Summer Heat Protection

Environmentally friendly building

materials from renewable sources

Healthy living

Heat out,
healthy living in.
How STEICO insulations can help you
enjoy hot summer days inside, without
the need for additional ventilation or
air-conditioning.

engineered by nature
 Summer heat protection
Entwicklung der STEICO-Aktie (Schlusskurse in €)

Healthy living under extreme conditions 14

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10
STEICO AG
As nice as the summer is: we all feel uncomfortable at tropical internal
18 temperatures.
STEICO insulations ensure that on hot days the internal climate of your home remains
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comfortable – without expensive air-conditioning.
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Our climate is changing, that is certain. The number of so called “tropical

days” with temperatures over 30 °C, have quadrupled in the past 2 decades. Average Daily Temperature
10°
It’s understandable therefore, that new builds and renovations are increasingly
including for summer heat protection. After all, who wants to live in Sauna 9°
like temperatures? With specialist construction and informed material choice
it is possible to create a healthy and comfortable indoor climate – in a totally 8°

natural way.
7°

An important starting point should be to address the fabric of the building,

namely the walls and roofs. This is where STEICO insulations can make sure that
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25

50

75

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the heat stays out – especially in attic rooms.

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Values Trend

2 Summer heat protection

 Summer heat protection

On a global scale more energy is used

keeping buildings cool than there is used on Suitable
heating them. The solution can be so simple. all year round
With natural wood fibre insulations from STEICO insulations save
STEICO you can save on an expensive air-
energy and heating
conditioning unit as well as saving on heating
costs in the winter. costs in winter. The
same insulations prevent
overheating in summer.
Noise is also absorbed
effectively.

Thermal diffusivity:
The key to summer heat protection
Attic rooms are particularly susceptible The correct choice of insulation is vital to the effectiveness of a particular
to increased temperatures in the construction. Essential for effective summer heat protection are insulations
summer months. This is due, not only which show a very slow temperature transfer time, or put another way, as low
to unsuitable insulations, but often to as possible thermal diffusivity. As well as offering high thermal insulation, these
a low thermal storage capacity of the are materials that offer a low thermal conductivity as well as a high density and
building structure. In simple terms: high specific heat capacity. Denser materials such as steel for example, are poor
Most constructions cannot resist the insulators as they have a high thermal conductivity. STEICO insulations have an
influx of heat during the summer ideal ratio of low thermal conductivity and a combination of high density and
months. The heat has a more or less high specific heat capacity and therefore produce a very low thermal diffusivity.
unhindered path into the building.

The solution is to utilise building Thermal diffusivity a = Thermal conductivity λ cm2

materials with a high thermal storage Density ρ x Specific heat capacity c h

capacity – such as STEICO insulations. Thermal Specific heat Thermal

Density
In the hot midday and early afternoon Material conductivity capacity diffusivity a
[kg/ m3]
[W/ (m*  K)] J/ (kg * K)] cm2/h
hours they absorb the heat and act
Spruce, pine, fir  600 0.13 2500    3
as a “buffer” delaying the heats
progress. If this heat is stored and STEICOuniversal
 270 0.048 2100    3
sarking and sheathing board
released over a specific time frame it
STEICOprotect H
can become a positive heat influx in external thermal insulation
 265 0.048 2100    3
the cooler evening temperatures.
STEICOspecial dry
 140 0.040 2100    5
renovation boards
There are also additional measures STEICOtherm
 160 0.038 2100    4
that can improve summer heat rigid insulation
protection: Shuttering of window STEICOtop
 140 0.040 2100    5
areas or a different air circulation insulation for attic floors
method can make a difference. STEICOflex
  50 0.038 2100   13
flexible insulation from wood
Together with the high thermal
storage capacity of STEICO insulations Brickwork 1800 0.8 1000   16

even attic rooms can have a healthy Reinforced concrete 2200 1.4 1050   22
and comfortable climate. Polystyrene   40 0.040 1380   26
Polyurethane foam   30 0.030 1380   26
Glaswool   30 0.035  800   53
Steel 7800 58  600  446
Aluminium 2700 200  921 2895

Summer heat protection 3

 The facts explained

Amplitude dampening and

Example of a roof construction with
an amplitude dampening of 10 and a
phase shifting
phaseshift of 12 hrs.
Amplitude dampening and
External temperature trend Phase shifting are as vital
40°C
40°C
for summer heat protection
as the U value is for thermal
30°C
insulation in winter.
Amplitude dampening shows
20°C
the strength with which the
10°C
10°C
Internal temperature trend
temperature penetration is
8:00 14:00 20:00 2:00 8:00
40°C
reduced. The phase shift
shows, by how many hours,
30°C
the penetration of the
maximum temperature is
20°C 21°C
18°C delayed.
10°C
0:00 2:00 8:00 14:00 20:00

