INSULATION – Its origin and evolution

We've used cork, asbestos, glass, plastic, foam and even mud to do it. Yes, when you look at the history of insulation, in all its myriad forms, we can see just how far we've come. The use of insulation to regulate temperatures and protect buildings can be traced from the ancient civilizations all the way to the modern times in a state of constant evolution.

Ancient Egyptian Brick Makers

The Ancient Egyptians used insulation to keep their desert homes and buildings cool and their linen clothing warmer in the cooler winter months. They added papyrus linings to their loincloths and skirts to keep warm in winter and they built their homes of thick brick, designed to help keep out the sun's scorching heat in summer.

Greek slaves weaving asbestos into cloth

And then there was the discovery of fireproof asbestos and the Ancient Greeks knew about it; in fact they named it. The material’s flame-resistant properties gave it a bit of mystical appeal to the Greeks. They had a common name for it, too – crysotile – which means “gold cloth”. They used it to dress their imported slaves, as well as for the wicks of their eternal temple flames, and the funeral dress of kings. The Greeks were the first to go on record as noting that asbestos caused a “lung sickness” in the slaves who worked with it and wore it.

 

The ancient Romans; as they always look-out for the next best thingalso pushed the evolution of insulation. The Romans, famed for their engineering prowess, even began to install indoor heated water systems. By insulating the heated water pipes with cork; which were usually installed directly under floors, the Romans were able to pipe hot water directly into the building without fear of overheating the flooring and the other areas adjacent to the pipes. 

 

Until the Vikings learned to mix horse and cattle dung, mud and straw; named as daub, in order to seal their homes and endure the harsh Northern European climate. The Vikings even began to cover their interior walls with heavy layers of sheepskin as a means to retain heat. It soon became popular to cover interior walls with large, thick woven tapestries among the wealthy in Europe as stone-built houses became a fashion in the middle Ages. These imposing structures tended to be drafty, damp and cold. And so these cloths would be hung on the interior walls, partly to block out the drafts and partly to soak up the dampness. The Europeans also began to cover floor with tightly-packed rushes as a way to retain heat. Rushes on the floors also helped to keep things a bit warmer underfoot. 

During the Industrial Revolution, insulation continued to evolve. Despite the ancient Greeks warnings about its dangers, asbestos became popular once again. Steam-powered technology meant lots of hot pipes to carry the steam to where it was needed.  These hot steam supply pipes could be made safer for workers by wrapping them in asbestos. With the invention of the steam locomotive, the demand for asbestos exploded. Suddenly fireboxes, boilers, pipes and even boxcars and breaks were wrapped in the heat retarding, flame-resistant fibers. 

Asbestos’s popularity continued unabated for decades, until researches in the 1970s rediscovered what the ancient Greeks had known all along – that ASBESTOS IS DEADLY. This put a stop to asbestos insulation nearly overnight, although it still has very limited industrial applications. With the fall of asbestos, new kinds of insulation sprung up to fill the void. Fiberglass insulation became highly popular, and was quickly established as the standard form of home insulation. Other varieties such as polystyrene; commonly called as Styrofoam sheets, and PVC wraps also became prominent.

The Modern Era…

Concerns have been raised over the potential dangers common types of insulation can pose to the environment. This has led the development of increasingly popular “GREEN” types of alternative solution. Yes! GREEN BUILDING IS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT!

The highly fashionable method of eco-conscious modern insulation; behold, the SPRAY POLYURETHANE FOAM Insulation. It provides tightest and most thorough seal. This is viewed as particularly “green”, as it enables buildings to retain much more cold compared to that of traditional insulation, decreasing the energy demands of cooling systems which comprises at least one-third of your total energy bills. This creates a thermal envelope; just like a thermos, reducing airflow and ensuring low convective heat transfer.

In the modern Ages, thermal insulation in buildings is an important factor to achieving thermal comfort for its occupants. The effectiveness of insulation nowadays is commonly evaluated by its aged R-value. Modern building designers use Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) because they know that so far it has the highest aged R-value among other insulation materials existing in the market, aside from being environmentally friendly. It does not absorb moisture, no seams, no fasteners that can cause thermal shorts, and fills in cracks and crevices, and other features that make it the most effective in retaining its R-value over time. It is very sustainable that engineers also use it to extend the life of old buildings.

SPF is the latest evolution of insulation materials on our age.Imagine, being comfortable physically and mentally inside your perfectly insulated home despite whatever the weather outside. Ow, what type of insulation material are you using? If it is not SPF, scroll up and see what ancient era you belong. Think!

Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. We are the product of 4.5 billion years of fortuitous, slow biological evolution. There is no reason to think that the evolutionary process has stopped. We are a transitional animal and not the climax of creation.Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change as the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and ensure the survival of our planet.