As a follow up to my epic post on IWI / EWI I noticed this little gem whilst doing some research on renovation.

http://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/great_british_refurb_-_manches.aspx

It's not immediatley obvious but the battens on the wall appear to be XPS with OSB laminated on to them.

Interesting approach to mitigating thermal bridges. Can't seem to find information on them anywhere.

Chris

I think you may well find the stuff that looks like OSB is Knauf's "non itchy" glass wool made with ECOSE technology and the battens are conventional timber ( the guy drilling through). Bad colours on the photo? Bad photo.

Isn't it a 100mm SIP cut with a circular saw into ~50mm strips then ripped down the middle....?

J

Posted By: CarneyCSIP would have the OSB on both sides?

like I said:

Posted By: James Nortonthen ripped down the middle....?

For the cost on a DIY installation I'd go for a dedicated VCL.

J

Oh, I see what you mean.

I think it has merit in an approach to mitigate against the thermal bridging of timber battens, but could / should be sold as a seperate product.

I agree with the dedicated VCL between the plaster board & insulation. I'd probably be tempted to go on to dry line with Fermacel instead so hanging radiators, mirrors, etc would be less of a worry in the future.

Chris

Any ideas on what surface finish are they working on? In the first photo it first appears to be a finished home but the plasterwork in the photo showing the insulated batten looks pretty raw.

Posted By: marktimeAny ideas on what surface finish are they working on? In the first photo it first appears to be a finished home but the plasterwork in the photo showing the insulated batten looks pretty raw.

Looks like they just stuck it onto the original kitchen wall finished surface.

Posted By: jamesingramperhap it just some make of flat roof deck insulation cut into strips
sure I've seen one lamented to OSB
this ones ply
http://www.warren.co.uk/show_prod.asp?ProdID=1655&CatID=36&SubCatID=73" rel="nofollow" >http://www.warren.co.uk/show_prod.asp?ProdID=1655&CatID=36&SubCatID=73

Ah Ha! looks likely to me. I think this is a nice bit of lateral thinking & gives me some ideas.

Chris

yes , but I've used a 8/4 sheets 18mm OSB bonded to XPS about 15+ years ago on a job ,
someone must still do it ?
Got them in the USA
http://www.cornellcorpdirect.com/insulation-products/roof-insulation.html?page=shop.product_details&product_id=36&category_id=12&flypage=flypage.tpl

Am I mising something here??

Why use battens at all and not just stick insulated plasterboard on the wall and do away with the thermal bridges and VCL in one go? looks like they are solving a problem they have created in the first place by using a battening system.

Presumably if Celotex or other similar foil-faced insulation board was used, then you would not need a separate VCL?

Well, overhere 100mm insulated plasterboard panels are the standard form of insulation, just glued on the wall, no mechanical fixing required. I cant see that mechanical fixings will make that much of a difference anyway, and I cant see that it would be any different in the UK.

Labour time is a lot less and you dont need a vcl or have issues with thermal bridges if you use the right panel.
I believe that with any wool fibre, all those breaks at the edges with the battens adds up to a big reduction in effectiveness.
Any extra cost for the insulated panels is more than made up for in thermal performance and labour costs I reckon.

Because you can use panels that have a vcl layer built into them, once plastered and painted inter condensation snt going to be a prob. If you are really worried you can silicon or tape the joints.