GB2529269A

GB2529269A - Insulation module

Info

Publication number: GB2529269A
Application number: GB1421608.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Clews; Daniel Clews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-15
Filing date: 2014-12-04
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-04
Also published as: GB201414512D0; GB201421608D0; GB2529269B

Abstract

The insulation panel has a slab of insulating material 13 and a layer of support material 11; one or more of the edges 14 extend beyond the insulation material to form a tab for attaching to a beam or joist; preferably non-permanently with an adhesive such as double sided tape. The edge may be formed from the support material or another layer attached to it, made from a different material. Preferably, there are two perforated support layers encapsulating the insulation; the first film 11 is co-planar with the edges, the second film 12 is tray shaped to fit around the insulation, but having a larger volume so that there is a cavity 9. The insulation material is preferably thermally or acoustically insulating or fire proof; is of a loose-fill or deformable type; is removable from the module via a re-sealable flap. A method is provided for the insulation of the modules between frame timbers (fig 4, 25) and to one another.

Description

Insulation Module This invention relates to an insulation module and insulation module assembly and in particular, though not exclusively, to a thermal or acoustic insulation module and assembly for use in providing thermal or acoustic insulation for a building.

The invention is of particular applicability to buildings comprising timber frames that define voids that are to be filled with thermal or acoustic insulation material.

Particularly in relation to the construction of so-called stud walls comprising a timber or metal frame to which a board such as plasterboard is secured for forming a smooth outer surface it is often required to provide within the wall a suitable thermal insulation material, that additionally affording a degree of acoustic insulation. The provision of one or more of a condensation barrier, a vapour barrier and a fire barrier often also is desirable.

One known technique for forming an insulated stud wall comprises partly covering the frame structure with plasterboard and then positioning layers of insulation material in the void within the wall structure, supported in position by the plasterboard, prior to putting into position one or more final sections of plasterboard to complete covering of the frame structure.

The need to coordinate insulation work with the installation of plasterboard is inconvenient, particularly for large new-build projects. Further disadvantages are that the method of installing the insulation is time consuming, and the choice of insulation material needs to be restricted in view of health and safety considerations in order to ensure that operatives are not exposed unduly to potentially hazardous material.

The invention also is of particular applicability to provision of insulation for external solid walls and party walls, irrespective of whether they comprise a timber frame.

Not infrequently the wall of a building under construction will be ready for insulation and subsequent operations before the building has been roofed or otherwise made weather tight. To delay application of the insulation until the building has been made weather tight can lead to additional costs, such as those associated with the re-scheduling of man power and increase in length of construction time.

Known wall insulation products and installations are prone to damage if exposed to other than moderate weather conditions. Thus they are likely to disrupt and delay the progress of building construction.

The present invention seeks to provide a method and an insulation product which mitigates or overcomes at least some of the aforedescribed disadvantages of known methods of insulation and known insulation products.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an insulation module for securing to a support structure, said module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material is a primary support layer comprising a support region which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein the material of the module extends outwardly from at least one edge region of the body of material to provide an outwardly extending edge region whereby the outer periphery of the module is greater than that of the body of insulation material.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an insulation module for securing to a support structure, said module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material is a primary support layer comprising a support region which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein at least one edge region of the primary support layer extends beyond said support region whereby, in use, fixing means may co-operate with the at least one edge region to secure the module to a support structure. Thus the outwardly extending material of the module as defined in the preceding paragraph may be a part of the primary support layer.

Alternatively a module may comprise outwardly extending material which is secured, for example by adhesive or heat moulding, to the support layer material without the outwardly extending material necessarily being of the same material as that of the primary support layer.

The insulation material may be sandwiched between two support layers and an outwardly extending region of material may be substantially co-planar with one of the support layers or may extend outwardly from a position between said support layers, for example midway between said support layers.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an insulation module for securing to a support structure, said module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material is a primary support layer comprising a support region which has a first side which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein said support region has a second side provided with an adhesive element whereby, in use, said adhesive element enables the insulation module to be secured adhesively to a support structure. The module may comprise also an outwardly extending region of material as aforedescribed.

