Brits Automative Systems – ThermocousTex [ECG] – [Cat.1 – Manufactured]
Overview:
Thermal and acoustic polyester insulation batts and ceiling panels made with recycled polyester and/ or kenaf, a renewable plant fibre. Suitable for residential, commercial and industrial insulation applications.
Product Description:
ThermocousTex products are thermally bonded bulk-fibre and board thermal and acoustic insulation products for ceilings, walls and floors. Product is produced using mix of virgin and recycled polyester fibre, or kenaf.
Insulation is manufactured with 50-75% recycled polyester fibre from PET plastic, and is recyclable at end of life. Alternatively, insulation can be manufactured using kenaf, rapidly renewable plant fibre similar to jute and hemp. Recycled polyester content has significant environmental benefits of reduced material consumption and waste to landfill.
Thermal insulation products are suitable for various building and construction applications, including wall/partitions and roof/ceiling insulation. Product will not corrode, crumble over time, nor lose its loft.
Click here for Supplier contact details or make an enquiry directly to the supplier using the Product Enquiry Form at the bottom of the page.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
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Options |
Fibre Insulation 50mm or 25mm Thickness Rolls: 600-1200mm Width 5m-10m Length Plain or Foil Faced |
Board Insulation 25mm 35mm 50mm Thickness 600mm Width 1200mm-3600mm Length Plain or Vinyl finish for suspended ceiling tiles |
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Colours |
White, Black, Brown Grey |
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Warranty |
5 years - for more details, click here |
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Expected Life |
20 years Residential and Commercial |
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Indicative Costs |
Cost of Supply From R26.00/m² to R250.00m² |
Cost of Installation From R40.00/m² to R300.00/m² |
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Purchase Options |
Please contact Manufacturer for purchase options. |
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Constituents |
Recycled Polyester up to 75%, Low Melt Polyester, Kenaf up to 75% *Note: 75% recycled polyester is the maximum recycled content possible for these insulation products, as virgin material is needed for the thermal bonding process. |
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Technical Specifications |
Product Thickness R value NRC ThermocousTex Plain Fibre 50mm 1.31 0.52 ThermocousTex Plain Board 25mm 0.74 0.49 ThermocousTex Plain Board 35mm 1.03 0.58 ThermocousTex Plain Board 50mm 1.44 0.78 |
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National & International Standards |
ISO 14001 ASTM C518 - Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties ISO 354: Acoustics - Measurement of sound absorption in a reverberation room SANS 428 certificate |
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Country of Origin |
South Africa Recycled Polyester and Kenaf sourced from Africa, Virgin Polyester from South East Asia |
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Projects |
Gautrain, Gauteng Cape Town International Airport Department of Foreign Affairs, Pretoria Durban International Airport, KZN Vodacom, Gauteng Cristal House School, Western Cape |
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Preparation |
Standard bulk and board installation preparation and procedure - |
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ECOSPECIFIER LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
INTEGRATED DESIGN AND POLICY ISSUES
Bulk insulation, such as ThermocousTex, reduces heat flow by creating small pockets of still air that lowers the rate of conductive heat transfer. Reducing the heating and cooling loads of buildings contributes to reductions in energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions, through reduced need for air conditioning, and hence reduced plant size and operating costs. Improved thermal performance can also support building occupant comfort and increased productivity.
HUMAN HEALTH
Health
Product is made from non-irritant polyester which will not cause any skin or other irritations. Product is thermally bonded, without the need for any binders, adhesives or blowing agents, reducing associated health impacts.
Comfort
Product will either reduce heat inflow into a building during summer or retain heat within a building during winter months, providing a more comfortable indoor environment. Underfloor product will also assist in reducing drafts caused by joins in flooring.
Comfort will be improved in summer if foil faced products are used in roof and walls in combination with a minimum 20mm air gap to the outside wall element/finish.
Products also enhance acoustic noise reduction by limiting noise transfer.
Indoor Environment Quality
Polyester fibres are strong and the fibre size is large enough to prevent airborne fibre occurrence, therefore limiting any chance of becoming a potential airborne pollutant.
