The safe and effective installation of insulation near recessed luminaries
Lighting
The safe and effective installation of insulation near recessed luminaries requires clearance. Recessed luminaires are usually installed in the ceilings and also walls or floors. They are installed in areas of closed vicinity to insulation. Recessed luminaires that require clearance can cause insulation to reduce performance (Liew, 1989). Reduction of production can is avoided by using recessed luminaires, which do not require consent. Surface-mounted luminaires are mainly installed under the ceiling also on walls. They do not project through part of the ceiling or the lining of the wall. Surface-mounted luminaires include ballasts, transformers, and drivers. Before installing insulation near independent controlgear in the ceiling, separate control gear identified. Independent controlgear include ballast. The manufacturer’s specification of the controlgear followed. The installation of insulation near fan/heat/light units requires the manufacturer’s specification. Where the specs are not available, there should be a minimum clearance of 100mm to the heat.
Walls
The particular consideration taken during the installation of insulation on walls includes; building consent, inspection on the wall, choosing the product of insulation, clearance for hot inbuilt appliances, condensation in unlined walls avoided, and steel-framed walls. Installing insulation in a wall underlay helps to protect the insulation from captivating water from the behind of the wall (aynakli, 2011). Exterior walls without wall underlay usually protected from the weather during and after the insulation. The protection ensures that proper insulations are dry and not damages. Insulation of loose-fill walls requires special consideration. The consideration includes; choice of insulation material, assessment of the building before the insulation, and building consent. Installation on the Mansory walls also requires protection from the weather before and after installation. Generally, the installation of insulation on the wall requires specifications from the manufacturer. In cases where particular specifications are not available, then clearance of 100mm should be observed during the installation of insulations.
Ceilings and roofs
There are special considerations required before installing insulations on the ceiling and roofs. They include inspection of the existing ceilings before installation, an inspection of the new ceilings, choice of a ceiling insulation product, an inspection of cold and hot water pipes, and insulation on ceiling spaces. The header tanks should not be damaged on ceiling spaces and ventilated cavities in the walls. Serious caution is taken where there is existing foil insulation. Recessed areas such as bathrooms and internal wardrobes should be insulated down walls and across (Mathews, 1999). The gaps between ceiling insulation and ceiling lining in the roof spaces should be blocked because they might lead to an air gap between the ceiling lining and the insulation. Insulation kept off the roofing and roof underlay. Insulation kept at least 50mm from any electrical equipment. After every installation of insulation is done and checked for any repairs of gaps.
Underfloor- suspended framed floors.
The existing and the new suspended floor is inspected before the installation of insulation. The specific consideration before installing insulation on the suspended floor includes; the choice of an underfloor product of insulation, subfloor spaces plumbing, and building a foundation on subfloors without enclosed perimeters. Following manufacturer’s instructions is one of the significant steps in installing blanket underfloor insulation. Installation of rigid sheet underfloor insulation under hanging floors without a closed perimeter requires fixing to support panels as indicated by the manufacturer. Semi-rigid underfloor insulation is classified into two categories. They include; semi-rigid underfloor insulation designed for a friction fit and semi-rigid friction fitted without fixings. The ones intended for friction fit are manufactured and developed for friction fitting on the joists (Callau, 2014). Installation of insulation on underfloor-suspended framed floors requires specification from the manufacturer. The specifications help in ensuring that no damages done during the installation of insulation.
References
Aynakli, O. (2011). Parametric investigation of optimum thermal insulation thickness for external walls. Energies, 913-927.
Callau, M. L. (2014). Exploring retrofit alternatives for State Houses in Southern New Zealand: an intensive monitoring process. Energy management, 654-658.
Liew, A. C. (1989). Excessive neutral currents in three-phase fluorescent lighting circuits. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 776-782.
Mathews, E. H. (1999). Estimating the electricity savings effect of ceiling insulation. Building and Environment, 505-514.