The adhesive element may, for example, be a double sided tape or pad having a protective outer layer which can be removed prior to installation of the module against a support surface.

In use for constructing an insulation module assembly an outwardly extending edge region of a module may be employed to enable the module to be secured to a support such as part of the frame of a stud wall. Alternatively or additionally it may be employed for association with another, adjacent module to form a seal, such as an air barrier seal therebetween and/or to provide support of one module relative to another.

The insulation material may be a material which serves primarily to provide thermal insulation, acoustic insulation or a combination of thermal and acoustic insulation. The insulation material may be a material which is fire resistant.

Although not essential, the material of the primary support layer preferably is a flexible material at least at the edge region whereby, in use, it may accommodate any misalignment of parts of the structure to which the module is to be secured.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the body of insulation material is sandwiched between two layers of support material, one being said primary support layer and the other being an auxiliary support layer. Optionally both of the support layers may comprise at least one edge region for securing the module to a support structure.

The body of insulation material may be a flexible body. Particularly in the case of insulation material which is in the form of a flexible body the whole of the or each layer of support material also may be flexible.

Although typically the or at least one support layer will be required to be in the form of a continuous, non-apertured sheet, if the body of insulating material is of a cohesive, non particulate type the support layer may be in the form of a mesh or other such perforated type material.

An example of a suitable material for the or each support layer is polyethylene. Other materials such as polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene may be employed.

The material of the or each support layer may be a material that provides one or more of the properties that enable it to perform as a vapour barrier, a condensation barrier and a fire protection barrier.

A support layer may comprises two or more layers of material, and one of said layers may have a property which differs from a property of another of the layers of that support layer. Optionally two or more layers of a support layer may be bonded or otherwise secured together.

The outward facing surface of the or each support layer may be a reflective layer. The support layer may comprise a metalised foil. The support layer may, for example, be of a material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or polypropylene and to which a metallic coating has been applied.

Particularly but not only in the case of insulation material which is of a cohesive type, for example in the form of a slab of insulation material, it may be sandwiched between two support layers without being secured to either of those layers. Alternatively the body of insulation material may be secured to the primary support layer, or at least one of a pair of support layers, for example by means of adhesive or by mechanical means such as staples.

In a said sandwich type construction the body of insulation material may be a body which is secured to one or each of the primary and auxiliary support layers or it may be unsecured such that it is moveable within the sandwich, with the support layers providing support to retain the insulation material between said layers.

In a sandwich type construction the primary support layer may have an edge formation which is co-planar with said support region of the support layer that confronts the insulation material. Thus the other, auxiliary support layer may be shaped to define a recess region, such as a tray-like space having a central region to confront the body of insulation material and boundary regions that confront edges of the body of insulation material.

The auxiliary support layer may be over-sized as compared with the size needed to define a recess for accommodating the volume of the body of insulation material. Thus particularly if the insulation material is of a loose fill type or deformable, as in the case of a batt of glass fibre, the flexibility of an oversized auxiliary layer will readily permit the body of insulation material to be spread sideways, or inwards as necessary to fill a space of irregular shape particularly in horizontal applications such as the provision of thermal insulation between loft joists.

The insulation material may be of a substantially self defined shape and suitable such materials include panels of rock mineral wool, polystyrene and low density rigid polyisocyanurate foam. However particularly for an insulation module in which the insulation material is sandwiched between two support layers it may be of a re-shapable or loose fill type and examples of such materials include vermiculite, glass fibre and wool.

Preferably the insulation material and support layer(s) are flexible whereby a module may be deformed for or during insertion into a restricted space, or may be employed for insulation of a curved space such as that within a curved wall.

In a module construction in which the insulation material is contained between and supported by two support layers, whether or not secured to one or each of said layers, said support layers may wholly encapsulate the insulation material such that that material is protected from exposure to or contamination by an external environment.

