Are Recticel Insulation products suitable for use in inverted roofs?
No, they should be installed below the waterproofing membrane.
Are thermal calculations done in the same way for all building elements?
Generally speaking, yes - all calculations are done by the 'combined method'. However, ground floors differ slightly from other building elements in the information that is required. If requesting a calculation for a ground floor, please ensure that you provide a floor area and length of the exposed perimeter (i.e. the length of new floor along outside-facing walls). This allows us to calculate a perimeter/area ratio, which is crucial in the floor calculation.
Are you planning to insulate a gutter on a terrace, which needs to comply with the required U-value, but you have limited space?
At Recticel Insulation, we are committed to supplying high-quality insulation solutions for flat roofs. This is the reason why we created Deck-VQ - a tailor-made vacuum insulation solution for insulating terraces, where there is limited space.
Deck-VQ ensures that you can achieve the same U-value with your gutter as on your terrace. No more thermal performance losses through the gutter!
To make the installation simple and most efficient, we are happy to provide a customised installation plan.
Contact our Vacuum Insulation specialists to discuss further.
Are you planning to insulate a terrace, which needs to comply with the required U-value, but you have limited space?
At Recticel Insulation, we are committed to supplying high-quality insulation solutions for flat roofs. This is the reason why we created Deck-VQ - a tailor-made vacuum insulation solution for insulating terraces, where there is limited space.
Deck-VQ gives the opportunity to achieve low U-values within minimal insulation build-up, which is vital in many refurbishment and new build projects where there are structural or planning constraints. To make the installation simple and the most efficient, we are happy to provide a customised installation plan.
Can a breather membrane be laid directly over Recticel's insulation boards?
Different breather membrane manufacturers have different guidelines for their products, and these should always be consulted prior to installation. It may be possible to lay the breather membrane on the insulation, but with a counter batten airspace above.
If you would like to discuss application of any specific project, please contact our Technical Services.
Can I get a U-value calculated for my project using Recticel Insulation products?
Absolutely! Please contact our freephone technical helpline on 0800 085 4079 or use our free of charge U-value calculator here.
Can I put tiles or a wooden terrace on Deck-VQ® vacuum insulation?
Deck-VQ® is suitable for application in terraces with a tile or wood finishing. You should foresee an adequate amount of supports with a base surface on the waterproofing membrane of at least 100 cm².

Attention: the waterproofing membrane should be selected carefully so it can withstand the point loads, generated by the terrace supporting structure (e.g. appropriate spacers).
Contact our vacuum insulation specialist
Can I recess cables into Recticel PIR insulation boards?
Cables should not be recessed into the insulation boards. They may be laid between two layers of boards with the cabling oversized to accommodate for an increase in operating temperature. If cables penetrate an insulation layer, PIR will have no detrimental effect on cable sheathing.
Further guidance on the above should be obtained from a qualified electrician.
Can I recess downlighters into Recticel PIR insulation boards?
General best practice in such scenarios would be to include for a battened service zone to avoid compromising the performance both the insulation and the vapour control layer. The required depth of this “void” should be determined by the requirements of the specific lighting manufacturer.
If this is not suitable and the lighting needs to be recessed, then advice should be sought from the downlighter manufacturer.
For more information regarding this, an information document can be found within the IMA Resource Centre on the 'Use of downlighters, recessed lights or spotlights and PIR PUR insulation' here.
Can I use Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP) in a tapered flat roof solution?
Yes, this is possible and recommended. We always advise a slope towards the outlets to ensure an adequate water drainage to avoid water stagnation on the roof.
There are generally two ways to approach this with Deck-VQ®:
- The fall is incorporated in the substrate (screed layer): in this case the Deck-VQ® boards will follow the existing fall.
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The fall is incorporated in the insulation layer: in this case Deck-VQ® can be combined with our tapered insulation* boards (Powerdeck® F or Eurothane® Eurodeck) on top. Our technical service with specialized tapered design service then provides an easy-to-use design for both insulation layers.
*Tapered insulation incorporates the slope over the length of the panel. Therefore, the panels can be installed on a flat surface, tightly jointed whilst resulting in a sloped top surface. Tapered insulation presents the ideal solution for a technically correct and thermally optimal build-up.
Contact our vacuum insulation specialist