Building Regs And Insulation

[Geps]

Hi,

Had my first BCO visit this week and he's told me I have to put in 50mm Celotex on all exterior walls, 75mm in stud walls, 275mm in the loft and "as much as you can get" in between floor joists - which at 175mm deep is rather alot!

Do I really have to go to this level to comply? I'm costing it out now and I'm looking at £3k for the insulation alone and that's before I add in studs to fix it and the time it'll take to install.

Seems no one else has this problem....did I just get a tree hugging BCO?!

Any advice?

Cheers,

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

To give us a chance of answering tell us what you're doing, what U values you are trying to achieve, what type of insulation you are using in each situation etc etc.

 

[Geps]

To be honest I've no idea! I was just told put X mm of celotex insulation in and it'll comply. He didn't give the type (I'm assuming GA4000) or any U-values.

The project is a semi-detached 1930s ex council house renovation and all I can think off is that because I've taken most of the plaster off the walls (as they had excess damp) I've now got to upgrade the entire property with regards to insulation?

Originally I was planning on 25mm polystyrene on the exterior walls only to reduce condensation but apparently that's not enough. Since the walls are all solid I have to do internal insulation (can't afford external insulation and render) rather than cavity.

Does that help at all?

Cheers,

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Sounds more like Celotex for external walls and Rockwool for the rest not Celotex.

 

[DevilDamo]

Do I really have to go to this level to comply?

Basically, yes.

You're lucky. Some BCO's wouldn't even tell you that but would ask you to refer to your architect/technician to provide that information.

 

[^woody^]

Where are you getting your insulation from for £3k?

I need to know so that I can avoid buying anything there in future at those prices

And not you don't need to comply with the BCO. But your will then need to come up with an alternative means of reducing your heat loss, and prove this to the satisfaction of the BCO

 

[geraldthehamster]

Sounds more like Celotex for external walls and Rockwool for the rest not Celotex.

That's how it sounded to me. Rockwool for the loft shouldn't cost the earth, as it's heavily subsidised in the DIY sheds.

Cheers
Richard