The or each edge region of a module may be of a material mechanically securable to a timber frame, for example by means of staples or nails.

However, and particularly for use in structures comprising plastic or metal members, the edge region may be adapted for securing by means of adhesive. For that purpose an edge region may comprise double sided type adhesive tape whereby by peeling away a protective layer of the tape it will enable a module to be adhesively secured to a support structure.

The insulation module may comprise one or more edge regions in the form of a tab. Alternatively or additionally it may comprise and edge region of an elongate shape which extends substantially wholly along the length of one or more edges of the module.

The support region of a primary support layer may be of a rectangular shape and the support layer or one or each of a pair of support layers may comprise edge regions which extend substantially wholly along the length of two or more edges of the support region. If only two of the edges of the module are provided with an edge region for attachment to a support structure, preferably said two edges are opposite edges in the case of a module of rectangular shape. More preferably, however, an insulation module for a stud wall is provided with elongate edge regions at three or four of the edges of the support region whereby the module may be installed in a manner in which it may provide a substantially airtight barrier in combination with the frame of a support structure.

The or each support layer may be of a material which may be readily cut on site to enable the size of the module to be reduced. An edge region of a module comprising two support layers may be provided with double sided tape having a peelable protective layer which can be removed to enable an encapsulated body of support material to be re-sealed within the module following a reduction in the volume of the thermal insulation material.

The size of the module may be selected to be related to the or one of the standard sizes of voids into which it is intended to be installed. Thus in one example it may comprise a rectangular shaped body of insulation material, optionally in the form of a slab, of a length of 1175mm and width of 140 mm, 285 mm or 570 mm. In that case, and with a continuous edge formation at each of the four sides of the rectangular shape, and with the edge formations co-planar with the support region of the primary support layer the module may have an overall size of a length of 1275 mm and width of 240 mm, 385 mm or 670 mm for an edge formation of 50 mm width. Typically suitable thicknesses forthemoduleare50mm, 90mm, 100mm, l4Ommandl5Omm.

More generally the invention relates to a rectangular shaped module having a length in the range 300 mm to 3,000 mm, and a width range of 200 mm to 1,000 mm, In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of insulating a structure of the kind comprising a plurality of members which define a void therebetween, said method comprising providing an insulation module of the type in accordance with the present invention and securing the or each edge of the insulation module to at least one of said members of the structure.

The method may comprise employing at least two insulation modules to occupy and preferably substantially wholly fill the void defined by support structure members. In that case edge regions of two adjacent modules may be secured to one another thereby to provide an airtight seal between the modules. The modules may be sealed also to the support structure members whereby the resulting assembly provides a barrier which is one or more of a condensation, vapour or fire barrier.

An edge region of a module may be provided with adhesive tape, for example double sided adhesive tape, whereby it may be adhesively secured to a support structure or to an edge region of another module in an assembly comprising two or more adjacent modules.

The invention provides also an insulation module assembly comprising the combination of an insulation module in accordance with the present invention and a support structure to which the insulation module is secured.

The support structure may be a structure which is adapted for use in forming at least a part of a wall of a building. Thus the support structure may, for example, be a timber frame and the insulation module assembly may be an assembly pie-manufactured in a factory in contrast to construction on site.

Thus, advantageously, the assembly may be manufactured in a substantially controlled environment thereby facilitating good construction standards and quality control irrespective of external climatic conditions such as extremes of temperature and wind which may be experienced on site. It will therefore be understood that the insulation module assembly may be employed for factory pre-fabrication of a part or a whole of a building.

In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention a method of insulating a structure such as that of a wall comprises providing an insulation module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material comprises a support region having a first side which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein said support region has a second side provided with an adhesive element and at least one edge of the support layer extends beyond said support region to provide an outwardly extending edge region, said method further comprising employing the adhesive element to secure the module to the support structure, applying a second module to the support structure at a position adjacent the first applied module, arranging an outwardly extending edge region of one module to lie over the surface of the adjacent module, and then securing the outwardly extending edge region to said other module.

