Insulation Holds Strategic Importance for Turkey

Heat, water, sound and fire insulation – as an umbrella organisation addressing four vital issues, we have been advancing along the path we began 26 years ago, continuing our work uninterrupted to establish standards in our sector and promote insulation awareness throughout the country. Today we face the situation where 5 million of the country's 20 million residential units require comprehensive renovation. In this process, we must apply insulation in conditions compliant with regulations and standards to achieve safe and healthy buildings.

We Can Prevent Energy Waste in Buildings Through Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation is a matter of strategic importance for Turkey's future. Thermal insulation, which is of great importance to end users, directly impacts the national economy by providing energy efficiency in buildings. One of the core subjects of the New Economic Programme is savings. Winter heating costs in buildings have risen further due to increases in natural gas prices. To spend winter in both a healthy and comfortable environment and to reduce consumption by half without wasting our energy, it is essential that buildings be equipped with 'thermal insulation'. As of 2017, Turkey has 9.1 million buildings. Residential buildings comprise 87 percent of these structures. The number of households exceeds 22 million. Taking into account buildings that will be demolished under urban renewal schemes, those receiving individual insulation, and newly constructed efficient buildings, approximately 5.6 million residential units are identified as requiring insulation. Additionally, thermal insulation applications are being implemented in approximately 150,000 existing residential units annually. The introduction of thermal insulation regulations resulted in buildings constructed after 2009 having minimum class C insulation or better, reducing energy consumption in residential units from 68.7 percent to 59.9 percent.

Thermal Insulation Provides Savings of Up to 50 Percent

Thermal insulation, which contributes significantly to our health by ensuring balanced heat distribution in buildings where we live, is not only important during winter months but stands as one of the most effective measures against heat during summer as well. If we wish to live in safe and comfortable buildings while achieving savings of up to 50 percent in the energy we use, we must protect our buildings with thermal insulation. It is encouraging to see that insulation applications have begun to be prioritised in new buildings constructed during urban renewal processes, for both the insulation sector and society. When regulations are fully applied and inspection mechanisms come into effect properly, the contribution of thermal insulation applications to citizens, the sector and our country's economy will be substantial. By converting buildings in Turkey into thermally insulated structures, we can reduce our country's total energy bill by approximately 15 percent.

The Cost of Thermal Insulation Is Not High

Thermal insulation is of great importance for Turkey's economy and end users, and its cost is not high. In a newly constructed building, the cost of thermal insulation represents 2 to 5 percent of the total cost. For a citizen with a 100 square-metre residential unit, the cost of insulation application varies between TRY 3,500 and TRY 7,600 depending on factors such as the building's characteristics, the number of facades of the unit, and which thermal insulation board will be applied. Thanks to thermal insulation, which can be implemented at a highly reasonable cost, we have a healthy, safe and comfortable living space in every season.

Energy Performance Certificate Determines Building Classification

In accordance with the 'Building Energy Performance Regulation' which came into effect on 1 January 2011, obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate became mandatory for newly constructed buildings. According to this regulation, all residential units in our country are required to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate by 1 January 2020. The Energy Performance Certificate contains information about buildings' energy requirements, energy consumption classification, insulation properties, and the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Nowadays when buying, selling or renting homes, attention is paid not only to location, view and number of rooms but also to the certificate. The Energy Performance Certificate, which shows how much energy buildings consume, also determines their classification. According to data shared by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, 654,925 Energy Performance Certificates have been issued in our country. We can say that a significant portion of these certificates have been obtained due to the requirement for new buildings. According to statistics, only 2,234 of these certificates have been issued to meet class A requirements. Even assuming all certificates are issued in accordance with reality, it is observed that only 34 per thousand of certificate holders are class A. Taking into account the total building stock, we must acknowledge that this number is very low and there is much more work to be done ahead.

In the Energy Performance Certificate, the building's energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are classified between A and G. This classification is made taking into account the minimum conditions defined by regulations in the year the building was constructed.

A building's energy class is determined by the ratio of consumption values calculated for an existing building to the consumption values that would be obtained if the same building were constructed in the same location in compliance with laws. For example, in class G buildings, which represent the worst performance for buildings, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are very high. Class G buildings consume at least 75 percent more energy than the minimum conditions provided for by law. Class D buildings consume energy at the minimum conditions provided for by law or 19 percent more than these conditions. Buildings designated as class C in the energy performance certificate consume 1 to 20 percent less energy than the minimum conditions provided for by law, while buildings designated as class B consume 20 to 60 percent less energy. Class A buildings, which have the highest energy performance, consume at least 61 percent less energy than the minimum conditions provided for by law. While class B buildings can be achieved with higher insulation thicknesses in accordance with regulations and energy-efficient mechanical systems, class A buildings require increased insulation thickness, efficient mechanical systems and automation, along with effective use of renewable energy.

Increases Building Value

In buildings with high energy class recorded in the certificate, it is understood that in addition to thermal insulation, windows-doors and heating-cooling-ventilation systems are also of high quality and efficiency. For this reason, demand for the 'Energy Performance Certificate', which increases building value, is growing every day. In addition to the contribution thermal insulation provides in preventing national economic costs and environmental pollution, building value also increases. This is because the amount of energy a building consumes has now become a determining factor in the sale or rental of residential units.