There are no known air quality impacts such as allergens associated with kenaf fibre.
Product reduces noise transmission, which enhances indoor environment quality.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Not Applicable
Safety
There are no known hazards with the use or handling of these polyester or kenaf insulation materials. ThermocousTex is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-allergenic.
Accessibility
Not Applicable
ECOLOGICAL QUALITY
Terrestrial
Emissions – Kenaf is a hardy native plant of Africa and India, requiring little fertilization or pesticides for rapid growth and therefore has limited emissions associated with agricultural practices.
Polyester is derived from petroleum based polymers. Petroleum extraction and distribution can contribute to oil spills. Products contain significant amounts of recycled polyester and/or kenaf, minimising associated impacts from virgin petroleum based polymers.
Ceiling tile products with vinyl coating made predominantly of PVC, will have more associated emissions to terrestrial environments from PVC manufacturing. Emissions from PVC manufacturing include vinyl chloride, chlorine and mercury.
Physical – Product is made of petrochemical based polyester, and will therefore have limited physical pollution due to oil extraction.
Aquatic
Emissions – There are no known toxics emitted by these base products that will impact aquatic and marine ecosystems.
Physical – Petrochemical extraction can cause localised aquatic disturbance around oil fields via mining infrastructure and dredging of the seabed. Petroleum extraction and distribution can also contribute to oil spills at sea. Other aquatic emissions include methanol and butane in the production of ethylene as well as mercury and chlorine in the production of PVC. Products contain significant amounts of recycled polyester and/or kenaf, minimising associated impacts.
Atmosphere
Greenhouse (GHG) – This product utilises a minority of virgin polyester (approximately 25%), which is fabricated from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels generate both atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases on combustion. Product contains significant post-consumer recycled polyester and/or kenaf both which require less energy input and therefore less carbon emissions than producing virgin polyester from scratch.
By reducing the heating and cooling demand, insulation products have the potential to lower the energy used and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Products with aluminum backing or vinyl coatings will have higher GHG impacts, as both aluminum foil and PVC are GHG intensive products to manufacture. However, foil faced products used correctly will increase efficiency in certain applications, and this benefit generally, significantly outweighs the small increase in GHG from a very thin (microns only) layer of aluminum.
Greenhouse intensity – The embodied carbon of the product has a maximum of 7.44 kgCO2/m² for the 50mm thick board.
*Calculation is based on data sourced from Department of Environmental Engineering and Physics of University of Basilicata, 2009
Transport intensity – Product is manufactured in New Germany, KZN.
Table below provides land transportation greenhouse intensity figures to help calculate the greenhouse gas intensity of land transportation from shipping port.
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Light commercial vehicle |
Rigid Truck |
Articulated Truck |
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0.001451kgCO2e / kg.km |
0.000195kgCO2e / kg.km |
0.000169kgCO2e / kg.km |
Transport intensity figures sourced from Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990, 1995 and 1999 and WWF International, Inland Navigations and Emissions, 2005.
Operational efficiency – Not applicable
Re-use Efficiency – Suitable for and likely to be re-used if clean
Toxics and Pollutants – There are no toxics used in the manufacturing of this product. The product has a very low VOC emission profile during its operational life.
Ozone Depletion – No CFC’s of HCFCs are used in the life cycle of this product.
Urban Heat Island Effects – Not applicable
Noise – Product reduces noise transfer and absorbs sound.
Biodiversity
The use of minor volumes of virgin polyester generates biodiversity impacts through the atmospheric emissions generated during the refining and manufacturing processes of the virgin polymer. These have not been quantified in terms of impacts on biological systems, except in the case of oil-spill impacts which, while rare, can have significant localised impacts. The use of recycled polyester or kenaf reduces these impacts.