The outwardly extending edge region of a module may comprise an adhesive element such as double sided adhesive tape for securing to an adjacent module thereby to provide a substantially airtight seal. Alternatively or additionally an outwardly extending region of one module may be secured to another by the application of adhesive or by the application of adhesive tape.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view in a first direction of an insulation module in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view in a second direction of the module of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view in the plane C-C of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of an assembly of a wall structure and insulation modules of the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an insulation module in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an insulation module in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows plan, side and end views of an insulation module in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows part of the plan view of Figure 7 with part of the module cut away, and a sectional view of part of the module; Figure 9 shows in detail part of the module plan in Figure 7; Figure 10 shows in plan the insulation module shown in Figure 7 and three variations thereof; Figure 11 shows the underside of the module shown in plan in Figure 7; Figure 12 shows an array of modules prior to assembly into contact with one another; Figure 13 shows another array of modules prior to assembly in contact with one another, and Figure 14 shows steps in the method of forming a seal between adjacent modules.

A thermal insulation module 10 comprises a planar support layer 11 and an auxiliary support layer 12. The auxiliary support layer 12 is of a tray like shape to define a recess which, in combination with the planar primary support layer 11 defines a cavity 9 which contains a slab 13 (see Figure 3) of thermal insulation material.

The recess region defined by the auxiliary support layer 12 is of a rectangular shape having length and width dimensions each less than the width and length dimensions of the primary support layer 11. In consequence, with the recess region of the auxiliary support layer lying centrally of the primary support layer there is defined a peripheral fixing tab 14 that extends continuously along and between each of the four sides of the module.

The layers 11 and 12 for retaining and thus supporting the slab 13 within the cavity are each comprised of thin sheets of polyethylene whereby the peripheral tab regions are flexible relative to a central support region 15 of the primary support layer, that central support region being bounded by the position at which the sides 16 of the auxiliary support layer contact and are secured to the primary support layer.

In this embodiment of the invention the slab 13 of insulation material is a material of low density rigid polyisocyanurate foam which serves primarily to provide thermal insulation properties but supplemented by providing also a degree of acoustic insulation.

As best seen in Figure 3, the auxiliary support layer 12 has a peripheral lip region 17 which extends outwardly from the side faces 16. That lip region 17 is secured by means of adhesive or thermal bonding to the tab region 14 of the primary support layer.

In this embodiment of the invention the slab of insulation material substantially wholly fills the cavity defined between the primary and auxiliary support layers and has a length of 1175 mm, a width of 570mm and a thickness of 100 mm.

The length of 1175mm corresponds with one of the standard spacings of the vertical supports of a timber framed stud wall. Accordingly, referring to Figure 4, vertically extending timbers 25 of a stud wall frame are spaced by 1175mm and the spaces between the successive pairs of members 25 are thereby substantially fully occupied by the thermal insulation material. However the tab 14 at the boundary region of the primary support layer 11 is over-sized in relation to the spacing of the frame timbers 25 and thus tab sections 26 may be laid over an outwardly facing surface 27 of each timber such that staples 29 or like means may be employed to secure the module in position relative to the frame timbers 25. As considered in a vertical direction the longer tab sections 28 (see Figure 2) of the module may be secured to cross members of the stud frame or, if no such cross members are present, the tab region of one module may be bent inwards to lie alongside a side face 16 of the module and the tab region 28 of another, adjacent module may be secured to the surface of the first module by means of adhesive or sealing tape.

It is not essential that the tab region is of a double thickness comprising the material of each of the primary and auxiliary support layers. In a second embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 5, one or more edges 30 of the auxiliary support layer 31 may extend in an inwards direction and be bonded to the primary support layer 32 at a position within the central support region 33 of the primary support layer. At one or more other edges the auxiliary support layer 31 may extend only a short distance in an outwards direction to provide a small region 34 which similarly may be bonded or otherwise secured to the primary support layer 32.

