Vacuum insulation panels: creating space and saving energy

Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have extremely low insulation thicknesses, up to 90% less compared to traditional insulation materials with similar thermal resistances. However, the thinness of VIPs does not prevent them offering super-insulation performance: VIPs have a thermal conductivity between 0.002 and 0.008 W/(m·K) after production, 5 to 10 times better than conventional insulation materials. VIPs can be used in buildings, appliances and transport or in any application where space is an issue but the architect, designer or builder won’t compromise on insulation properties.

The website of VIPA International includes several case studies of buildings where VIPs delivered important space savings. For instance, VIPs enabled the refurbishment of a 50 years old office building in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, in a fraction of the space required by traditional insulation materials (72 mm vs 300 mm) to achieve the requested U value of < 0.18 W/(m²∙K). The renovation of the secondary school of Freilassing in Bavaria was also made possible by VIPs, allowing the architects to achieve the required high thermal insulation rates without limiting room height.

In view of the recent proposal of the European Commission on energy efficiency, the Vacuum Insulation Panel Association reiterates the important contribution VIPs can make in achieving the European Union energy efficiency targets, and the valuable space savings/gains VIPs can deliver. The association proposes that useful floor area considerations should be included in criteria used when comparing insulation materials for cost-optimal performance in new and renovated buildings.