Lesson 1Expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS/XPS): thermal performance, compression, moisture resistance, use in walls and floorsThis part checks EPS and XPS traits like heat work, press strength, wet resistance, and lasting strength, with tips for using in walls, floors, and under-ground builds.
EPS vs XPS manufacturing and typesThermal resistance and aging effectsCompressive strength and creep limitsMoisture uptake and freeze–thawWalls, slabs, and below-grade detailsLesson 2Fire performance, VOCs, and indoor air quality considerations for insulation materialsThis part checks fire work, smoke and bad gas release, VOC letting out, and effect on inside air clean, plus test rules, marks, and plans to cut people exposure.
Fire tests, Euroclass, and NFPA ratingsSmoke toxicity and halogenated foamsVOC sources in insulation productsEmission labels and certification schemesVentilation and enclosure strategiesLesson 3Thermal bridge mitigation materials: insulated plasterboard, thermal breaks, continuous insulation principlesWe look at materials and ways to cut heat bridges, like insulated plasterboard, structure heat breaks, and steady outside insulation, with details at slabs, balconies, and openings.
Identifying linear and point bridgesInsulated plasterboard use and limitsStructural thermal break materialsContinuous exterior insulation conceptsDetailing at balconies and slab edgesLesson 4Mineral wool (glass and rock wool): thermal conductivity, sound absorption, fire behavior, typical applicationsThis part explains glass and rock wool make-up, heat flow ranges, sound taking-in, and fire strength, then links to common uses in walls, roofs, faces, and service spaces.
Glass wool vs rock wool compositionThermal conductivity ranges and testingSound absorption and density selectionReaction to fire and Euroclass ratingsTypical wall, roof, and cavity usesLesson 5Reflective and radiant barriers: how they work, when to use in hot climates, compatibility with ventilation and air gapsThis part explains shiny and heat-ray blocks, their need for low shine-out and air spaces, good weathers and roof builds, put-in traps, and link with air flow and damp control.
Radiant heat transfer fundamentalsLow-emissivity surfaces and agingRequired air gaps and orientationsUse in hot roofs and attic spacesVentilation, dust, and moisture issuesLesson 6Acoustic panels and resilient channels: absorption coefficients, decoupling methods, placing in partitions and ceilingsWe check sound panels, bendy channels, and split systems, key on take-in numbers, fix conditions, side paths, and best ways for walls, ceilings, and fix-up upgrades.
Absorption coefficients and test methodsPorous vs panel absorber behaviorResilient channels and decoupling rulesControlling flanking transmission pathsPlacement in walls, ceilings, and studiosLesson 7Cellulose and natural fiber insulations: thermal/acoustic properties, hygroscopic behavior, ecological considerationsThis part covers cellulose, wood fibre, and other nature insulations, showing heat and sound work, wet buffering, put-in ways, lasting, and nature and life-cycle sides.
Types of natural fiber insulationsThermal performance and heat capacityAcoustic behavior in light assembliesMoisture buffering and mold controlLife-cycle, sourcing, and recyclingLesson 8Vapour barriers, vapour control layers, and breathable membranes: sd-values, placement strategies for cold and mixed climatesWe make clear vapour blocks, vapour check layers, and breath membranes, key on sd-numbers, spread vs air leak, right place in cold and mixed weathers, and common fail ways.
Diffusion, permeability, and sd-valuesVapor barrier vs control layer rolesMembrane placement by climate zoneAirtightness, leaks, and drying pathsCase studies of moisture failuresLesson 9Polyurethane and PIR board: high R-value per thickness, flammability, vapor behavior, use in roofs and thin retrofit situationsHere we study PUR and PIR boards, key on high R per thin, closed-cell build, fire and smoke, vapour block, and details for roofs, faces, and thin inside fix-ups.
Foam chemistry and blowing agentsR-value per thickness and agingFlammability, smoke, and fire codesVapor resistance and condensation riskRoof and retrofit detailing examples