Amplitude dampening (1 / TAV) is based on the relationship

of fluctuations between the external and internal
temperatures. For example if the outside temperature
fluctuates between 10 and 40 o C and the inside
temperature fluctuates between 18 and 21 o C then the
external change is 30K (Kelvin) and the internal change
is 3K. The relationship of amplitude dampening in this
instance is therefore 10 ( =  30 K  / 3 K).
Roof construction comparisons In other words the temperature fluctuation through
Roof 1 with mineral fibre insulation the fabric of the building has been dampened from the
A SS W O OL OO D FI B RE • Tiles external to internal side by a factor of 10.
GL W
• Tile batten
• Counter batten
7 Std.
• Felt
Phase shifting is the time span between the highest
12 Std.
• Mineral fibre external temperature and the highest internal temperature.
 200 mm In the above example this is the 12 hours between 14:00 hrs
• U  =  0,17 W / m2*K • Vapour barrier and 02:00 hrs. The aim of summer heat protection is to
• 1 /  TAV  =  6 • Mineral fibre
• Phase shift = 7 hrs  40 mm
delay the heat transfer through the fabric of the building so
• Plasterboard that the high midday temperatures only reach the internal
 12 mm side when it is already cooler outside and hence reduce the
need for additional artificial heating during those periods.
Roof 2 with wood fibre insulation In ideal circumstances a phase shift value of 10 hrs should
STEICOflex try to be achieved. A portion of the stored thermal energy
of the building fabric is then automatically transferred to
OL OO D FI B RE
W • Tiles the external side. This ensures that the internal temperature
• Tile batten fluctuations are much less than those on the external side.
d. • Counter batten
12 Std.
• Felt
• STEICOflex
 200 mm
• U  =  0,18 W / m2*K
• Vapour barrier
• 1 /  TAV  =  12
• STEICOflex
• Phase shift = 12 hrs
 40 mm
• Plasterboard
 12 mm

4 Summer heat protection

 Summer heat protection

The facts explained

It is particularly important to consider Ideally an Amplitude Dampening This is considered far too hot for
Amplitude Dampening and Phase Shift value of 10 (TAV 10 %) and a minimum comfortable sleeping conditions. The
in roof areas. The ratio of external Phase Shift value of 10hrs is what external temperature at this time is
surface to room volume is very high, should be achieved. With an external also 29 °C so there is no rest bite if
so Attic Rooms have a high area for temperature of 35 °C and a possible you try to cool the room by opening
potential temperature transfer. temperature under the roof covering the windows.
of 80 °C, it is important to ensure that
The areas directly under the roof the influence this temperature has on If you swap the mineral fibre for
coverings can get very hot in summer the internal climate is delayed through STEICOflex wood fibre insulation the
(up to 80 °C) and this leads to Amplitude Dampening and Phase situation changes dramatically. The
increased heat in the rooms below. As Shifting. insulations have the same thermal
many roof constructions have a very conductivity but a density of 50 kg/
low thermal storage mass, they are In these hot summer conditions m3 which increases the thermal
particularly suitable for the installation you can get very different results storage mass by 5 times, due to its
of natural insulations from STEICO. using various insulation materials. improved thermal storage capacity.
If you compare 2 roofs, which both In this scenario the Amplitude
With the exception of the roof have a U value of 0.18 W / (m2*K), Dampening rises to 12 and the
cladding and the internal plasterboard utilising mineral wool with a thermal Phase Shift to 11:00 hrs. This results
the thermal mass of the roof conductivity of 0.035 and a density in an internal temperature of only
construction is entirely reliant on 20 kg / m3 you achieve an Amplitude 21 °C at 01:00 hrs. If this is still too
the insulation. It is therefore vital for Dampening of 6 and a Phase Shift uncomfortable then opening the
Amplitude Dampening and Phase Shift of 6.8 hrs. This results in an internal windows will cool the building as the
that insulation with a low thermal temperature under the roof of 29 °C external temperature at that time is
diffusivity is utilised. at 20:00 hrs. only 15 °C.
LIGHT_4

Daily temperature profile

Daily temperature profile DailyDaily temperature

Temperature profile
profile with with
various insulations
LIGHT_1
various insulations LIGHT_1

80
LIGHT_3

70 35 LIGHT_3

Temperature under
30
60
Temperature in ∞C

roof covering
Temperature in °C

50 25
LIGHT_7

40 20
LIGHT_7

15
LIGHT_6
LIGHT_5

30 External temperature
LIGHT_6
LIGHT_5

20 10

10 5
LIGHT_0 LIGHT_2

LIGHT_0

LIGHT_2

0 0

8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00 4:00 8:00 Time 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00 4:00 8:00 Time

Temperature under the roof covering External Temperature

External temperature Internal room temperature with mineral wool
Internal room temperature with wood fibre insulation

With an external temperature fluctuation between 35 °C With STEICO wood fibre insulations the highs and lows
at 14:00 hrs and 15 °C at 02:00 hrs the temperature under of temperature fluctuations are reduced, resulting in a
the roof covering can reach 80 °C, reducing to a minimum comfortable and healthy internal climate all day long.
of 15 °C at night.

