Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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W O98/28501 PCT~EP97/0723
- An ins~ n~ element for clamping ~nstallation between
roof rafters or beams of other~wooden constructions
This invention relates to an ins~ ting element accor(ling to the pre~mble
of claim 1.
Such ins~ tinF elements (or instll~ting material el~m~nts) are known and
used in particular for r-l~mpinF installation of sheets, or singled inslll~ting panels
cut off the sheet, between roof rafters, balcony or other limiting surfaces. This is
a market with production figures that have been rising for decades, the insulat-ing sheet being installed on the spot by experts from the building trade, but also
very often by untrained personnel, i.e. do-it-yourselfers. In particular since it has
become common on the market to insulate steep roofs vrith mineral wool, such
inslll~ting sheets, also referred to as ~l~mpinF felts, have been able to increase
their market share constantly.
In the production and stock keeping of an insulating element the manufac-
turer must take into account quite generally that the clear widths between the
rafters of roofs or beams of other wooden constructions and the heights thereof,i.e. latticework depths, can differ to a considerable degree. For these reasons e.g.
so-called shoulder mats for adapting to different widths between the rafters or
be~ are produced and kept in stock in fmely graded widths, for ex~mple in
width gradations of 100 mm. Further, cl~mpin~ felt thicknesses of about 80 mm
to 220 mm and more are offered today. This of course involves enormous stock
keeping in production, sale and distribution, but also on the buil~ing site.
Another special problem with such products is the necP.¢.~ry e~pe~diture
of mz~t~ri~l, which should always be reduced for reasons of cost, but which is es-
pecially importaDt because large surfaces must be covered with ins~ tin~ mate-
rial L~ the preferred cases of appl;c~ti~n such as steep roof insulation. Further,
the considerable m~tf~ri~l costs are not least due to the fact that mineral wool is
increiq¢in~ly produced ~om biodegradable compositions or must be produced ac-
cording to spec~c national regulations, which can lead to much higher prices.
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The problem of the invention is to provide an ins~ ting sheet or insulat-
ing panel for clamping installation between roof rafters, be~ms or other limit,ing
surEaces which permits the expenditure of material to be reduced with no loss ofnecessary ins~ qting properties, i.e. an optimi7:~tion of the product to the use of
material nec~.s~ry for fillfilling the te-hnic~l service value, in particular the
thermal inslll~ting ability.
Accol~li..g to a further aspect, ins7ll~tinF element~ ~or cl~mping installa-
tion between roof rafters or be~ms of wooden frame constructions are to be pro-
vided not only with a saving of material over conventional inslll~tinF elements
and nevertheless an optimal ~l~mping effect, but also storage, transport and
p~rk~ginF advantages through a reduction of the package volume in view of the
fact that such ins~ ting elements are marketed within a foil p~rk~ge.
A further aspect of the invention is to provide an inslll~tinE sheet or insu-
lating panels in a thickness range which ensures full insulation as an ins~ tingelement with a certain thickness at different and varying beam thicknesses
(latticework depths~ and in particular permits continuous compensation of differ-
ent thicknesses. The inslll~ting sheet should nevertheless be easy to produce, and
the installation of the inslll~ing sheet or of insulating panels by mere clamping
in no way impaired.
This problem is solved according to the invention by the features con-
tained in the characterizing part of claim 1, whereby expedient, in particular ad-
vantageous embodiments are characterized by the features contained in the sub-
cl~im~.
