In the midst of the current energy crisis, the need for more effective insulation and sealing of windows and doors must be an urgent priority, says Andy Swift, sales and operations manager for foam sealants specialist, Iso Chemie.

He adds that it’s not just the frames themselves that need attention when it comes to keeping out the cold this winter – it’s the entire installation that needs to be addressed.

“With 25% of the heat leaking from around windows it’s now even more important to effectively seal around the window to wall gap,” said Andy. “Even before the current energy crisis, it was always an area requiring urgent attention but now it has become paramount because millions of people are struggling to heat their homes and stay warm this coming winter.

“However, by using modern foam sealants to create a thermal and airtight seal around the window, the amount of heat loss around frames is significantly reduced. Indeed, after only a few years against a leaky joint, investment in new sealing tapes will have paid for itself.

“Retrofitting properties with products like Winframer, Vario SD and Bloco One has become a direct focus for property developers and housing associations and is a cost-effective way to insulate existing properties very quickly. They say the greenest home is one already built. It just needs proper retrofit insulation.”

A pre-compressed tape, Iso Bloco One, which has been independently tested and is both BBA and Passivhaus certified, can be used on joints up to 42mm, providing a high-performance weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation seal.

Applied around the frame during fitting, Iso Bloco One tapes are designed to reduce heat loss and noise ingress to a U value better or equal to the frame. According to Iso Chemie, this ensures that an ‘A’ rated installation has been completed rather than just an ‘A’ rated window supplied.

The product can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90° and is impermeable to driving rain with a minimum of 600 Pa.