Technical detail
This section contains all relevant technical detail for each of our construction systems. For more information or to book a CPD, please get in touch directly to arrange a time.
Technical Performance
The performance characteristics of buildings constructed from the Kingspan TEK® Building System quoted on this website are predicated on its use as a full System i.e. incorporating walls and roof built with TEK® Building System panels.
Fire performance
There are restrictions placed upon this product which vary dependent on the building type, height, construction and location. For guidance regarding the routes to compliance for meeting the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations / Standards, refer to the relevant Technical Bulletins and links to Government websites at www.kingspantek.co.uk/fireregulations.
U-values
The Kingspan TEK® Building System comprising 142 mm thick panels can achieve whole wall and roof U-values of 0.20 Wm2 K or better with no additional insulation. The TEK® Building System comprising 172 mm thick panels can achieve whole wall and roof U-values of 0.17 W/m2 K or better with no additional insulation.
Air-tightness
In addition to the excellent U-values that can be achieved by walls and roofs constructed using the Kingspan TEK® Building System, the closed cell structure of the rigid urethane insulation core of the panels does not allow movement of air within them. The insulation will not sag or physically deteriorate over time, as may be the case with other insulating materials. The Kingspan TEK® Building System’s proprietary jointing system can create a very air-tight structure. Air leakage levels can be as good as 0.08 air changes per hour at normal pressures (approximately 1 m3 /hour/m2 at 50 Pa).
Thermal bridging
Repeating thermal bridges occur where a material with a significantly worse thermal conductivity interrupts the insulation layer in a construction. U-value calculations for conventional timber frame systems take into account the effects of repeating thermal bridges i.e. timber studs etc. The insulation layer in the Kingspan TEK® Building System is not interrupted by repeating studwork. Therefore, there is less repeating thermal bridging.
There are, however, some thermal bridges, e.g. where timbers are used to support point loads etc. The overall result is that the Kingspan TEK® Building System only has 4% thermal bridging from timber elements for a typical domestic building wall and 1% thermal bridging from timber elements for a typical domestic building roof. Linear thermal bridges occur at junctions, e.g. wall to floor interface, and openings, e.g. windows, in the building fabric, and are expressed as psi (y) values. y-values are an important factor in the calculation methodologies used to assess the operational CO2 emissions of buildings. The Kingspan TEK® Building System achieves very good y-values, due to the continuity of insulation at junctions and openings inherent in the System’s design.
Thermal Conductivity
The thermal conductivity (λ-value) of the OSB/3 component of Kingspan TEK® Building System panels should be taken as 0.13 W/mK. The declared thermal conductivity of the insulation core of the TEK® Building System panels is 0.024 W/mK.
Thermal Resistance
Kingspan TEK® Building System panels have a thermal resistance (R-value) of 4.85 m2 K/W (142 mm thick panels) or 6.10 m2 K/W (172 mm thick panels). It is calculated by dividing the thickness of each component (expressed in metres) by its thermal conductivity and adding the resultant figures together. The resulting number is rounded down to the nearest 0.05 (m2 K/W).
The λ-values and R-values detailed below are quoted in accordance with BS EN 13165: 2008 (Thermal insulation products for buildings – Factory made rigid polyurethane foam (PUR) products – Specification).
Resistance to Airborne Sound
Field tests to BS EN ISO 140–4: 1998 (Field measurements of airborne sound insulation between rooms) on separating walls, externally faced with 12.5 mm plasterboard, 19 mm gypsum planks and 9.5 mm plasterboard to each 142 mm Kingspan TEK® Building System wall panel, achieved an average sound reduction of 58 dB (DnT,w (C;Ctr) 58 (–3; –7) dB). A laboratory test on a single wall panel with no internal dry-lining achieved a sound reduction (Rw) of 31 dB. The Kingspan TEK® Building System, in a 142 mm thickness, has been listed with Robust Details and achieved a proprietary flanking condition using the TEK® Building System inner leaf in combination with timber separating walls E-WT1 and E-WT-2 (see Robust Details, Appendix A2).