The invention is characterized mainly in that the inslll~tin~ sheet or panelhas a special rl~mr;n~-type holding element, also refelTed to in the following as a
~ l~mrin~ layer. This allows a very con~ rable reduction of material in the total
inslll~ting layer since only the rl~mrin~-type portion of the panel or sheet neces-
sary for rl~mping installation need be designed in view of its rl~mring functionproperty in order to ensure a perfect and lasting hold OI the material. The rest or
the rem~inin~ layers of the panel or sheet can be adjusted suitably with no refer-
ence to the rl~mring and holdi3lg function, for ex~mple with lower elastic forcethan the rl~mrin~ layer, in particular with lower bulk density, and need be de-
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signed solely for the re~luil e~ent of thermal insulation. By e.g. gra~ing the bulk
density within the panel or sheet one obtains an accordingly great saving of ma-terial in particular with consideration of the fact that considerable surfaces must
be insulated in the intended cases of appIication of steep roof insulation. In the
present case the properties of the clamping layer are obtained by a higher bulk
density over the remAinin~ layer. EIigher buLk density is used here to attain the
~l~mpin~ function of the ~lArnring-type holding element. The bulk density in therPmAining area of the insl~lAtinF sheet or panel can be selected according to the
particular re~ ent profile, in particular with respect to thermal conductivity.
The clamping layer of course also fulfills the re~ e.llent for thermal insulation.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the panel or sheet is divided into
two layers, one of which forms the rlAmpin~ layer and has a higher elastic force,
in particular due to a higher bulk density, than the remAinin~ layer which per-
forms only the filling function or inslllAting function. The properties, such aselastic force of the cl~mpin~-type holding element, can be achieved not only by
increased bulk density but also by suitable adjustment of binder content and!or
fiber quality and/or fiber orientation.
T~e mulLi~-LiLion, in particular bipartition, of the ins~ tin~ element into
at least two portions with different natures achieves a reduction of material ac-
cording to the invention while ret~ining or optim;7:ing the clamping effect overconventional mineral wool inslllAtinF materials, whereby at least one portion acts
in cl~mring fashion. In this connection a certain sag occurs in the installed state
e.g. between roof rafters by reason of the dead weight of the insulAting ~lement,
so that the ~lAmrin~ layer preferably located above in this case exerts a cl~mping-
inducing effect on the rPn~AininF ins~llAtin~ layer below. Since the bulk density of
the remAining inslll~*n~ layer serving as a ~11ing layer can be minimi~ed accord-
ing to the invention, one obtains not only a saving of material but also consider-
able pAr~kA~ing advantages, since the product can then be compressed better.
~ This is of special advantage for inslllAfinF elements supplied in roll form since it
permits the package volume to be considerably reduced, resulting in reduced
transport and storage volumes.
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Alongside the particularly preferred double-layer embo-liment of the insu-
lating sheet or ins~ tin~ panel it is also possible to provide two filling layers or
two clamping layers in the case of only one filling layer, etc. The number and ar-
rangement of filling layers and ~ l~mpin~ layers can be selected accu. .lh gly by the
expert.
As mentioned above, the property of the ~ rn~ing layer can also be ad-
justed, rather than via bulk density, through fiber geometry, fiber position, fiber
forming, fiber orientation, binder content or other additives strengthening the
clamping layer. It is essential that the cl~mrin~ layer has a sufficient spreading
or elastic force to ensure the nec~ ry frictional forces between clamping layer
and limitin~ ~urfaces. It generally holds that the ~l~mping layer is stiff enough so
that the insulating element can be clamped between the rafters with sufficient
pressure and has a press fit there, whereas the filling layer can be soft and com-
pressible enough to permit a thickness compensation function at different lat-
ticework depths. When elastic force is adjusted via bulk density, it is expedient
for the ratio of cl~mping layer bulk density to filling layer bulk density to be > 1,
preferably > 1.5.
In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described
with reference to the sc.h~m~tic ~aw...g, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspect*e partial view of an inventive insnl~ting ele-
ment,
Figure 2 shows a sectional view illustrating the inst~ t.i- n conditions of
an insnl~tin~ sheet or ins~ t3n~ panel within a square of a steep roof,
Figure 3 shows a sectional view through an inslll~ting sheet or inslli~ting
panel in the state at the b~Finnin~ of installation between be~m.~ or posts of avertical wooden frame construction for a blliklin~ wall or the like, if the thickness
of the ins~ qt;n~ ment is to be adJusted to a lattic~wuLk depth ~n~ r than the
thickness of the inslll~ting element,
Figure 4 shows a view like Figure 3 but in the installed position of the in-
slll~ting sheet or inslll~tin~ panel,
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Figure 5 shows an insulating sheet wrapped into a roll, partly in a
stretched state to show the ~ingl;ng of ins~ tin~ panels from this insulating
sheet for rl~m~ing installation between rafters,
Figure 6 shows a diagram to illustrate the saving potential when using the
inventive inslll~ting element.
