What should we use to insulate the new roof? This question was aired in the summer of 1982. Please excuse the pun but in this phase of building it is a serious matter.
That itchy stuff? Another of those materials that couldn’t make up for the energy used (wasted?) in its manufacture in a hundred years?
There must be other alternatives.....
isofloc. Cellulose thermal insulation
In 2008, isofloc celebrated its 25th anniversary.
It’s time to (once again) take a look at its history. It is a moving story of environmental changes and people and materials that have changed our environment.
During this period, isofloc made a significant contribution in influencing the energy efficiency and improving the quality of buildings. Read on to find out how!
The roof is off – now what?
Wood shavings direct from the sawmill or carpenter
No sooner said than it’s done! It sounds like a good idea – get the shavings sprinkle them with an impregnating solution and that’s it. It proved however to be far more work that expected and has the disadvantage of very long drying-out periods. There must be a better way.
Paper? The material of your dreams
has all the properties that an insulation needs!
What was that trick that the homeless use? What do motor-bike riders do on long, cold journeys? What does one do when your shoes get wet? How do you transport a bottle of hot water and still keep it warm? Right – you use a few sheets of newspaper! It is so cheap and versatile:
- Use it as a cover to keep yourself warm
- Use it as a wrapping to keep the hot things warm or cold things cold
- Use it to stuff shoes so that they dry out quicker
- Newspaper wrapped around your chest is an effective barrier against the rushing wind – as any biker knows.
Those few examples show what makes a good insulation:
- Retain the warmth in the winter
- Keep the building cool in the summer
- Regulate moisture
- Hinder draughts
- A low energy requirement in the manufacture - to provide an appropriate (environmentally-relevant) energy balance
Our research continues…
…to see if the wheel really has been invented?
Cellulose fiber insulation 1927-75
Walls of the Farm House
Wall opened for Sample viewing
A friend’s discovery kicked things off: the mechanical milling of newspaper is possible! Our research quickly showed (even without the internet :-)) that, even as early as the beginning of the 20th century, cellulose/newspaper was used in Scandinavia as thermal and acoustic insulation. Since the 1930’s, the use of blown-in cellulose insulation has developed in North America into an ecological, technical and economic alternative to conventional insulation materials.
A factory building including the production machinery was purchased
Now we could get started –
Production machinery was bought and we moved into a building in the old munitions factory in Hirschhagen.
It was just as important at the start as it is today to ensure that only selected and graded raw materials are used – therefore all our paper deliveries are sorted by hand and all the types of paper that do meet our specifications are removed.
The raw materials (paper) were delivered at one end of the building and then loaded on to trucks and even directly on to freight trains at the other end ensuring an efficient, straight-through process.
The works dog watched over the whole process and even the tracks....
….and of course we needed a catalogue
Results won’t be (quite so) good without advertising materials and so we produced, printed and distributed a product catalogue. We also attended trade shows and fairs and exhibited our products.
Who still remembers the first of the many publications we’ve produced over the years?
Back in 1983, we even started on our Planning Handbook which has now enjoys a high level of recognition! High quality right from the start – it’s proved its worth!
Oh yes – we needed to find a name for our new baby. One night (and a few intense discussions) later we had the answer:
isofloc®
We are still working on this article! If you want to keep informed about its progress, bookmark this page and save the link. You will be able to find it again with one click!
In summer or winter:
We’re constantly on the move for you and always ready to take your calls
isofloc has its own fleet of around one hundred container trailers and is therefore able to meet the demands of today’s logistical challenges.
Our high product quality is ensured through the exclusive use of clean, dry newspaper and borates with the highest purity levels. No fumes or waste water are produced in the manufacturing process.
Our slogan says it all:
isofloc® - the insulation professionals
Saving CO2
How thick should the insulating layer be?
As basic rule is: As thick as possible! This has less to do with the fact that we want to sell as much insulation as possible (naturally we are in business to sell insulation :-) ), but rather with the fact that over the years the recommendations for the optimum insulation thickness are continually being revised. This is because of
- the ever increasing price of energy
- and the associated rise in running costs for tenants
Therefore, such statements as “10cm are absolutely fine” are completely insufficient.
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Contact us:
Write or call.
Address:
isofloc Wärmedämmtechnik GmbH
Am Fieseler Werk 3
34253 Lohfelden
Germany
Telephone:
(+49) (0)561 - 951 72 - 0
Hotline:
(+49) (0)561 - 951 72 - 33