GIL23

Further information
The Energy Saving Trust sets energy efficiency standards that go beyond building regulations for use in
the design, construction and refurbishment of homes. These standards provide an integrated package of
measures covering fabric, ventilation, heating, lighting and hot water systems for all aspects of new build
and renovation. Free resources including best practice guides, training seminars, technical advice and online
tools, are available to help meet these standards.

The following publications may also be of interest:

Energy efficient house design – exploiting solar energy (GPG73)
Passive solar house designs – Barratt Study (GIL22)
Passive solar estate layout (GIR27)

To obtain these publications or for more information, call 0845 120 7799, email [email protected]
or visit www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings

Cavity wall insulation:

Unlocking the potential in
existing dwellings
Energy Saving Trust, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP Tel 0845 120 7799 Fax 0845 120 7789
[email protected] www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings

CE201 © Energy Saving Trust March 1997. Reprinted December 2005. E&OE
All technical information was produced by BRE on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust

This publication (including any drawings forming part of it) is intended for general guidance only and not as a substitute for the application of professional expertise.
Anyone using this publication (including any drawings forming part of it) must make their own assessment of the suitability of its content (whether for their own purposes or
those of any client or customer), and the Energy Saving Trust cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or other liability resulting from such use.
Printed on Revive Silk which contains 75% de-inked post consumer waste and a maximum of 25% mill broke.
 Introduction

Home energy use is responsible for 27 per cent of UK substantially reducing the emission of greenhouse
carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to climate gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are
change. By following the Energy Saving Trust’s best widely accepted as causing climate change.
practice standards, new build and refurbished housing
will be more energy efficient – reducing these emissions How does filling the cavity affect the wall?
and saving energy, money and the environment. Cavity wall construction in older housing generally
consists of two leaves of masonry, an outer leaf (often
Who is this publication for and for what purpose? of facing brickwork) and an inner leaf of brickwork or
This guide is aimed at local authorities and other social blockwork separated by a nominal 50mm wide cavity.
housing providers to advise on basic issues associated In reality most cavities are 65mm wide (BRE report for
with cavity fill, what to look for and when and where the Energy Saving Trust concerning EEC4, 2001). The
to install it. cavity was, of course, introduced originally to avoid
problems of dampness experienced by older solid
What is the current take-up of cavity wall walled dwellings.
insulation?
Cavity wall insulation is the single most cost-effective, Some people think that filling the cavity (in effect
low risk energy efficiency measure available for the bridging the gap between the two masonry leaves of
existing housing stock, after loft insulation. It can be the cavity wall) must lead to a greater risk of dampness
installed without major disruption to occupants and it passing from the ‘wet’ outer leaf to the ‘dry’ inner leaf.
needs no maintenance. In fact, this is not the case, as has been shown by a
government sponsored independent study carried out
Yet only around 5 million of the 12 million homes in the mid 1990s (Figure 1).
suitable for cavity fill are reaping the benefits of cheaper
fuel bills and greater comfort. This leaves some 7 million There was no evidence from the study that filling the
dwellings with cavity walls that could still be insulated cavity with insulation resulted in any greater incidence
(Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) 2002) and of damp problems than occurred in cavity walls that
provide householders with considerable financial and had not been filled with insulation.
comfort benefits. At the current rate of installation
– about 280,000 dwellings per annum – market What the study did show was that the structural
saturation is many decades away. There is no technical condition of the walls was critical in avoiding the
reason why this rate could not be increased – the transfer of moisture to the inner leaf.
benefits are well established.
Any cavity wall, if not correctly built, e.g. with poorly
What are the benefits? filled mortar joints or mortar droppings on wall ties,
People who own houses with cavity wall insulation would be likely to have problems.
identify the following benefits:
• Reduced fuel bills. Good construction and continuing maintenance, such
• A warmer house that stays warmer longer. as pointing, are key factors, therefore, in determining
• A cooler house in summer. whether a wall is suitable for cavity insulation.
• Reduced condensation.
• Fewer draughts.
• Environmental gains.

Cavity wall insulation can reduce the heat loss through

cavity walls by up to 40 per cent. Payback (savings
against costs) is estimated at between 3 and 4 years.
Cavity wall insulation can also lead to reduced heating
costs and improved comfort levels.

But the occupant is not the only potential beneficiary.

