Tenmat 'cones' improve thermal performance of loft insulation

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

The fitting of recessed downlights into ceilings penetrating a loft space can reduce the thermal performance of the insulation by 50%, this is due to the need to remove insulation from around the downlights resulting in large amounts of air leakage and cold bridging.

The fitting of Tenmat loft covers allows the loft insulation to be continued directly over the cover and downlight and so fully reinstate the optimum performance of the loft insulation without gaps or interuption, this allows insulation to work as intended.

A typical recessed downlight allows the leakage of 20 cubic Metres of air per hour, this leads to huge heat losses when downlights are used in multiples, the fitting of the Tenmat loft cone reduces the air leakage down to insignificant levels are normal pressures so significantly reduces heat losses and meet air leakage targets.

When “switched on” a downlight acts like a hot chimney and actually pulls the heated air out of the room and forces it to be lost into the loft space , the fitting of a Tenmat loft cone prevents the hot chimney effect from occuring and so prevents heat loss.

Halogen recessed downlights are highly inefficient and much of the energy is lost in heat, most of which rises into the loft space and is lost, the fitting of a Tenmat loft cone reflects the heat back into the living area and so prevents heat loss.

Added together, all of the above savings make a real and simple difference to the energy efficiency of each property.