The inslll~ting element in the form of insnl~fing sheet or insllkqtin~ panel
1 shown in a perspective partial view in Figure 1 is constructed from two layers,
narnely filling layer 2 d~ n~ted FS and clarnping layer 3 d~ n~ted KS. The
two layers have different natures and thus also different properties. In a pre-
ferred case of application, n~mely for rl~m~ing installation of inslll~ting sheet or
insl~l~ting panel 1 between rafters of a roof construction or between posts of awooden frame construction, the layers produced from mineral wool with suitable
binders are designed with different bulk densities. C]~mping layer 3 is designedin its density with a view to clarnping installation of the sheet or panel and has in
particular a greater bulk density than filling layer 2. The latter can be designed
independently of cl~mping function and therefore have reduced bulk density, its
density being selected solely with a view to the desired inslll~tinE properties.Figure 2 shows inslll~ting sheet 1 cut off a sheet rolled into the inslll~ting
material roll accoL~lhlg to Figure 5 in the installed position between two adjacent
rafters 4 of a steep roof construction, reference sign 5 d.o~i~n~ting waterproofsheeting customarily used in roof works and disposed on the upper side of rafters
4. In the shown embodiment of Figure 2, clamping layer 3 is disposed above, i.e.on the roof side, ~d thus adjacent waterproof sheeting 5, whereas filling layer 2
is disposed toward the room, i.e. below. Inslll~qt;ng sheet 1 shown in Figure 2 is
adjusted in terms of thickness to thickness d3 of the rafters, but this is not neces-
sarily the case. The layer thicknesses of rl~mring layer 3 and filling layer 2 are
~, stated as dl and d2. For installation, insul~ting sheet 1 is cut off a roll according
to Figure 5 with an overmeasure over clear width D between ~ cPnt rafters 4,
the overmeasure being such that ins~ n~ sheet 1 is inserted in ~ nrin~ fash-
ion between q~j~cent rafters and then held by the rl~rnrin~ effect. A useful
overmeasure for conventional s~uares i8 about 1 cIn.
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Both layers 2 and 3 are formed from mineral wool, as stated above, but
they differ with respect to their mechanical properties. These different properties
are achieved in the embodiment of Figure 2 by different bulk densities of layers 2
and 3. Fi11ing layer 2 has a bulk density lower than the bulk density of ~ m~in~layer 3. Clamping layer 3 with its greater bulk density has a higher elastic force
between the limitin~ surfaces than filling layer 2, the elastic force being such that
the ins2l1~tin~ panel can be disposed ~irmly with a press fit when incorporated
between adjacent rafters so that no special fastening means are necPR.~ry. Suit-a~le bulk densities for the clamping layer are 2 10 kg/m3, a preferred range of
application for clamping installation between rafters or posts of a wooden frameconstruction being a density value in the range of 10 kg/m3 to 30 kg/m3. An espe-
cially preferred range for bulk density is from 15 kg/m3 to 25 kg/m3 and especially
preferred bulk densities for the ~lArnpin~ layer are for instance in the range of 17
to 19 kgJm3.
