Gulf Construction Online - Thermal paints ‘gaining ground’

Insulation

The Al Nasr Palace in Dubai.

Thermal paints ‘gaining ground’

01 December 2006

With thermal insulation beginning to play an increasingly greater role in the construction industry, the paint sector has joined global efforts to develop new and innovative techniques to save energy and cut down power consumption.

“Thermal insulation paint on buildings is the new kid on the block and is quickly gaining ground,” says Niru Naik, exterior brand manager of Jotun Paints.
“This type of paint is formulated to reflect the sunlight so that heat absorbed indoors is reduced, thus putting less load on air-conditioning systems therefore reducing energy consumption,” he explains.
He continues: “The construction industry is becoming more environment-conscious and using various control devices and energy-saving measures that help cut down on power consumption. Contractors and consultants are now having an equal say on the environmental considerations of a project. The Dubai Municipality too is also actively involved in improving environmental standards in the construction industry and evidence of this can clearly be seen in the way buildings are now being insulated. The municipality has released a book titled ‘Guidelines for Thermal Insulation in Buildings’ and made thermal insulation mandatory for all new buildings.”
Thermal insulation paint, such as Jotashield, offer distinct advantages when is applied to buildings, according to Naik.
“Independent, certified tests have clearly shown that its application reduces heat transfer, the cooling load and costs,” he says. “The quality of indoor air is also enhanced and the living made more comfortable. It also helps minimise condensation and fungus, protects against structural damage and has good acoustic properties. Due to these factors, the process of repainting of the building is postponed.”
He continues: “This innovative paint, which acts as a sunscreen, is also easy to apply. It is applied in three coats – and can be applied to any building made of concrete, and cement plaster.
“All it takes is one coat of Jotashield Thermo Primer and two coats of Jotashield Thermo (texture coat roller or trowel-applied) and the job is done. Once the complete building is painted, it can reflect 86.2 per cent of the sun’s ray and has an emissivity value of 0.93 per cent. And that’s not all – this revolutionary insulation paint can bridge cracks up to 0.6 mm.”
So how much of energy does thermal insulation paint actually save?
“We believe it can reduce the temperature by 3 to 4 deg C, depending on its thickness, in effect, reducing the energy consumption by 20 per cent,” says Naik.
If there are any limitations in the use of thermal insulation paint, it is the restriction in the choice of colours.
“Thermal insulation paints generally need to be light in colours as darker colours tend to absorb more heat, thus having an impact on the insulating mechanism,” says Naik.
The lack of colour choice does not outweigh the advantages of thermal insulation, considering the fact that the application cost is competitive compared to more traditional systems.
“The costs are the same in terms of application when you compare it with conventional paints, unless of course you want to have a more complicated system like a washed two-tone appearance to give you a heritage effect,” says Naik.
So who are the leaders in thermal insulation paint technology and how much of the market has Jotashield captured?
“There are quite a few local and international brands exist but Jotashield has been making a good impact because we have been very active in giving seminars to various agencies and companies in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East,” says Naik. “The product is also the only paint approved and certified by the Dubai Municipality with radiation control coating properties. Our regional R & D laboratory is constantly doing tests and creating various products to expand our market share,” he adds.
Thermal insulation paints are designed to complement and enhance the insulative properties of materials used in construction such as plaster, block work and polystyrene, Naik adds.