Citizens Purchasing Residential Units Should Verify the Energy Performance Certificate

Citizens purchasing residential units should verify whether the building possesses an 'Energy Performance Certificate'. There is also an important matter requiring attention regarding thermal insulation in buildings. Applications using incorrect insulation materials do not achieve high levels of savings. For this reason, our citizens should demand that applications they have carried out use products bearing CE certification and the İZODER Quality Approval Certificate (İKOS) obtained through inspection by organisations that are members of İZODER. Firms carrying out insulation applications should also ask workers whether they hold a Professional Competence Certificate from the Professional Competence Institution (MYK). When these two important matters are taken into account, the likelihood of experiencing implementation problems will be minimised. Our final recommendation to consumers is that they have insulation applications carried out by İKOS-certified İZODER member product applicators who hold Professional Competence Certificates.

New Regulations Will Address a Major Gap in Our Country

As of 1 June 2018, the 'Building Water Insulation Regulation' and the 'Regulation on Protection of Buildings Against Noise', which will address a major gap in Turkey's construction sector and provide durability, quality and comfort to buildings, came into effect. Now 'water' and 'sound' insulation is mandatory in new buildings. Both regulations are of vital importance, serving society's right to live in durable, safe, healthy and comfortable buildings. In earthquake-prone Turkey, the water insulation regulation will address a very significant gap. If it is established that new buildings do not comply with the principles set out in this regulation, the building will not be issued an occupancy permit until such deficiencies are remedied. The urban renewal process now launched across Turkey represents a major opportunity for water insulation applications, and it is very important that water insulation in all newly constructed buildings is carried out in compliance with standards. The urban renewal drive will be incomplete without properly executed water insulation applications.

Noise Pollution Negatively Affects Us All

Sound insulation is a very important matter that addresses the residential units where we live and directly concerns society. The new regulation, which is very important for our country, has brought noise criteria to all existing and under-construction buildings to protect people's physical and mental health. Today, in every aspect of our lives, we are exposed to noise without realising it, and we are increasingly feeling the negative effects of this situation. In developed countries there is high sensitivity to this matter because sound insulation contributes to the creation of contemporary living standards. With the new regulation, technical rules for insulation systems used in buildings against noise pollution, one of the biggest problems of urban life, have been established. The regulation includes measures for controlling noise from television, music, speech and other sounds transmitted from neighbouring spaces within structures, as well as impact sounds and noise from mechanical systems and service equipment. Under the regulation, additional measures will now be taken in buildings to ensure that sound transmitted directly to adjacent rooms, such as speech, does not negatively affect those living in those spaces. Walls separating spaces will be constructed to minimise sound transmission. Similarly, floors will meet certain conditions to prevent transmission of sound spread by impact within the residential unit, such as walking, and noise generation. In order to reduce the amount of sound transmitted via building elements, in addition to noise and vibrations from installations, when determining elements such as walls, floors and windows in the building, the sound insulation properties of materials will be considered. The regulation, which came into effect on 1 June, covers not only residential units but also buildings where crowds of people gather, such as schools and hospitals.

Fire Insulation – We Are Not Yet Where We Should Be

Today, as a country, we are not yet at the point we wish to be regarding safe, healthy and quality building construction. The urban renewal process launched across Turkey presents a major opportunity for all insulation applications and fire insulation as well. When fire breaks out, measures must be taken to enable the fastest and safest evacuation of the fire area. Fire insulation comprises structural measures that limit the harmful effects of heat and smoke generated during fires and ensure life and property safety. Fire protection measures vary from country to country depending on construction techniques and the importance attached to the subject, but the basic principle is the same: priority is given to protection and survival. When fire breaks out, it is essential that measures be designed and implemented for protection and survival periods of 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 minutes. All these applications that ensure the fastest and safest exit of building occupants are referred to as 'Fire Protection Measures'.

Aesthetic Concerns in External Facades Should Not Take Precedence Over Fire Safety

In recent fire incidents that have spread rapidly on external facades, the preference for combustible external facade coatings with aesthetic appearance contrary to regulations, incorrect material selections, wrong detail solutions and implementations have played an important role. External facade coatings, which generally give buildings an aesthetic appearance, are typically applied to the facade in a way that leaves a ventilation gap between them and the external wall. From a fire safety perspective, this ventilation gap acts as a chimney during fires, causing flames to spread rapidly across the facade.

Incorrectly Applied Curtain Wall Systems Lead to Rapid Fire Spread

The regulation stipulates that in such ventilated curtain wall details, no materials, including insulation materials, should be combustible. However, as long as materials contrary to regulations are preferred due to lack of knowledge and economic reasons – that is, aesthetic and economic concerns take precedence over fire safety in curtain wall applications – the likelihood of encountering such fires will continue to exist. In curtain wall applications, material selection and detail solutions must take fire safety into account. It is very important to be sensitive and careful regarding such incidents that create negative perceptions about 'thermal insulation applications', which, like energy efficiency, occupy a very important place on our country's agenda. In curtain wall applications, material selection and detail solutions must treat fire safety design as the first and most important stage. Great importance should be given to designing and implementing external facade thermal insulation applications, which are of such vital importance to our country, in a manner that does not create security concerns.

The Real Threat Is Curtain Wall Applications Not Compliant With Regulations

We recommend that consumers rely on statements from institutions such as İZODER, which have been conducting work on this matter for years on scientific grounds and in an impartial manner, based on international standards. We want citizens to know this: "The real threat is curtain wall applications that do not comply with regulations.   Levent Pelesen Chairman of the Board İZODER