Insulation

Considering these shelters are designed for Delhi-NCR region, the weather conditions were considered within the designs.

To accommodate for issues of overheating, the shelter is MS insulated. I researched different types of insulation to identify the best option for my design

I) Electrical Insulation

Considering that this is used to resist electricity and magnetism, this form of insulation would restrict free flow of electric currents or charges, giving little freedom for the electrons to drift from atom to atom. I considered materials like rubber, plastic, ceramics etc.

II) Acoustic Insulation

Materials like reinforced concrete, clay brick, steel plate etc. provide a barrier for sound. They prevent sound from entering or exiting an enclosed space and is demonstrated by the sound transmission loss which is expressed by the difference of decibels between the incident sound and permeated sound.

III) Thermal Insulation

It is used to reduce the effect of heat transfer. It is determined by thermal conductivity, which is a measure of the amount of heat that is transferred through a material. The lower the thermal conductivity the better the insulation. This seemed like the appropriate insulation for the shelter design.

Types of Thermal Insulation

I choose the following forms of thermal insulation for the shelter.

I) Loose-fill and Blown-in Insulation

Researching different forms of thermal insulation, I found that glass wool, cellulose, or mineral wool can be used as loose-fill insulation. These small particles form an insulation material that can conform to any space without disturbing structures or finishes. Hence, this would be good for adding insulation to already existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas and around obstructions. The cost of using any loose-fill insulation would be around Rs 20 to Rs. 25 per square foot.

II) Double Bubble Insulation

Incorporating reflective double bubble products, I added two layers of polyethylene industrialized air bubbles bonded between the exterior. This would cost around Rs. 15-30 per square feet, depending on the thickness of the sheet.

III) Spray Foam Insulation

Polyurethane spray, or spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a chemical product composed of isocyanate and polyol resin.

I went ahead using glass wool as the insulating material.

Why Glass- Wool ?

I) Thermal Performance

II) Cost Effective

III) Eco- Friendly

IV) Other benefits

Based on the R value rating system (a scale that helps us determine the effectiveness of insulation in resisting heat traveling through it) glass wool’s R value ranged from 2.2 to 4.3 depending on its thickness. This shows that glass wool has excellent thermal insulating properties, implying it reduces the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of a building. It helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature by minimizing heat loss during colder seasons and heat gain during hotter seasons.

Compared to alternative options like spray foam, wood fiber insulation, etc. glass wool is more affordable. Its affordability along with its high thermal performance made it an ideal choice for insulation.

Glass wool is mostly made of recycled glass fibers including flat glass and glass bottles. The remaining glass is usually sourced from sand—a highly available resource. Additionally, most glass wool manufacturers have taken the initiative to make the production process sustainable by implementing water recycling. Glass wool insulation can also be fully recycled. It is also extremely versatile, making it perfect for use in residential and commercial projects alike.

The other benefits include it being fire resistant; having sound insulation which would help in providing more sound sleep to the residents. The material is lightweight making it easier to install and handle as compared to others. Last but not least glass wool insulation is durable and retains insulating properties over time.