Very often, when one hears about metal prefabs, one thinks of temporary structures, for sheltering machinery and tools; structures that are cold in winter and torrid in summer. The reality, however, is quite different, and thanks to development it is possible to build constructions that combine the practicality and ease of prefabrication with high degrees of comfort: these are insulated prefabs.
What are insulated prefabs?
Since the dawn of civilization, man has always sought solutions to shelter himself not only from the weather but also from cold and heat. After all, wanting to simplify as much as possible, the world of building and construction starts precisely from these needs.
Insulated prefabs are an answer to precisely these needs. Structures that, thanks to thecombination of several materials – typical the case of the “sandwich ” panel – manage to ensure very high standards of insulation from the external environment, thus also allowing greater efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Efficiency that translates into lower consumption and lower costs.
But what is meant by insulation?
In a time like ours, when more and more attention is rightly being paid to reducing consumption,energy efficiency, the topic of insulation-that is,thermal and acoustic insulation between different rooms-is increasingly topical. Even in the world of prefabrication there is no exception.
The constant challenge is to always find new materials and new solutions to ensure an optimal level of insulation, at low cost and with reduced environmental impact due to the possibility of reducing energy consumption.
The main element in the construction of insulated prefabricated boxes and modules is the so-called “sandwich panel,” which is a panel consisting of two sheets of sheet metal that enclose within them (just like in a “sandwich”) a layer of insulating material that in addition to increasing the insulation with the outside gives structure and solidity.
What types of insulation apply to insulated prefabs?
As we have seen, insulation is an essential, we could say constitutive, element of metal prefabs. With two major variables that allow to expand the range and performance of insulated prefabricated modules and boxes: the type of insulating material and its thickness.
In fact, the panels are not all the same and the first difference lies precisely in their thickness; in fact, depending on the final use, it is possible to choose between panels with insulation ranging from a few tens of millimeters to several centimeters.
As can be easily guessed as the thickness increases, the degree of insulation of prefabricated insulated modules increases, making them suitable even for particularly harsh climates such as those in high mountains. Moreover, insulation is not only a feature of the walls; the ceiling and especially the floor can also be covered with panels so as to increase insulation at every point.
Another and fundamental variable is the type of material used for insulation. Nowadays, two are mainly used: polyurethane and mineral wool. Different materials that, depending on the location and intended use, offer the best performance in terms of thermal insulation and also, depending on the various characteristics, fire resistance.
What uses can insulated prefabs have?
Precisely because of their characteristics and high performance, insulated boxes and prefabs find use in all those solutions intended for human presence: think of prefabricated offices, laboratories, dormitories, as well as prefabricated kitchens and canteens, prefabricated toilets with showers, sports centers, prefabricated gyms, halls and community centers.
All the way to actual prefab houses, such as the case of the PMAR, i Removable Residential Modular Prefabricated Units requested by the Emilia-Romagna Region following the 2012 earthquake. Real small houses in which to house families affected by the earthquake for the entire time of reconstruction and not only fully equipped and furnished but also perfectly insulated thanks to the use of panels as much as 6 centimeters thick and able to ensure optimal comfort in all seasons. Certainly more technical, but equally noteworthy, is finally the use of insulated prefabricated boxes to house equipment and machinery, even very sophisticated ones, that need high insulation and constant temperatures in order to operate, perhaps in combination with air conditioning and air extraction systems.