CO2 Emissions
The first step in minimising the CO2 emissions of a building is to reduce its space heating demand. The most effective way to reduce the space heating demand of a building is to improve the performance of its envelope by specifying low U-values, low air permeability and by avoiding significant thermal bridging wherever possible.
Zero ODP and Low GWP
The fibre-free insulation core of Kingspan TEK® Building System panels is manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Responsible Sourcing
Kingspan Insulation’s Selby, North Yorkshire manufacturing facility, at which Kingspan TEK® Building System panels are produced, carries FSC® (FSC®- C109304) and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. As standard, the OSB facing of the TEK® Building System panels is PEFC certified. This certification verifies that the OSB facing of TEK® Building System panels is legally sourced from well managed forests.
BREEAM
The Kingspan TEK® Building System can help achieve credits in a number of sections of BREEAM. A technical bulletin has been produced covering, in detail, what credits are available.
The technical bulletin can be downloaded from www.kingspantek.co.uk/literature.
All information correct at the time of writing; March 2022.
System Specifications
Structural Dimensions
Kingspan TEK® Building System panels are available in the following standard size(s):
Nominal Dimension
Length (mm)
Availability
7,500 (max.) (for walls a maximum 3 m storey height is allowed)
Width (mm)
200 (min.) 1,220 (max.)
Thickness (mm)
142 (112 mm rigid urethane insulation core sandwiched between two layers of 15 mm OSB/3) 172 (142 mm rigid urethane insulation core sandwiched between two layers of 15 mm OSB/3)
The Facings
Kingspan TEK® Building System panels are faced on both sides with a maximum of 15 mm OSB/3, autohesively bonded to the rigid thermoset urethane insulation core during manufacture.
The Core
The core of Kingspan TEK® Building System panels is a high performance fibre-free, thermoset, 112 or 142 mm thick rigid urethane insulant, manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Standards and Approvals
Kingspan TEK® Building System panels are manufactured to the highest standards under a management system certified to ISO: 9001 2008 (Quality Management Systems. Requirements), ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental Management Systems. Requirements), BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. Requirements) and ISO 50001: 2011 (Energy Management Systems. Requirements with Guidance for use).
The Kingspan TEK® Building System holds BBA Certification No. 02/S029.
Strength & Stability
The permissible vertical load resistance for Kingspan TEK® Building System panels is sufficient for the System’s use as loadbearing partitions, separating walls, the inner leaf of external walls and pitched roofs in dwellings up to four storeys high. For specific structural properties please refer to BBA certificate 02/S029, which is available from www.bbacerts.co.uk or contact the Kingspan Insulation Technical Service Department (see rear cover for details).
Durability
The Kingspan TEK® Building System panels will have comparable durability to that of OSB/3 to BS EN 300 (Code of Practice for the selection and application of Particle Board, Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Cement Bonded Particle Board and Wood Fibre for specific purposes.), therefore as long as the System remains weather-tight, a life of at least 60 years may be expected.
Water Vapour Resistance
The insulation core of Kingspan TEK® Building System panels typically achieves a resistance of 33.6 MNs/g, when tested in accordance with BS EN 12086: 2013 (Thermal insulating products for building applications. Determination of water vapour transmission properties). The OSB/3 facing typically achieves 7.5 MNs/g.
Resistance to Solvents, Fungi and Rodents
The rigid urethane insulation core is resistant to dilute acids, alkalis, mineral oil and petrol. It is not resistant to some solvent-based adhesive systems, particularly those containing methyl ethyl ketone. Adhesives containing such solvents should not be used in association with Kingspan TEK® Building System. TEK® Building System components, which have been in contact with harsh solvents, petrol, mineral oil or acids, or components that have been damaged in any way should not be used. The rigid urethane insulation core and facings used in the manufacture of Kingspan TEK® Building System panels resist attack by mould and microbial growth and do not provide any food value to vermin.
All information correct at the time of writing; March 2022.