How much thermal insulation do floor coverings made from rubber granules provide?
Thermal insulation from floor coverings made from rubber granules is supplementary and varies with the product design and thickness; it does not replace the thermal insulation required within the building structure. Across the WARCO range, thermal conductivity is approximately 0.07 to 0.16 W/(m·K), depending on the product line. By comparison, EPS insulation materials achieve approximately 0.032 to 0.040 W/(m·K), so they provide substantially greater insulation than floor coverings made from rubber granules at the same thickness.
Thermal conductivity and thickness determine the thermal resistance of a floor covering: lower thermal conductivity produces greater thermal resistance, as does a thicker covering. On a cool mineral substrate, a dry covering made from rubber granules draws heat from the foot more slowly and therefore feels less cold. With porous outdoor coverings, thermal insulation decreases when wet because water conducts heat more readily than the air within the pores.
For the thermal insulation of flat roofs and ceilings, the performance of the complete roof or ceiling build-up is decisive. With underfloor heating, the thermal resistance of the covering slows heat output into the room; the thicker the floor covering, the greater this slowing effect.