Summer heat protection 5

 Summary

The facts don’t lie:

STEICO works
That temperature behaves this way and has a direct influence
on the comfort and health of internal climates is apparent in
the research of Professor Hauser, one of the founding fathers of
German energy efficiency. Using the example of a one bedroom
house we are able to reduce the “uncomfortable hours” by
swapping the mineral wool for wood fibre insulation by almost
50 %. To put it simply, one sweats a lot less. With the use of
wood fibre sheathing boards with a density of 150 kg/m3 the
“uncomfortable hours” compared to mineral wool insulations
can be reduced by 60 or even 75 %. The climate sensitive nature
of STEICO wood fibre insulations ensure an efficient and cost
effective solution both in winter and summer and help to maintain
a comfortable and healthy environment.

350
Mineralwool 15 kg/m3 Attic room1 The results speak for themselves: The
300
307
higher the thermal storage capacity of
Attic room 2
Wood fibre insulation 45 kg/m3 an insulating material the better the
250 Attic room
bedroom results.
200
180
“Uncomfortable hours” – the time
175
Wood fibre insulation 150 kg/m3 in which we feel uncomfortable on
Uncomfortable hours

150
174 account of the heat. STEICO wood fibre
108
100 insulations provide an excellent solution.
100

97 59
50
52
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600

Thermal storage capacity KJ/(m3*K)

6 Summer heat protection

 Summer heat protection

Summary

Heat protection in hindsight

What is, hopefully, taken as state of the art in new builds, is often
difficult to incorporate in renovations. But, this is also an area that
STEICO offers an excellent solution.

Roof renovation Roof renovation

from outside from inside Wall renovation

The ideal solution when the internal With this solution the weather A long lasting external wall
room finishes cannot be disturbed. tightness of the structure is not renovation with many benefits –
affected and there is no need for including summer heat protection as
After the removal of the roof scaffolding. an added bonus.
coverings, the rafter voids can be
filled with a flexible insulation like Once the internal finishes are removed The main advantage over traditional
STEICOflex. To maximize the efficiency the rafter voids can be filled with polystyrene cladding systems: Thermal
of the construction a rigid insulation STEICOflex. To maximize the insulation storage capacity actively assists the
such as STEICOspecial can then be the rafters can then be cross battened build up of algae on external surfaces.
fixed on top, directly to the rafters. and additional insulation can be Using this system, building elevations
This board is hydrophobic and incorporated. This void area can then cool down much slower during the
therefore offers 3 additional types of also be utilized for additional services night, so air moisture is much less
protection: additional rain protection, such as electric cables. likely to settle as condensation on the
air tightness, and insulation. surface, thereby removing the habitat
of algae.

Example: Example: Example:

With 160 mm STEICOflex and 60 mm With a total of 160 mm With 100 mm STEICOflex and 60 mm
STEICOspecial: STEICOflex: STEICOprotect:

U value = 0.20 W/m2*K U value = 0.24 W/m2*K U = 0.24 W/m2*K

Phase shift: 14,4 hrs Phase shift: 9,8 hrs Phase shift: 22,0 hrs

More information on construction details is available on our website at www.steico.co.uk

Summer heat protection 7

We spend approx. 80 % of our lives in STEICO insulation and construction
enclosed rooms. But are we always materials, carry a number of
aware what we are surrounding distinguished ‘seals of approval’
ourselves with? STEICO has which is a sign of high quality,
set itself the target of healthy and functional building
developing building products. The raw materials used in
products which consider STEICO products are certified by
the needs of both man FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®)
and nature. Our products and PEFC® (Programme for the
are therefore produced Endorsement of Forest Certification®),
using sustainable natural ensuring a traceable and fully
materials. They help reduce sustainable usage of the raw materials.
energy use and add considerably to STEICO, the number 1 choice for your
a natural healthy internal climate. sustainable building solutions.

Natural insulation and construction systems for

new builds and renovations – roof, ceiling, wall and floor

Printed on FSC® certified paper. Date 02/2019. The current valid version applies. Valid to subsequent revisions.
Renewable Excellent Excellent Energy

$
raw materials cold summer saving
without protection heat and increased
harmful in winter protection property
additives worth

Weather Excellent Excellent Environmentally

tight Fire sound friendly
and Protection protection and
breathable recyclable

Light Insulation Strong Compatible

and easy for healthy quality insulation and
to handle living control structural
building
systems

Quality
Management
European Technical Approval ETA-06/0238
ISO 9001:2015

Your STEICO Partner

www.steico.com

engineered by nature