Benefit: Indoor Air Quality
Facilitating Good Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air inside a building and how it affects the health, comfort, and wellbeing of occupants. It encompasses various factors, including the concentration of pollutants, humidity levels, temperature and ventilation.
Across Fletcher Insulation’s range of quality insulation, our products contribute to healthy and comfortable indoor air quality, directly and indirectly:
No harmful levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
It’s a simple but important statement: Fletcher Insulation products have been rigorously tested to Australian Standards showing they don’t contain harmful levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are organic chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air, contributing to indoor air pollution. Materials that release unacceptable levels of VOCs can lead to poor indoor air quality, which may result in various health issues, such as respiratory irritation, headaches, and allergic reactions.
Temperature regulation
Insulation helps regulate indoor temperatures by minimising the transfer of heat between the interior and exterior of a building. This means that in hot weather, insulation plays a significant role in maintaining a cooler indoor environment, and in cold weather, in retaining heat. Fletcher Insulation’s high quality glasswool insulation and thermal building membranes play a significant role in maintaining indoor temperatures and reducing demand on HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning (systems).
Condensation management
Condensation refers specifically to the process of water vapour changing its state to liquid water. This occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a surface that is cooler than the dew point of the air. The water vapour in the air then condenses into liquid water on the cooler surface. Condensation can lead to the growth of mould on indoor surfaces and in the building envelope. Exposure to mould fragments, spores and mycotoxins can lead to adverse health effects including infections, toxicity, allergies and inflammation.
Our quality building membranes (wall wraps and roof sarkings) are tested to Australian Standards for water and water vapour control which assists with condensation management in differing ways depending on the climate, building application and specific project requirements. Further, we provide comprehensive documentation and technical support to assist owner-builders, architects, building designers, specifiers and builders in selecting the correct building membrane solutions across all types of habitable buildings.
Humidity control
Humidity specifically refers to the amount of water vapour present in the air, affecting how comfortable we feel. The combination of glasswool insulation and building membranes is crucial for a comprehensive approach to humidity control. Glasswool insulation contributes to temperature regulation, indirectly influencing humidity, while building membranes, depending on their type, assist in managing moisture by allowing or restricting the movement of water vapour through the building envelope. At Fletcher Insulation, we provide leading edge expertise and a comprehensive product range to help architects, specifiers, builders and building owners to develop optimal insulation solutions.
Protection from outside pollutants
Building membranes (wall wraps and roof sarkings), along with the proper sealing of windows and doors, can help prevent outdoor pollutants (like pollen, dust, and pollutants from vehicles) from entering the indoor environment. They are an important element of the construction process as they protect the structure, keeping the elements out, and are design to continue to perform once the build is completed, contributing to a healthier indoor air quality. Our walls wraps and roof sarkings solutions undergo rigorous testing to meet Australian Standards to ensure optimal performance for different building applications.
Supporting healthy CO2 levels
While insulation itself doesn’t allow fresh air to enter, it is often part of a broader strategy that includes ventilation systems to ensure a healthy indoor environment. Our high quality thermal insulation helps retain the desired indoor temperature. This allows ventilation systems to operate effectively without unnecessary strain, optimising the exchange of indoor and outdoor air and minimising CO2 buildup. The right insulation and ventilation are essential for creating healthy and comfortable living, working and learning spaces.
We at Fletcher Insulation are passionate about providing insulation solutions for healthy and comfortable living, working, learning and healing spaces.
Our expert Technical team can assist you in selecting the best insulation solutions to help optimise indoor air quality for your building project.
To find out more about insulation’s role in indoor air quality, explore Building Solutions.
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