By providing that the primary support layer and auxiliary support layer are defined by separate sheets of material that are then secured relative to one another it is possible to provide one layer having one preferred property, such as to act as a vapour barrier] and the other layer to have another preferred property such as acting as a fire protection barrier.

However the two layers may be of the same material and in that case, as shown in Figure 6, the two layers may be defined by a single sheet of material which has been folded at one edge 40 such that part of the sheet defines a primary support layer 41 and another part defines the auxiliary support layer 42, and with two edges 43, 44 of the sheet being bonded together at the region 45 such that a cavity 46 is defined by the space between the two folded sections of the single sheet of material.

Although specific reference has been made to the use of staples for securing the insulation modules to a support structure, the present invention teaches that alternatively or additionally adhesive, such as that of double sided adhesive tape may be employed for securing a module to a support structure.

A fourth embodiment of the invention, and variations of said embodiment are illustrated with reference to Figures 7 to 14. The fourth embodiment relates to an insulation module and method of forming an insulation module assembly which may be employed for insulation of a stud wall but which is particularly suitable for insulating a solid wall, such as the external wall or a party wall of a building.

The module 50 of the fourth embodiment of the invention comprises a layer 51 of insulation material which is sandwiched between and contained within two layers 52,53 each of a polyethylene material which has been provided with a reflective metallic coating. The two layers 52,53 in effect form a sealed bag which contains the insulation 51. Thus the two layers 52,53 act as support regions which contain and provide support for the insulation material.

Extending outwardly from two edges 54,55 of the support layers 52,53 are outwardly extending edge flaps 56,57. These extend outwardly and although of flexible polyethylene generally are able to lie in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the support layers 52,53 whilst also being sufficiently flexible in use to overlie an adjacent module. Each of the edge flaps 5657 extends from the support layers 5253 at a position mid-thickness of the module. In this embodiment the edge flaps 56,57 are secured to the support layers 52,53 by heat welding.

One side 53 of the module has adhesively secured thereto two adhesive elements 58, each being a strip of adhesive tape having a removable non-adhesive protective outer covering which can be removed to enable the module to be secured to a wall or other such support structure.

The insulation module 50 shown in plan in Figure 7 is shown again in Figure 50a alongside three other modules SOb, SOc and SOd. The modules SOb and SOc are constructed in a manner substantially similar to that of the module 5Oa except that in the case of the module SOb three edges of the insulation envelope are provided with edge flaps, and the module SOc is provided with only one edge flap. The module SOd is devoid of edge flaps.

Figure 12 shows the manner in which three of the modules shown in Figure 11 may be employed to form insulation over an area of wall surface greater than the surface area of any one module. Initially a module SOd is secured at a bottom left position to a wall surface. Then a module SOc is secured to the shorter edge of the module SOd, and a module 50c', corresponding to that of 1 Oc but having the edge flap on the longer of the edges of the rectangular shaped module is secured to the module SOd other modules are then secured to the wall structure in sequence adjacent to those three modules already applied to the wall surface. Then, to provide a substantially airtight seal between the modules, the edge flap of one module Soc is positioned to overlie the module SOd as shown inset on Figure 12 and also at Figure 14.

As further illustrated at Figure 14 the edge flap is pushed down onto the module SOd and then adhesive tape 60 is applied to secure the edge flap 54 of the module SOc to the surface 52 of the module SOd. By repeating that procedure for each of the edge flaps there results an insulation module assembly which provides both an efficient thermal barrier and a substantially airtight seal to inhibit airflow through the module assembly.

In addition to adhesively securing the modules to an expanse of unapertured wall, they may be employed, as best seen in Figure 13, for providing insulation around a doorway. In this case it is preferred that the edges of the modules adjacent the door frame are devoid of edge flaps. During installation the modules are butted firmly against the door frame thereby to provide a good degree of contact that inhibits airflow whilst nevertheless avoiding the need to secure edge flaps to a part of the door frame to which a decorative finish subsequently is to be applied.

