Thermal insulation is essential in a home. Good thermal insulation not only prevents damp in walls and ceilings but also brings a significant energy saving by reducing heating consumption. This is far from trivial: a building can avoid up to 30% of its energy use, which means a considerable reduction in electricity bills and in CO2 emissions, which are harmful to the environment. For this reason, the authorities require new buildings to meet energy efficiency standards, and the regulations require a certain level of thermal insulation.
Can I claim for poor thermal insulation in my home?
This level of thermal insulation is set out in the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE) on the basis of a thermal transmittance coefficient. It varies according to the construction element (roofs, façades, party walls, etc.), the openings (window size, orientation, etc.) and the climate zone where the building is located.
It is important to remember, however, that insulation thicknesses of less than 4 cm (which in the past were the most commonly used to meet the requirements of the obsolete NBE CT 79) are no longer enough in most applications under the current CTE HE1. Even so, many construction companies have continued, and still continue, to use them.
Is there a solution to poor thermal insulation?
In the areas most prone to loss of thermal insulation, the most suitable measures are to fit solutions such as double glazing; to use frames made of a material such as PVC or aluminium with a thermal break; to ensure that other elements, such as blinds and their boxes, are compact or monobloc (and are properly fitted and sealed to the window); and to ensure that the windows have a thermal break, using polyamide bars reinforced with fibreglass.
Thermal insulation in a building is therefore of paramount importance, and its absence is one of the habitability defects covered by article 3.1 c) of the Spanish Building Act (LOE). If you have any doubts, contact us and an expert will visit your property. By carrying out the relevant tests, the expert will check whether your home or homeowners’ association complies with the regulations. If non-compliance is confirmed, we can claim against the developer responsible.
If you have any questions, please contact us.