Installing cavity wall insulation in all suitable existing
dwellings would benefit the environment by

 Cavity wall insulation: Unlocking the potential in existing dwellings

Choices and assessment

The graphs below show the improvements associated assessment of the property to see which fill material
with cavity fill. There are fewer problems and less is the most suitable for your wall construction and
condensation and damp. Condensation and damp exposure.
are most commonly associated with poor ventilation
– especially to properties with filled cavities. Occupiers How to assess whether a house is suitable?
should be advised to maintain some form of controlled To ensure that cavity wall insulation is only installed
ventilation (e.g. trickle vents). where it is appropriate and to ensure that the price is
accurate, the designers of each cavity wall insulation
What are the choices of cavity insulation system have a strict assessment procedure.
system?
The vast majority of cavity wall installations are This procedure involves:
carried out using mineral wool systems (either rock
• Determining whether the wall is in fact a masonry
or glass mineral wool). The remaining installations
wall with unfilled cavities.
use mainly systems based on expanded polystyrene
beads or granules, with less than 1 per cent using • Inspecting the general condition of the external
urea-formaldehyde (UF) foam. wall.

There are some concerns about the health effects • Identifying any constructional defects that first
of formaldehyde cavity wall insulation. Allergic need to be remedied.
skin reaction to formaldehyde is unlikely at the
•  hecking on the inside of external walls to see if
C
concentrations used for cavity fill. However, some
there are any existing dampness problems that
individuals may suffer irritation to the eyes or upper
need to be remedied.
respiratory tract. If in doubt seek medical advice.
•  hecking any penetrations of the external wall,
C
Mineral wool and expanded polystyrene systems are e.g. for flues and air ventilators.
certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA).
• F inding out if the cavity of a directly adjacent
UF foam systems are covered by British Standards
house has already been filled, e.g. in a terraced or
(BS 5617, BS 5618). The BBA also assesses and regularly
semi-detached house.
monitors the performance of Approved Installers.
Before you go ahead, ask a number of different cavity • If necessary for the insulation system, checking the
wall insulation system installers/suppliers to make an exposure of the wall.

Filled cavities Unfilled cavities

Condensation 10% Condensation 14%

Damp 3.5% Damp 8%
Other issues 2.4% Rain penetration 0.22%
Rain penetration 0.26% No problem 78%
No problem 84%

Figure 1 Analysis of dissatisfaction: only 0.26 per cent of homes with cavity filled walls suffered problems
attributed to rain penetration Source: BRE CR188/93 (1993)

Cavity wall insulation: Unlocking the potential in existing dwellings 

Wall construction/exposure

Wall construction What is the CIGA guarantee scheme?

The standard of wall construction and its condition will Underpinning the work of reputable cavity wall insulation contractors
be taken into account in the assessment of suitability. is the CIGA Guarantee scheme. This is administered by the Cavity
Defects within the wall construction such as bridged Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA), which was established in
cavities, as well as other defects, e.g. failed pointing consultation with the government to provide householders with an
or broken guttering that causes the top of the wall to independent, uniform and dependable 25 year guarantee.
be saturated, will be picked up during the assessment
and should be rectified before filling begins. CIGA is an independent agency, managed by a committee of System
Designers (the insulation material suppliers) and Approved Installers,
Exposure with support from trade associations and the government.
Most mineral wool and expanded polystyrene
systems are suitable for use in all parts of the UK Under the scheme, an Approved Installer is required to:
without restriction.
• Carry out a pre-installation assessment of the property to determine
its suitability.
However, for some systems, particularly those using
UF foam, it may be necessary to check the exposure • Carry out the installation in accordance with approved technical
of the wall. This is carried out first by reference to requirements.
national maps of exposure zones (see Figure 2), then
• 
Provide the customer with a guarantee, issued by CIGA, on
by an assessment of local conditions. For example,
completion of the contract.
the wall to be filled may be sheltered by other
buildings or landscaping, or it may be on the edge of
If there is a post-installation problem, the homeowner can contact the
a housing estate facing the prevailing wind over open
Approved Installer who will inspect and remedy the problem where
countryside. In the first example, the wall is likely to
possible. If the problem is unresolved, the customer can contact CIGA
have an exposure less than is indicated for the locality
(see Further information for details), who will arrange for the relevant
on the national map and, in the second, it could have
System Designer to investigate the complaint and, where necessary,
a greater exposure.
carry out remedial work free of charge.

If a wall is assessed as being suitable and the installation

is carried out correctly, all systems will be trouble-free and
provide similar levels of insulation benefits. How to identify a cavity wall Cavity walls are usually built
of brickwork (for the outer
What is involved in filling? leaf) and concrete blockwork
The installation usually takes less than half a day to (for the inner leaf). A brick
complete. It is done entirely from the outside so it cavity wall usually has all the
causes little disturbance compared with other forms bricks placed lengthways,
of retro-fit wall insulation, such as insulated dry lining. and a total thickness of
The only discomfort would arise from the noise of about 300mm. Most houses
drilling the injection holes and injecting the insulant. built since the 1950s have
cavity walls
The installation process involves:

• Drilling injection holes through mortar joints.