Having regard to the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention provides a thermal insulation module which can readily be installed and secured to a support structure, and that that may be achieved without, for example, the need concurrently to install plasterboard or other such facing material without the need to wait until a weather tight environment has been created

Claims

CLAIMS1. An insulation module for securing to a support structure, said module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material is a primary support layer comprising a support region which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein the material of the module extends outwardly from at least one edge region of the body of insulation material to provide an outwardly extending edge region whereby the outer periphery of the module is greater than that of the body of insulation material.
2. A module according to claim 1 wherein the outwardly extending material is a part of the primary support layer.
3. A module according to claim 1 wherein the outwardly extending material is secured to the support layer material.
4. A module according to claim 3 wherein the outwardly extending 0 material is not of the same material as the material of the primary support layer.
5. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insulation material is sandwiched between two support layers and wherein an outwardly extending region of material is substantially co-planar with one of the support layers.
6. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layer of support material is a primary support layer comprising a support region which has a first side which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and a second side provided with an adhesive element whereby, in use, said adhesive element enables the insulation module to be secured releasably to a support structure.
7. A module according to claim 6 wherein the adhesive element comprises at least one of a double sided tape and a pad having a protective outer layer which is removable prior to installation of the module against a support structure.
8. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insulation material provides at least one of thermal and acoustic insulation and fire resistance.
9. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the material of the primary support layer is flexible at least at an edge region of a module.
10. A module according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising two layers of support material, one being said primary support layer and the IC) other being an auxiliary support layer, and the body of insulation material being sandwiched between said two layers of support material.
11. A module according to claim 10 wherein the body of insulation material o is a slab of insulation material unsecured to the primary and auxiliary support layers whereby it is movable relative to said support layers.
12. A module according to claim 10 wherein the body of insulation material is secured to at least one of the primary and auxiliary support layers.
13. A module according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the auxiliary support layer is shaped to define a recess region having a central region which confronts the body of insulation material and boundary regions that confront edges of the body of insulation material.
14. A module according to any one of claims lOto 13 wherein the auxiliary support layer is oversized as compared with the size needed to define a recess for accommodating the volume of the body of insulation material.
15. A module according to claim 14 wherein the insulation material is of a loose-fill type or is deformable.
16. A module according to any one of claims lOto 15 wherein the insulation material is wholly encapsulated by a protective primary support layer and auxiliary support layer.
17. A module according to any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein at least one support layer is in the form of a mesh or perforated type of material.
18. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body of insulation material is a flexible body.
19. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an edge region comprises double sided type adhesive tape.
20. A module according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising o two support layers between which said body of insulation material is i---sandwiched, an edge region of the module comprising double sided tape 0 having a peelable protective layer which, in use, can be removed to enable the encapsulated body of support material to be re-sealed within the module following a reduction in the volume of the thermal insulation material.
21. A module according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore describe.
22. A method of insulating a structure of the kind comprising a plurality of members which define a void therebetween, said method comprising providing an insulation module according to any one of the preceding claims and securing the or each edge of the insulation module to at least one of said members of the structure.
23. A method according to claim 22 and comprising employing at least two said insulation modules to occupy the void defined by the structure members, positioning said modules adjacent to one another and securing the modules to one another to provide an airtight seal therebetween.
24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the modules are sealed to the support structure members to provide a barrier which is at least one of a condensation, vapour and fire barrier.
25. A method of insulating a structure comprising providing an insulation module comprising a body of insulation material and a layer of support material wherein said layer of support material comprises a support region having a first side which confronts and provides support for the body of insulation material and wherein said support region has a second side provided with an adhesive element and at least one edge of the support layer extends beyond said support region to provide an outwardly extending edge region, said method further comprising employing the adhesive element to LI') secure the module to the support structure, applying a second module to the support structure at a position adjacent the first applied module, arranging an o outwardly extending edge region of one module to lie over the surface of the i---adjacent module, and then securing the outwardly extending edge region to 0 said other module.
26. A method according to claim 25 and comprising use of an insulation module according to any one of claims 1 to 21.
27. A method according to claim 22 or claim 25 and substantially as hereinbefore described.