look at batten requirements, you might want to check out this blog post.

SuperFOIL is an effective solution for practically any type of wall.

However, we recommend contacting our technical team to discuss your project plan, since the best approach to insulating each wall type can vary significantly. And, of course, you can check out our handy application guides to learn more.

Absolutely!

Our range of multifoils can be used externally, we would recommend our breathable products (such as SF19BB or SF40BB) for these projects. Our breathable products provide both insulation and a breather membrane in a single product, helping to reduce the overall size of the build up and further ensuring that moisture is able to pass through it as needed.

SFNC is a non-combustible insulation product, making it the only SuperFOIL product suitable for external cladding systems on buildings over 18m – and it does the job well!

In fact, SFNC has been used on multiple large scale projects – including the Royal Papworth Hospital.

When installed with the recommended air gaps, SF19+, SF40 & SF60 can all achieve or exceed the typically required, retrofit rating, of 0.30U on a wall with no other insulation required.

In fact, SF60 can even achieve the new build regulations of 0.18U in a wall with no other insulation – making it the only multifoil insulation on the market that is capable of doing so.

This will vary by product:

  • For SF6/19+/40/60, SFTV, SFTV FR & SFBA MP; it does not matter which way the product is placed.
  • For SF19BB and 40BB; the “dull” side facing towards the outside of your project.
  • For SFTV 1L; the non-reflective, white face should face the outside of the project
  • For SFBB; the silver/grey side should face the outside of the project
  • With SFUF; the clear, polyethylene layer should be placed facing away from the floor

SuperFOIL SFUF has been designed specifically for this purpose! The top layer of SFUF is made from polythene which protects the insulation from the screed.

Air spaces are a key element of a SuperFOIL installation plan for a simple reason: they enable the full benefits of our products’ radiant barrier properties. Through these properties, our products will add to the thermal value of these air spaces, increasing the overall thermal performance of your build-up.

The only exception to this is SFUF, which is not dependent on air gaps for its thermal performance.

When using SF6, SF19+, SF40 and SF60 there is no need to use a separate VCL. This is because the outer layers of these products are designed to be a high performance vapour barrier with a resistance of at least 1200MNs/g (and as high as 2500MNs/g).

When installed to recommendations, our product will vastly outperform the majority of standard VCL materials.

Yes! SuperFOIL products are safe to use with all underfloor heating systems, although some are better suited than others.

SFUF, in particular, would be our recommendation for this kind of application and if you are considering a project like this, then we recommend getting in touch with our technical team to plan the best approach.

Category General Questions

SuperFOIL is the leading manufacturer of multifoil insulation on the market. We have produced a large range of multifoil solutions – including the world’s highest performing multifoil insulation: SF60!

We have a wide range of distributors based over the UK, Ireland, and Europe, meaning that SuperFOIL is always available when you need it – and you can test the quality for yourself with our free sample!

SuperFOIL products have been rigorously tested (by certified third-party labs and notified bodies) to ensure they meet the high standards set out by UK Building Regulations: providing the reliable quality you need while also ensuring that your project clears regulations.

The wadding material used to manufacture our breathable and multifoil SuperFOIL products are produced from up to 40% recycled materials, namely plastic drinking bottles. This helps to reduce the amount of new, raw plastic materials being made.

On average, each roll of SuperFOIL SF19+ we manufacture contains 450 plastic bottles, a choice that prevents over 80 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfill each year! And speaking of landfills, SuperFOIL has committed itself to sending zero waste to landfills, which is yet another point in favour of our sustainability.

When installed according to recommendations, SuperFOIL products are more than capable of providing an airtight finish; allowing you to reduce your energy bills and rid yourself of pesky draughts.

The standard to which you insulate is determined by Building Regulations and will generally be expressed as a U-Value, which is a measure of heat change across an entire build-up (learn more about U-Values here).

Your Building Control Officer will be able to advise you of the U-values you’ll need to achieve (or you could just find out for yourself). Either way, once you know the U-value requirements for your project, our team of experts are on hand to help work out the best solution to fit the needs of your project.

Yes! SuperFOIL is a highly versatile product and can be used in combination with all other forms of insulation. What’s more, by adding SuperFOIL to the mix, you provide yourself with the myriad benefits that our products provide.

With the right approach, SuperFOIL products can be a highly effective addition to practically any insulation project. In a very real way, there is likely a SuperFOIL product to meet any need you may have.

What’s more, our technical team is always available to do the work of creating a recommended insulation strategy to meet your needs; and to meet your required Building Regulations too. All you need to do is ask.

Condensation has exactly one cause: warm, moist air meeting a cold surface.

When installed according to our recommendations, our products will help to ensure that those conditions are never met in your home (thanks to the inclusion of Vapour Controls as part of every SuperFOIL product), preventing condensation at the source!

If you’d like recommendations for your project, then our technical team would be more than happy to provide you with exactly that.

Yes! There are two primary reasons why SuperFOIL products can offer sound reduction benefits:

  1. When installing SuperFOIL you will be improving air tightness within the property which will help in reducing airborne noises.
  2. On top of this, the wadding insulation will help with reducing high frequency sounds.

It is highly unlikely that SuperFOIL products will significantly impact the quality of wireless signals in your home – and here’s why:

Many of the signals you use day-to-day are wired directly into your home and are wirelessly spread out from a hub (like your Wi-Fi router). Since these signals originate from within your home, and are unlikely to be blocked by your insulation.
What’s more, those signals that do need to enter your home from the outside – such as cellular signals – would still never be fully blocked, since openings like windows provide easy points of entry for these signals to enter your home.

If you do find yourself suffering from weak wireless signals, then we would recommend taking advantage of these openings and placing receivers – such as radio antennas – nearby, or even extending them entirely outside of your insulation envelope.

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