RESOURCE DEPLETION
Resource Efficiency
The principle constituent used in the manufacture of polyester is ethylene, derived from petroleum. Since polyester is petrochemical (oil) based, the resource efficiency of this product is significantly improved through the use of recycled polyester. Insulation products are made using approximately 75% recycled polyester or kenaf, with the remainder sourced from virgin polyester material. Virgin material is needed for the thermal bonding process during manufacture and to provide loft (to maintain air volume and height and resist compression over time). The recycled polyester used by Brits Automative Systems is post-consumer polyester fibre recycled from PET bottles, and sourced from Asia. Kenaf is a renewable natural fibre requiring little fertilization or pesticides for rapid growth.
Embodied Fossil Fuel Energy
The embodied fossil fuel energy of the product has a maximum of 180 MJ/m2 for the 50mm thick board.
*Calculation is based on data sourced from Department of Environmental Engineering and Physics of University of Basilicata, 2009
Transport intensity – Product is manufactured in New Germany, KZN
Embodied Water
Information Not Available
Durability
Polyester is a durable insulation material. Product will not break down or lose its thickness over time in situ and is designed to be effective for a building’s life. Kenaf may deteriorate if product becomes damp or wet without drying.
Reusability
Yes
Repairability
Low likelihood that repair is needed, due to the robust nature of the product. However, if damaged, affected section can be removed and replaced easily.
Design for Dematerialisation
No
Design for Disassembly
Bulk insulation products in general are mechanically fixed (push-fit, stapled, pinned or nailed), and by their fibrous nature allow for easy removal and reuse if required, although re-use is limited by location and the amount of dirt and dust collected during service life.
Recyclability
Product is fully recyclable depending on availability of local recycling facilities.
Maintenance
Insulation products will not need maintenance once installed.
Product Takeback Scheme
No
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
No
CORPORATE AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Audits and Environmental Reporting
No
Convictions
No
Environmental Policy
Yes
Social Enhancement Programs
Yes, adopted an Aids Care Clinic
Technology Transfer Programs
No
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Yes, ISO 14001
ECOSPECIFIER ISSUES OF CONCERN / RED LIGHTS
None
ECOSPECIFIER GREENRATE GREEN BUILDING SCHEME PRE-ASSESSMENT
Green Star SA™ Office Version 1
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
Ene-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
EMISSIONS
Green Star SA™ Retail Centre Version 1 Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
Ene-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
Mat-3: Recycled Content and Re-used Products and Materials
EMISSIONS
NOTE: the following tools have not been adopted in South Africa but are included for information purposes:
Green Star™ Australia Multi Unit Residential Version 1 Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
ENE-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
Mat-3: Recycled Content and Re-used Products and Materials
EMISSIONS
Green Star™ Australia Interiors Version 1.1 Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
EMISSIONS
Emi-2: Insulation Ozone Depleting Potential
Green Star™ Australia Education Version 1 Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
ENE-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
Mat-3: Recycled Content and Re-used Products and Materials
EMISSIONS
Green Star™ Australia Industrial Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
ENE-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
Mat-3: Recycled Content and Re-used Products and Materials
EMISSIONS
Green Star™ Australia Healthcare Compatibility
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
ENERGY
ENE-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
MATERIALS
Mat-3: Recycled Content and Re-used Products and Materials
EMISSIONS
ASSESSMENT COMPARISON
Fibreglass, rockwool, polystyrene and reflective foil or other standard polyester insulation
KEYWORDS / ALTERNATIVES
Acoustic, batts, bulk-fibre, conductive heat transfer, heat flow insulation, low VOC, polyester, post-consumer recycled content, recyclable, thermal values, thermal, thermally bonded. Skimmed/ Plastered Ceilings, Suspended Ceilings, Cavity Wall, Over Purlin Applications.
RELATED TOPICS
Insulation
RELATED KNOWLEDGE BASE ARTICLES
Eco Priority Guide: Insulation
CSI / SPECPACK CATEGORY & NUMBER
07 21 00 Thermal Insulation
09 50 00 Ceilings
NATSPEC CATEGORY AND NUMBER
0471 Insulation and sarking
Availability:
South Africa
Other information:
Information last verified on 76/7/2011.
Assessment Criteria Satisfied
© ecospecifier 2013
Suppliers:Datlink (Pty) Ltd
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