Celotex News!

Here you can watch a video on Nottingham City Homes, a huge social housing refurbishment project where Celotex PL4000 is used in the solid internal walls. Also featured is a Celotex PL4000 installation video, showcasing the 4 different ways you can install Celotex PL4000 from dot and dab to direct fix. To take a look at these videos please click here.

A number of very relieved soles (mainly wives) were pleased to reach the final 'shave-off', although the experience clearly converted a few permanent 'tache' wearers.

We would like to thank all of you who supported us during the event.  It was especially pleasing to see such support from friends, family, industry peers and indeed our competitors.  Clearly Richard left a lasting and positive memory with the many people he came in to contact with.

Donations can still be made by visiting our tribute fund.  Once again thank you for your generous support and contributions.

If you would like to make a donation please click here

The Government's new flagship carbon reduction programme Green Deal is set to hit the ground running in 2012 with a view to improving the thermal efficiency of over 14 million homes across the UK. Faced with spiraling global energy prices, home and business owners will be able to benefit from Green Deal thermal efficiency upgrades without sacrificing space. Adopting a ‘fabric first' approach to refurbishment will significantly reduce heat loss and make energy efficiency achievable.

Comprising solutions for floors, walls and roofs, Celotex is recognised as an industry leader in rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation with its products offering some of the highest performing rigid board insulation solutions from the minimum thickness of material. Future proofing the energy performance of a building can be easily achieved though market leading products such as Celotex FR5000 which can offer the specifier exceptional U-values through the thinnest of solutions.

Celotex' product range also offers the installer maximum flexibility and is ideal for internal and external refurbishment projects where speed of installation and long term energy savings are of paramount importance. The high performance internal solutions have the PIR insulation bonded to the plasterboard and is available in an ultra thin profile to minimise space lost. Celotex PL4000 is the perfect solution for refurbishment projects where little or no insulation exists.

For a company that knows insulation inside and out, it is only fitting that Celotex should now offer external as well as internal insulation solutions. Insulating to the outside of the building is a refurbishment solution which also allows internal space to be maintained and maximised. This can be achieved with thin solutions such as Celotex' new external direct render solution Celotex SW3000 to help meet the Building Regulation targets.

Celotex products offer a thermal performance as low as 0.021 W/mK, making them up to 100% more efficient than glass wool. With products ranging from just 12mm thick through to a mighty 200mm, Celotex provides the widest range of PIR thermal insulation on the market. Selected products have OFGEM approval as well as Energy Savings Trust (EST) recommendations, the first PIR manufacturer to be recognised for this.

‘Following the introduction of the Green Deal in 2012, the market for insulation refurbishment solutions will grow significantly but with this comes the challenge of performance and versatility of product,' commented Paul Evans, Product Manager at Celotex. ‘We are able to offer a range of solutions for contractors, specifiers and end users that tackle the challenges of refurbishment head on. Our products will significantly raise the energy efficiency of existing buildings but not at the expense of space.'

Offering so many desirable properties across its range - thinness, light weight, high strength, fast installation, moisture resistance, thermal performance, A+ Green Guide rating and Class O fire resistance - it is clear to see why Celotex is the most specified PIR insulation on the market .

With the Green Deal set to become the biggest home improvement campaign since the Second World War, market leader Celotex has the range of PIR solutions that will revolutionise the energy efficiency of British homes.

Richard Crisp was fatally injured in a road traffic accident on the 23rd December 2010. Employed as Sales Director for some 6 years, this tragic loss touched colleagues, friends, customers and competitors alike throughout the insulation industry.

To celebrate his memory we are commemorating his legendary moustache by creating our very own charity event 'Tache-cember'. Commencing on 1st December we are looking to raise £1000 for Celotex' nominated charity, St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, which offers palliative care and aims to improve the life for people living with a progressive illness.

If you would like to make a donation please click here

The feature focuses on how products allow specifier's achieve excellent thermal performance whilst maintaining architectural intent. To read the full article please click here.

We would also like to know your views on the subject matter, so if you could spare a couple of minutes to answer a short survey you could be in with a chance of winning dinner for 2 at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant of your choice. To take part please click here.

This approval involves an annual verification by the BRE of the areas which have the greatest impact on our environmental performance. Celotex is pleased to announce that they have been successfully verified by the BRE for a further 12 months. Our A+ rating includes our premium solutions FR5000 and CG5000. For the latest information on Celotex' sustainability position, please download our Sustainability brochure or click here.

Anticipated to be completed in early 2012 this facility will enable us to realise our growth ambitions and will allow us the ability to continue to invest in enhancing our service levels to our customers.

Follow us for all the latest news from the Insulation Specialists. Recent daily tweets have included Celotex' recent appointment onto the CPA Green Deal Team as well as information on our new FR5000 range and there's lots more in store including progress on Green Deal and 2013 Building Regulations. We look forward to you following us at @Celotex

Specially developed by Celotex' team of experienced scientists and technicians, the foil faced polyisocyanurate (PIR) FR5000 board reinforces the company's position as the leading product developer within the PIR sector. Over 100% more thermally efficient than many mineral fibre products and up to 10% better than typical PIR, FR5000 has been developed specifically for use in pitched roofs, floors and walls to meet the increasing demands of specifiers who require unparalleled product performance.

The newly achieved 0.021 W/mK lambda value means that FR5000 can now offer even better U-values. This will allow specifiers to opt for thinner insulation solutions to meet these requirements, improving useable space and simultaneously reducing material costs. Likewise, for schemes where the utmost degree of insulation is required, enhanced targets can be met with minimal profile thickness.

