Frequently Asked Questions

I am building a new house, can I use silver bonded bead in the cavity?
Yes you can. It is a full fill system accepted by the IAB and meets current building regulations.

 

Is it better than the conventional method of installing insulation sheets?
Yes, because you or your engineer can inspect the cavity during the building process. You will have a cleaner cavity and the builder can keep the wall ties clean.

 

Will a full fill system cause dampness?
No. Between each bead there is a small space for water to drain down through the beads naturally. Polystyrene does not soak water. E.g. Meat and chicken are always stored on polystyrene trays in supermarkets. Polystyrene cups are used for tea, coffee etc.

 

Is bonded bead a good insulator?
Yes. Imagine a cup made of polystyrene full of piping hot coffee. You can still hold the outside of the cup and not burn your hand yet the thin wall of the cup is holding the heat of the coffee inside. Just remember the cup is only 3mm thick yet your cavity is approximately 100mm thick.

 

Can I get a reduction in price on my builders labour costs for not installing the traditional insulation sheets?
Yes. By installing sheets it slows the builder up by 8-12%. He has to clean the wall ties, cut and fit the sheets and then clip it in. On an average eight hour day it takes the builder half an hour to one hour a day to put in insulation sheets correctly. That equals to 8-12% of an eight hour day.

 

Would a builder prefer not to install insulation sheets during the building process?
Yes. He will have a faster building program.

 

Is bonded bead cheaper than insulation sheets?
Yes. Remember:

  • Sheet purchase price
  • Builder costs (labour)
  • Wastage
  • Damage
  • Site storage
  • Badly fitted sheets
  • Sheets not fitted at all

Add up all these facts and you will find bonded bead is the safest choice over installing insulation sheets.

Will I see holes in the plaster of the house?
On an existing dwelling we try to match the mortar as best we can. The holes are the size of a two euro coin. On a new build we drill and fill from the inside prior to the inside being plastered. Roof and windows to be fitted before filling.

 

White Polystyrene bonded bead has been used for the last 25-30 years or so. It is now being replaced with super silver bonded bead. Why?
The white bead does not meet the strict new building regulations. The now required U value of .27 is achieved with super silver bonded bead. Super silver bead is 20% more efficient than that of white bead. It also has a fire retardant added to it.

 

Do I have to insulate my gable-end peaks?
If you have living accommodation in the attic space the answer is yes. If there is no living accommodation in the attic space the answer is no. The advantage bonded bead has over fibre is that fibre has to be brought to the top of the peak (ridge tile) even if there is no living accommodation in the attic space while the bonded bead system does not.

 

Does bead have any more advantages over insulation sheets?
Badly fitted insulation sheets can become loose or fall down a cavity causing a bridge from the outside leaf to the inner leaf. As a result of this it causes dampness on the inside wall (decorative side) which will result in costly repairs.

 

My Architect / Engineer says my cavity is 100mm. Can I use super silver bonded bead and meet the current building regulations?
Yes. 100mm cavity equals .27U value (current building regulations) see U value chart.