It is essential for the bulk density adjustment of rl~mrin~ layer 3 in the
case of application for roof insulation, in particular for ins~ ting horizontal
wooden latticework constructions, such as so-called frames between opposing
rafters and squares at a roof slope of ~ 60~, that clAmpin~ layer 3 is suf~lciently
strong and stiff but nevertheless flexible without buckling under the dead weight
of ins~ t;nF element 1 consisting of layers 2 and 3. In the installed position of
Figure 2 the inslll~ting sheet can sag slightly under its dead weight, this weight-
induced slight sag or downward bulge resulting in a spread of the inslll~ting
sheet clamped between rafters 4 especially in the lower area of filling layer 2,thereby bl~ linF up spreading forces. The rl~mr;nF f~ation of the inslll~tin~
sheet between rafters 4 is effected mainly by the restoring and frictional forces
built up because of rl~rnring layer 3, which are additionally supported by the
spreading forces within filling layer 2 induced by fl~mrin~ layer 3, whereby thefrictional forces of filling layer 2 over rafters 4 of course also contribute to the
r.l~mring effect. ClAmring is therefore effected in the embodiment of Figure 2
both by actual ~l~mpinF layer 3, whose strength is designed for the purpose of the
clamping function, and by filling layer 2 via the spreading forces induced therebecause of sag by reason of the dead weight of the ins~ t;nF sheet.
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A reverse arrangement of ins~ ;ng sheet 1 between the limiting surfaces
of roof rafters or beams of vertical wooden fr~me constructions is of course also
possible, whereby filling layer 2 is located ~ c~nt waterproof sheeting 5 in theroof area and the clamping layer facing the room. However, with vertical wooden
frame constructions, filling layer 2, with the outside surface of rl~mring layer 3
flush with the outside surface of bearns 4, fills the rem~ining space up to wallpanel 5, e.g. derived timber panel, and can thereby act as a compensation layer.That is, because of the good compressibility of filling layer 2 designed with low
bulk density, different be~m thicknesses d3 can be bridged with one and the
same inslll~tinF element. For ex~mple it is conceivable to bridge different thick-
nesses in the range of 140 mm to 220 mm continuously with insulating panel 1
with a thickness of 220 mm by filling layer 2 being compressed to a greater or
lesser degree and thus performing a compensation function when the inslll~tin~
panel is incorporated. The aforementioned value of 220 mm for total thickness dland d2 of inslll~tinF sheet 1 is of course an exemplary value, because the thick-
ness of the product can also be adjusted to other latticework depths. It is further
possible to use two products of different thicknesses with uniform gradation or
else three products of different thicknesses with uniform gradation, if required.
This is ultim~t.oly dependent on market behavior, in particular on the egpected
differences of rafter or beam thicknesses as are used in the individual construc-
tions. This can vary from country to country, possibly v~ith corresponding con-
sideration of building regulations.
Figures 3 and 4 show ins~ fion conditions for an inslll~tinF panel or in-
slll~ting sheet between a vertical wooden frame construction with posts or be~ms4, as are used for example for building walls, in particular industrially prefabri-
cated room cell modules. Merely by way of ~nnple the outer side is illustrated
here by the wall panel of derived timber product or paneled wall 5'. Figure 3
shows the beginninF of the installation process, the filling layer formed as com-
- pensation layer 2' being located in the space between the two beams 4'. Clamping
layer 3 is then pressed between be~ms 4' with application of force P so that theoutside surface of l l~rnring layer 3 extends flush with the outside surface or out-
side edge of beams 4', as Figure 4 shows. VVhen ~lzimp;ng layer 3 is pressed in,
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compensation layer 2' is accordingly compressed and thus also performs a com-
pensation function along with the ins~ tinE function, since different beam
thicknesses can be bridged with one and the sarne product, i.e. with an ins~-lAting
element of equal thickness. In this case of application clarnping layer 3 is again
designed with higher strength over compensation layer 2', in particular with
higher bulk density, the aforementioned ranges being applicable here too. The
bulk density in both cases of application for the filling layer is < 30 kg/m3, in par-
ticular s 15 kg/m3 and preferably s 10 kglm3, the two bulk densities being coordi-
nated with each other such that the ratio of clamping layer bulk density to filling
layer bulk density is > 1.