As premium performance PIR insulation, FR5000 is not affected when exposed to moisture, unlike phenolic and mineral wool based insulations which can have a significant effect on their thermal performance. Also, FR5000 is substantially lighter than these types of products leading to ease of on-site handling and less weight of any waste material to dispose of.

In addition to exceptional thermal performance, FR5000 offers a Class O fire rating; the first PIR board with this accreditation. The classification applies across the entire product, not just the foam core. This means that users can rest assured that they are being protected by high performance insulation with proven fire safety.

"We are delighted that the FR5000 series has achieved the lowest ever lambda value for Celotex PIR insulation," said Paul Evans, Product Manager for Celotex. "At Celotex, we are always striving to develop the best products, so that contractors, architects and specifiers have access to the best materials for their projects and the new lambda value is testament to this ongoing commitment."

"Celotex FR5000 enables the specifier to achieve better U-values and thinner solutions.  Unlike other insulants such as phenolic which suffer variable performance, our consistent lambda of 0.021 Wm/K across all our thicknesses makes the specification choice much simpler. The outstanding achievement perfectly demonstrates the company's dedication to innovation. "

Celotex prides itself on staying at the forefront of insulation technology to offer specifiers and installers the most versatile and efficient products. FR5000 joins Celotex' premium range of thermal performance insulation that includes CG5000, specifically designed for use in partial cavity walls, and SL5000, combining premium performance PIR insulation bonded to 6mm calcium silicate for use in concrete soffit floors.

Now with its premium solution offering, FR5000 can deliver exceptional levels of thermal performance that make it ideal for even the most challenging construction projects, helping to achieve modern building regulations for the reduction of carbon emissions and outstanding standards of energy efficiency.

An Accredited Construction Details scheme for thermal bridging details was supposed to be in place when Part L 2010 came into force on October 1st 2010. The idea behind the scheme is to increase compliance with the Building Regulations by ensuring that thermal bridging details:

• Are assessed in the correct way using thermal modelling software
• Can actually be constructed in reality on site
• Are subject to a quality assurance and checking scheme to boost compliance

The meeting was lively and the opportunity to put forward the views of the manufacturers, trade associations, insurance bodies, local authority building control and SAP providers, was welcomed by all.

Part L 2013 Non Domestic Working Group

Celotex represented three trade associations at this meeting:

• BRUFMA British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturers Association
• EPFA European Phenolic Foam Association
• BPF British Plastics Federation

This Industry Working group was set up by the CLG to look at Non-Domestic Standards and Calculation Methods. The aim is to make further improvements to the energy performance of buildings to contribute to the UK's commitment to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.

The group has been tasked with looking at the measures needed to further improve the buildings in the non domestic sector over the standards currently in place under Part L 2010 and to set a suitable level for 2013 that will take them smoothly towards the targets for Zero Carbon new non domestic buildings in 2019.

Discussion was intense and the group has two further meetings to decide on its recommendations for the shape of the targets for Part L 2013 for the non-domestic sector.

Rob Warren, Celotex Technical Manager states "Working inside government will help us understand first hand the opportunities presented by Green Deal and offers the opportunity to shape this critical policy enabling the insulation industry to maximise the benefits."

Celotex is the work stream manager for The Green Deal Team tasked with offering assistance to the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH) with their recent Call for Evidence. The group was developed on behalf of DECC and is looking at evidence for the costs and benefits of energy efficiency measures that may be relevant to the Green Deal.

The Green Deal policy is designed to help transform the energy efficiency of existing buildings both domestic and non-domestic and will replace the current CERT scheme in 2012. Celotex is happy to be able to have the opportunity to assist the CPA and Government in developing this vital CO2 reduction policy.

Green Deal will provide homeowners and landlords the opportunity to install energy efficient improvements without financing the measures beforehand. Instead, an up-front loan is available which is then paid back through the savings on their energy bill. The loan is assigned to the property rather than the owner meaning it stays with the property if the home is sold.

Green Deal will run from 2013 and forms the next carbon reduction initiative to deliver an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. Following on from the already established CERT and CESP programmes, up to 26 million UK homes will have the opportunity to improve the energy performance of their home. Businesses will also be able to take advantage and through the Energy Company Obligation energy efficiency measures to priority groups including those in areas of fuel poverty will remain available.

A fundamental part of Green Deal's success relies on the adoption of high energy efficient insulation measures. Solid wall insulation be it external or internal or even a combination of the two, will be one of the most effective measures to improve a building's fabric.

Green Deal represents a significant opportunity for the insulation and construction industry. Product manufacturers, system designers, contractors, installers and resellers will all have the chance to benefit from its introduction.

Celotex is playing a leading role in the Green Deal representing the insulation industry through its membership to the National Insulation Association. Celotex sits on various Green Deal working groups where insulation standards and performance are agreed before being submitted to government for approval.

For the latest news on Green Deal please click here

Those working on existing buildings have been swift to adopt the new elemental U-values, typically a 10% improvement over 2006 levels. However the new build sectors have been slower to react.

Transitional arrangements allow new build to continue to use the old 2006 guidance as long as planning criteria are met and work starts before 1st October 2011. Therefore wider implementation of the new Part L requirements is expected towards the latter half of 2011.

The typical new dwelling U-values required for compliance will need to be 40% better than the stated limiting fabric U-values. This gives the 25% reduction in CO2 required but typically requires 45% more insulation than that needed previously to comply with Part L 2006.

Awareness of the implications of the Part L 2010 was slow at its initial introduction but general questions about Part L have now been replaced by more specific insulation enquiries.

The importance of taking a fabric first approach to compliance through insulation is being widely recognised. The rise in enquiries to the Celotex Technical Centre since October of 30% shows the increasing commercial relevance and awareness of the role that high performance PIR insulation can play in helping to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve compliance with Part L 2010.