Whether it’s a retail, office, school or hospitality space — the comfort of staff and guests should always be considered in a commercial building. Our custom commercial builders always strive to ensure that the end-product is finished impeccably and with all elements in mind and that includes temperature and sound regulation. The most effective way to ensure your building stays cool during hot days and warm during cold days is with quality insulation. Keep reading to find out why insulation is such an important aspect of any custom commercial building.

The benefits of insulation

Insulation is the ultimate thermal regulation method and will passively guarantee comfort in your building all year round. In a nutshell, insulation slows the transfer of heat. If it’s a 30° C day outside, then insulation will slow that heat from entering the building. Similarly, on a colder day, the heat will remain within the building for a lot longer. This can lead to a massive reduction in air conditioning costs as there will be less need to run it so often.

Another often overlooked benefit of insulation is that it can suppress outside noise to a degree, depending on the type of insulation you use (acoustic and high-density varieties feature superior soundproofing properties). This comes in handy for commercial buildings located in high-traffic areas or areas with constant noise pollution and means your staff can enjoy a more tranquil environment with clients/customers also enjoying a pleasanter experience.

Additionally, insulation carries with it environmental benefits both directly and indirectly. Less frequent use of air conditioning means there is less energy being expended — resulting in the mitigation of greenhouse emissions. Insulation products such as glasswool are made entirely from recycled materials such as glass and sand and still hold fantastic thermal and acoustic properties — making it a sustainable and practical solution for any commercial building.

Insulation solutions made for the commercial sector

There are several types of insulation products that are commonly used in commercial buildings. Our custom commercial builders can recommend different ones to you based on your structure type and other relevant aspects. Some of the common areas that need to be insulated include the roof, ceiling and wall. However, some extra commercial-specific solutions should also be considered.

  • HVAC ducts — There are boards and blanket insulation products that are used to insulate both the internal and external areas of HVAC ducts to ensure optimal performance throughout all seasons of the year. There are a variety of sizes, thicknesses and facings available to suit more specific requirements.

  • Underslab — Underslab insulation is specifically made for multi-level commercial buildings and is incredibly useful when it comes to regulating both heat and sound between floors.

  • Passive fire protection — The danger of a fire is always present regardless of what building you’re in and the best thing you can do to maximise safety during such an event is install passive fire protection products that are BCA(Building Code Australia) and BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rated. These non-combustible products are designed to give occupants more time to escape in case of a fire by offering increased protection.

Different materials for different requirements

In addition to various types of insulation solutions, there are also several materials that all suit different types of buildings more effectively. Have you opted for a metal roof for your retail space?

Special glasswool blankets such as Bradford’s Anticon, which is covered with foil on one side, are made specifically to be installed between metal roofs and ceilings — improving thermal efficiency whilst also preventing condensation from forming in winter. Our custom commercial builders can help you choose the right insulation solution for your new commercial property.

Speaking of condensation…

In addition to insulation, wall wrap is another solution that is crucial for any new commercial building. Whilst insulation concentrates on improving the thermal and acoustic efficiency of a building, wall wrap mitigates draughts and moisture from coming through.  This ultimately helps the insulation do its job. 

If insulation becomes wet, then it won’t operate at full capacity until it’s properly dried — so by mitigating moisture, the wall wrap essentially protects the insulation. By reducing the risk of draughts there is also less chance of the regulated air escaping from the building. Additionally, wall wrap can help protect the frame and structure of a building from the elements whilst it’s still being built.

Are you looking for custom commercial builders?

S & B Lamble Builders have over 35 years of experience constructing quality, custom commercial buildings and can help you bring your next commercial structure to life.

Give us a call on (03) 5941 8135 or fill out our online enquiry form if you would like to contact us. You may also directly submit a tender to us at [email protected].