Insulation Materials & Properties

Choosing the right insulation means matching a material's properties to the application: temperature, moisture, fire risk, space and budget all pull on the decision, and no single material wins everywhere. A material that is ideal in a loft is wrong on a steam pipe, and one that suits a below-ground wall would be a fire risk near a flue. This lesson covers thermal conductivity, the common materials and their niches, and the properties beyond conductivity that often decide the choice.