Particular thickness dl of clarnping layer 3 is minimi~ed in all cases of
application to the technically nec~s~ry thickness required for f~xing the insulat-
ing layer between the colle~;~onding limiting surfaces of roof rafters or beams of
wooden latticework constructions. The particular values for the thicknesses alsodepend on the design of the wooden frame construction and in particular on the
width to be bridged between ~ c~nt rafters or beams. With respect to filling
layer 2 it is quite generally advantageous for it to more compressible than
clamping layer 2, which permits the a~ove-described compensation function, on
the one hand, but in particular also provides advantages in p~-k~gin~, on the
other hand. One can thus achieve an ins~ finE roll with reduced diameter but
equal length of the ins~ ting sheet, which reduces the package volume and thus
provides considerable transport and ~qtorage advantages. The ins~ tin~ sheet in
the form of a roll is c~ es~;ible to ranges of 1: 2.5 to 1: 4.5. With such an insu-
lati~g sheet or ins~ t;ng panel cut thereoff one can also obtain a ( l~ifi~tiQn in
thermal conductivity group 040 accor~ing to DIN 1816~, t_e filling layer fallingwit.hin thermal conductivity group 045 by reason of its bulk density and the
cl~mping layer within thermal conductivity group 035 by reason of its bulk den-
sity, while in the middle the inslll~finE p~nel or insl~l~tinE sheet fu~llls the cri-
teria of thermal conductivity group 040 accor~ling to DIN 18165. By suitably se-lectiIlg the bulk rl~n~iti~ (RD), it being well known that (l~mbda) ~ = f (RD), one
can a~so obt~in a total thermal conductivity group of 035.
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Figure 5 shows an especially preferred embodiment, namely an inslllAting
sheet wrapped into a roll for clamping installation between the limiting surfaces
of rafters or beams, in particular rafters of a steep roof. InslllAtin~ sheet 6 is
shown partly in the stretched state. Number 2 again dP~i~nAt-os the filling layer
with a compensation function and number 3 the damping layer, which is dis-
posed here on the outside in the rolled position of the inslllAtinF roll. The
~l~mping layer can also be disposed on the inside in the rolled position, which
depends on the case of application in accordance with the st~t~m.snts accor-ling to
Figure 2, i.e. the actual installation conditions. On surface 7 of the layer located
on the inside in the rolled position, that is the filling layer in the described em-
bo-liment here, there are marking lines 8 extending perpendicular to lateral
edges 9 of inslll~tin~ sheet 6. In the example, marking lines 8 are applied at equal
distances, distance d between two adjacent marking lines preferably being 100
mm. As Figure 5 illustrates, marking lines 8 need not be executed as continuous
lines but can also be broken lines. Marking lines 8 are expediently not formed by
cuts or the like but are merely optically effective without influencing the han-dling and effectiveness of the material of mineral wool sheet 6. To fill a squ~ewith a given width of for P~Arnple 700 rnm, one measures longitudinal portion L
with a length of 710 rnrn starting out from leading edge 10 of ins~ sting sheet 6
along marking lines 8 with consideration of the overmeasure of for ex~mple 1 cm
necessary for press fit and cuts it off at 11. For this purpose one sets knife 12 at
the measured cutting line in the way indicated in Figure 5 and draws it through
the material in the direction of arrow 13 parallel to adjacent marking line 8.
