The performance of a thermal insulation for a building surface 6 (FIG. 1 ), subject to a thermal gradient emitting from the building interior, is enhanced by a neutral thermal gradient. For this purpose an electrical heating element 1 has means for releasing very low Wattages of thermal energy and is contained within an inner layer 4 and an outer layer 5 of thermal insulation. Adjusting the thermal efficiency of the insulation layers controls the magnitude of the thermal energy required to maintain the temperature of the element 1 at the equivalent temperature level to the building interior. The element 1 may be provided with a moisture controller and discharge sizeable quantities of thermal energy to dry moisture from the thermal insulation materials of the assembly.

Building incorporating a thermal insulation assembly and method of conserving energy

A bituminous composition is used as an adhesive binder. The bituminous composition has at least one acidic additive of general formula (I): R—(COOH)z in which R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon-based chain having from 4 to 68 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 54 carbon atoms, more preferentially from 4 to 36 carbon atoms and z is an integer ranging from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 4.

Use of a bituminous composition as an adhesive binder

The performance of thermal insulation for a building is enhanced by the use of an electrical heating element 1 which releases low wattages of thermal energy between the inner layer 3 and outer layer 2 of high efficiency thermal insulation. A thermostatic controller may be used to control the heating element at an equivalent temperature to the building interior. Also the efficiency of insulation with a tendency to absorb moisture may be enhanced in that the electrical heater dries out such moisture.

Thermal insulation assembly

Panel made from an insulating material designed to be adhesively bonded on to a building or a ship's hull, characterised in that an electrically conductive element (2) is arranged in relief on at least one of its faces (10).

Panel made from an insulating material designed to be adhesively bonded on to a building or a ship's hull

A stratified insulating material is formed by at least one sheet of cellular glass whereto is adhered at least one sheet of insulating material bonded with natural glues, made of cork or leather, or cork-leather, polystyrene, mortar based on cement and cork and/or leather, achieving a synergistic and intensified effect of the insulating properties thereof and improving any deficiencies of some of the elements, achieving an insulating panel which, furthermore, offers the lowest possible cost together with the best performance in various aspects such as thermal, acoustic insulation, impermeability, inalterability, stability, lightness, structural strength, incombustibility, resistance to acids, imputrescibility, rendering it particularly appropriate for covering facades, roofs, floors, etc.

Stratified reinforced insulating material made of cellular glass

A building panel designed to reduce condensation on the internal surfaces of buildings comprises, in sequence, a steel decking 10, an underlayer screed 11 of settable lightweight epoxy resin in which are embedded electrical surface heating cables 12, a layer of bitumen emulsion adhesive 15, a thermally insulating layer 16 of cellular glass insulation, a further layer 18 of bitumen emulsion adhesive, a load-spreading layer 19 of expanded metal and a surface deck screed 20. The heating cables 12 maintain the steel decking 10 a sufficient temperature to inhibit condensation. The panel can be used as a roof surface which can also be used for work and the storage of equipment. Versions of the panel without some of the strengthening layers may be used for walls and roofs where less structural strength is necessary.

Armstrong Brendan

Papers

Heated building panel