• Installing any cavity barriers to prevent the fill

How to identify a solid wall Solid walls are mainly built of
entering the cavities of adjacent properties.
brick or stone. Some solid brick
• S leeving (or sealing, if obsolete) air ventilators that walls can be recognised by the
cross the cavity. pattern of brickwork: the bricks
are placed both head-on and
• Injecting the fill material into the wall cavity.
lengthways. The total thickness
• Carrying out quality checks on the fill material. of the wall is usually about
225mm. Most pre-1930 houses
•  aking good the injection holes with colour
M
have solid walls.
matching mortar or render.

Cavity wall insulation: Unlocking the potential in existing dwellings 

 Conclusions

What do homeowners think? Cavity wall insulation is the most cost-effective low
In a government sponsored survey (BRE 17/92:1993) risk energy efficiency measure for existing housing,
in the 1990s, people who lived in houses with cavity after loft insulation. Any cavity wall, if poorly
wall insulation identified the following benefits: constructed, is likely to suffer from damp problems.
• Reduced fuel bills. There is no evidence that filling with cavity wall
• A warmer house that stays warm longer. insulation increases the risk of rain penetration. Good
• A cooler house in summer. maintenance of the house and the correction of
• Reduced condensation. building defects are the keys to success.
• Fewer draughts.
• Environmental gains. Most cavity wall insulation systems are suitable for
use in all parts of the UK without restriction. For those
Also, they thought that it would take longer than it where exposure is an issue, assessment methods are
does to pay for the initial outlay in fuel savings actually available to ensure that the installation will perform
only 3 to 4 years. In spite of this misconception, satisfactorily.
96 per cent of the occupiers who took part in the
survey said they would install cavity wall insulation if The cavity fill installation causes little disturbance and
they moved house. can usually be carried out in less than half a day. It
is carried out by Approved Installers whose work is
Conclusions backed by a dependable 25 year guarantee from the
There is considerable potential for increasing the CIGA. Customer satisfaction is high – more than 95 per
take-up of cavity wall insulation, with resultant cent of homeowners who have cavity wall insulation
benefits for landlords, occupiers and the environment. would install it in a new house if they moved.

•  uildings that are sheltered by

B
surrounding buildings and trees can
be considered to be in an exposure
category one lower in ‘sheltered’ parts.
For example: if ‘sheltered’ in Zone 4
consider it as Zone 3.
• External cladding can improve the
exposure rating and give resistance to
rain penetration.
• Assess the exposure of the wall using
BS 8104.
• See BRE Report 262: ‘Thermal
Insulation: avoiding risks’ for guidance.

Key to map
Approximate
Exposure
wind-driven rain
zones
(litres/m2 per spell)

1 Less than 33

33 to less than 56.5

2
56.5 to less than 100
3
100 or more
4

Figure 2 Example of general levels of exposure to wind-driven rain in the UK used for assessing the suitability of
walls for cavity wall insulation

 Cavity wall insulation: Unlocking the potential in existing dwellings

 GIL23

Further information
The Energy Saving Trust sets energy efficiency standards that go beyond building regulations for use in
the design, construction and refurbishment of homes. These standards provide an integrated package of
measures covering fabric, ventilation, heating, lighting and hot water systems for all aspects of new build
and renovation. Free resources including best practice guides, training seminars, technical advice and online
tools, are available to help meet these standards.

The following publications may also be of interest:

Cavity wall insulation in existing housing (CE16/GPG26)
Domestic Energy Efficiency Primer (CE101/GPG171)

To obtain these publications or for more information, call 0845 120 7799, email [email protected]
or visit www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings

To find out more about the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency Ltd (CIGA), contact them at:
CIGA House, 3 Vimy Court, Vimy Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 1FG.
Tel: 01525 853 300, email: [email protected] web: www.ciga.co.uk

Cavity wall insulation:

Unlocking the potential in
existing dwellings
Energy Saving Trust, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP Tel 0845 120 7799 Fax 0845 120 7789
[email protected] www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings

CE202 © Energy Saving Trust November 2002. Reprinted January 2006. E&OE
All technical information was produced by BRE on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust

This publication (including any drawings forming part of it) is intended for general guidance only and not as a substitute for the application of professional expertise.
Anyone using this publication (including any drawings forming part of it) must make their own assessment of the suitability of its content (whether for their own purposes or
those of any client or customer), and the Energy Saving Trust cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or other liability resulting from such use.
Printed on Revive Silk which contains 75% de-inked post consumer waste and a maximum of 25% mill broke.