Ins~llAtinF panel 14 thereby singled is rotated for installation so that pre-
viously lateral edges 9 of inslll~tin~ sheet 6 come to be above and below and lon-
gitl~in~l portion L thus det~rmines the width of mineral wool panel 14. In this
position mineral wool panel 14 is inserted into the square between two ad~acent
rafters 4. Overmeasure U of longitll-lin~l portion L over width D of the square at
~ the place of installation of 10 mm or a little more in the example results in the
desired press fit of mineral wool panel 14. After insertion between l~L~i; 4 min-
eral wool panel 14 th~l~roLe has a press fit between the rafters through the
mping effect. Thus formed ins~ tinF sheet 6 can be used with uniform width
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for laying in squares with different width D between adjacent rafters if panel 14
is cut off the inslllat;ng sheet in accordance with width D between the rafters.Because of the simultaneous possibility of compensation one can therefore use
the ins~ ting sheet shown in Fig. 5 with a uniform width ~imRn~ion of the insu-
lating sheet and uniform thickness of the inslllating sheet for squares or bays
with differing width D and differing rafter and beam thicknesses d3. This results
in a considerable saving of assortment, because inslllating sheet 6 need no longer
be kept in flnely graded thicknesses but one inslll~ting sheet of uniform width
and thickness can cover a variety of roof and wooden frame constructions with
different width between the ldLL~l~ or be~rns and with different latticework
depths.
Fig. 6 shows the saving potential for inslll~ting material in percentages
over conventional inslllAting sheets available on the market. One thus obtains
considerable savings in the range of 10 to 23% over the thicknesses of ins7ll~tinF
sheets or panels customariIy used in particular for ins~ t~ng roofs, which leadsto a considerable saving of material in view of the quantities of insl]lz~ting sheet
used per year for these purposes.
Table 1 shows by way of exarnple variants of layer combinations with dif-
ferent thicknesses, bulk densities and weights per unit area of the individual
partial layers.
This table in-lic~to!~ that all variants according to the invention have lower
weights per unit area than the standard version and thus lead to a noticeable
saving of m~qt~ri~l One can further see that layer thickness, bulk density and
weights per unit area of the partial layers can thereby be varied.
If e.g. the filling layer is adJusted so that its thickness can be compressed
during inst~ t~ n depending on the rafter height or wooden latticework depth,
one can not only save m~tPrial, albeit to a smaUer extent, but also optimize theassortment. One thus sees in Table 1 that if e.g. a sheet/panel of variant 3 with a
~hickness of 220 mm and with a weight per unit area o~ 2.82 kg/m2 is compressed
to a beam thickness of 180 mm, one can even obtain a saving of material of 0.06
kg/m2 over a sheet/panel of the standard version with a thickness of 180 mm and
a weight per unit area of 2.88 kg/m2. The advantage in this example lies mainly
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1 1
in the optimized assortment. A clearer saving of material is given e.g. with beam
thicknes~ d3 of 200 mm, however, si~ce here the weight per unit area of the
standard version of 3.00 kg/m2 is considerahly higher compared to variant 3
again with 220 mm thickness and a weight per unit area of 2.82 kg/m2. The sav-
ing of material is therefore 0.18 kg/m3 in this example.
Table 1
Comparison of weighl;s per UIlit area in k~/m2 of insulating sheets/panels in
variou~ combin~h~n.q of layer~ different bulk den~itie~
Height of Weight per unit
limiting area in kg/m2 Weight per unit area in kg/m2 with inhomogeneou~ layer ~ lur~
surface inq~ t.ing sheet/
(BH) mm panel homogeneous
layer structure
(standard)
Variant 1 Vari~nt 2 Variant 3
KS FS KS FS KS FS O
d~9=50 mm dEs=BH-d~s dKS=30 mm dps=BH-dKS d~ 0 mm dps=BH-dKS
RD=23 k~m3 RD-11 k~m3 RD=17 kg/m3 RD=11 kg/m3 RD=19 kg/m9 RD=11 k~m3
220 3,30 3,02 2,60 2,82
200 3,00 2,80 2,38 2,00
180 2,88 2,58 2,16 2,38
160 2,56 2,36 1,94 2,16
140 2,38 2,14 1,72 1,94
120 2,04 1,92 1,50 1,72
BH = Height of limiting surface or wooden l~Llic~ ~. J~k depth (mm) d - Thickness
KS = l'l~mping layer (3) d~; = Thickness of ~ mrin~ layer
ES = Filling layer (2) dP8 = Thickness of filling layer
RD = Bulk density (kg/m3)
