Flexible VIPs for Construction: Thin, High-Performance Envelope Upgrades Without Rebuilds

Applications in the Construction Sector: where flexible VIPs make the biggest difference

You asked for a practical view of how flexible Vacuum-Insulation Panels (VIPs) slot into real buildings—new or old—without tearing everything apart. Let’s keep it straight: VIPs give you very high thermal resistance in millimetres, so you can upgrade performance where depth, heritage constraints, or programme won’t tolerate thick build-ups.

Two core use cases

1) New build—hit targets without fattening the envelope

Façade zones with tight set-outs: keep cladding lines, window reveals and handrails exactly as drawn while achieving low U-values.
Curtain-wall spandrels: raise opaque-zone performance without changing sightlines or mullion depths.
Inverted and warm roofs: achieve high resistance under limited parapet height; preserve drainage falls and threshold compliance.
Podium slabs over car parks: warm the occupied space above without lowering headroom in the parking level.
Prefabricated modules: factory-fit VIPs inside cassette walls, floor cassettes and bathroom pods; repeatable quality, fast install.

2) Retrofit—serious gains with minimal disruption

Façade reclads: place VIPs behind new rainscreen panels; fire strategy and finish handled by the cladding system.
Internal upgrades in occupied buildings: line cold perimeter zones with thin VIP boards; furniture and skirtings often remain.
Soffits over unheated voids: apply VIPs to basement ceilings and undercrofts to calm cold floors above.
Heritage interiors: add warmth to listed rooms without visible bulk; finishes and mouldings remain legible.
Service-heavy cores: wrap plantroom doors, risers and duct casings where thickness is constrained.

Where VIPs quietly outperform bulk insulation

Most envelopes fail at junctions, not just in the middle of a wall. Flexible VIPs let you attack the psi-values (linear thermal bridges) that dominate heat loss in well-insulated buildings:

Slab edges and balcony penetrations: tuck narrow VIP strips behind façade brackets and around plate edges; reduce the bridge without structural re-work.
Window perimeters and sills: line returns and heads in millimetres so the frame no longer behaves like a radiator fin.
Parapets and upstands: add resistance without raising roofing thickness and compromising flashings.
Curtain-wall transoms: fit VIP pads in shallow spandrel pockets to stabilise interior surface temperatures near the glass line.

Outcome: fewer cold lines on thermal images; occupants feel less radiant chill; HVAC runs softer.

Moisture, airtightness, and detailing—what professionals need to get right

Dew-point control: thin internal VIP linings raise internal surface temperatures; that usually reduces condensation risk. Still, run a hygrothermal check for each build-up, especially on solid masonry.
Airtight layer first, VIP second: VIPs are not an air barrier. Seal the substrate and penetrations, then bond VIPs to a stable, dry surface.
No-penetration zones: you must not screw through a panel. Use perimeter rails, adhesive fields, or cassette trays; we provide fixing maps.
Edge protection: slim trims or U-profiles stop site damage; plan skirting and reveal details accordingly.
Fire strategy: performance is assessed at assembly level. Pair VIPs with cladding and linings that achieve the required Euroclass and document the tested build-up.

Where this lands in pounds, programme and comfort

Space preserved: shaving 100–150 mm off internal build-ups around a typical flat can protect several square metres of net internal area—real sale or rent value.
Programme certainty: dry trades, factory-cut panels, and no invasive demolition shorten critical paths; fewer wet trades on site.
Operational savings: lower transmission losses reduce plant size or runtime; evening and morning comfort stabilise, so occupants accept modest set-points.
Maintenance: with cooler bridge lines and warmer interior surfaces, you see fewer mould reports and less paint failure at corners.

Application map: quick decisions for site and design teams

Location	Constraint	VIP solution	Practical note
Rainscreen façade	Keep set-out; upgrade U	VIP behind cladding cassette	Same rails; add edge trims; fire class via cladding system
Curtain-wall spandrel	Shallow pocket	VIP pad + opaque backer	Improves interior surface temps near mullions
Inverted roof	Limited parapet height	VIP layer under protection board	Maintain drainage falls and threshold compliance
Podium/soffit	Headroom limit	VIP to soffit, protected board finish	Warmer floor above; minimal visual change below
Window reveals	Narrow returns	Pre-cut VIP returns	Reduces frame-adjacent losses without new frames
Basement walls (internal)	Damp-free finish required	VIP over vapour-controlled lining	Warmer surfaces; fewer condensation complaints

Measurement & verification—how to prove it worked

Before/after heat-flux plates on a representative bay to confirm transmission reduction.
Infrared thermography after commissioning to show junction improvements and find gaps.
Short comfort survey (mean radiant temperature at seating and bed heads) to document occupant benefit.
Energy metering: log HVAC runtime for a fortnight pre- and post-works on comparable weather days.

The combination of images, numbers and comfort notes makes funding approvals and board decisions easier.

Frequently asked by developers and contractors

Will we lose our reveal proportions?
No; the point is to maintain them. VIPs deliver resistance in millimetres, so proportions stay intact.

Can we use standard adhesives and fixings?
We provide a compatibility list. Fixings bypass the VIP; adhesives must not attack barrier films.

What about warranty and replacement?
Panels are protected in trays or behind finishes. If one is damaged during maintenance, it is a modular swap, not a rebuild.

Does this help overheating?
Yes. Slower ingress through roofs, spandrels and façades reduces afternoon spikes, enabling lower fan speeds and quieter rooms.

How to start—low-risk, high-signal pilot

Pick one elevation and one roof bay with problem complaints.
Instrument for two weeks (surface temperatures, heat-flux, HVAC runtime).
Install VIP solution (façade cassette backing; or soffit bays; or reveal linings).
Re-measure for two weeks and record occupant feedback.
Roll across the block with the winning detail set.

Ready to specify?

Contact our Customer Service Team for samples, CAD details, U-value and psi-value sketches, and pricing tailored to your elevations and roof build-ups.
Prefer a direct technical discussion? Email or phone Professor Saim Memon to review drawings, fire strategy, hygrothermal checks and a staged delivery plan.
Explore specifications, purchasing steps, videos and FAQs at www.sanyoulondon.com.

Bottom line: Flexible VIPs let you design and retrofit for high performance without bulk—clean details, shorter programmes, better comfort, and lower bills, all while keeping the architecture you intended.