Thermal performance comparison of DVIP with conventional insulation materials

Thermal performance comparison of DVIP with conventional insulation materials

First principles—what we are comparing

Two numbers matter for designers and decision-makers:

Thermal conductivity (λ): material property in W/m·K; the lower it is, the better the insulator.
U-value: heat flow through the whole layer or assembly in W/m²·K; again, lower is better.

Our (Sanyou London) 30 mm Decorative Integrated Vacuum Insulation Panel (DVIP) has λ ≈ 0.007 W/m·K and a design U ≈ 0.22 W/m²·K—achieved in a slim, factory-made panel that is also the exterior finish.

Thermal showdown—millimetres vs. centimetres

To make this useful on a drawing, here is the thickness conventional materials need to match DVIP’s U ≈ 0.22 W/m²·K (single-layer equivalence; films, fixings and substrates add small corrections):

Insulation type	Declared λ (W/m·K)	Thickness to reach U≈0.22 W/m²·K
DVIP (Sanyou London)	0.007	30 mm (given)
Rock mineral wool	0.034	≈155 mm
Glass mineral wool	0.044	≈200 mm
PIR board	0.022	≈100 mm
EPS foam	0.036	≈164 mm
XPS foam	0.033	≈150 mm

Result: one 3 cm DVIP tile achieves the same order of U-value that bulk products reach only at 10–20 cm. That frees net internal area, trims façade depth, and reduces bracket sizes and crane weight—without compromising performance.

Interpreting the “headline” λ values

DVIP: λ ≈ 0.007 W/m·K at 30 mm → U ≈ 0.22 W/m²·K (design value).
Rock mineral wool: λ ≈ 0.034 (even at 250 mm thickness, λ is still 0.034 because λ is a material property, not a thickness).
Glass mineral wool: λ ≈ 0.044 (at 200 mm).
PIR: λ ≈ 0.022 (at 180 mm).
EPS/XPS: λ ≈ 0.036/0.033 (at 100 mm).

The takeaway is not that conventional insulation cannot reach low U-values; it can—if you add a lot of thickness. The point is efficiency per millimetre: DVIP delivers very low U in very little depth, with the decorative finish and fire class built in.

Why DVIP’s 30 mm can beat bulky stacks in real buildings

Space economics: 150–200 mm inside a flat often costs several square metres of sellable or usable area across a floorplate. 30 mm preserves layouts and window proportions.
Detailing and psi-values: bulky insulation struggles at slab edges, brackets and reveals. Thin, cut-to-shape DVIP returns reduce linear thermal bridges, improving the true heat-loss picture beyond centre-of-panel U.
Programme certainty: one panel replaces multiple layers—fewer trades, fewer interfaces, fewer weather delays.
Whole-life performance: vacuum cores with barrier skins and getter/desiccant keep λ very low for decades; there is no fibre slump or compression loss at fixings.
Fire and finish in one: your DVIP configuration carries Class A1 façade options and architectural skins; you are not stacking a combustible insulant behind a separate fire sheet and then adding a finish.

Fair comparisons engineers appreciate

A) “Match DVIP’s U with bulk insulation—how thick?”

Already shown above: 100–200 mm for typical PIR and wools.

B) “Match a very thick mineral-wool target—what DVIP depth?”

If a project demands, say, U ≈ 0.14 W/m²·K (roughly a 250 mm rock-wool wall centre-of-panel), the equivalent DVIP thickness is ≈50 mm. We can supply custom thicknesses or twin-layer DVIP cassettes where codes or clients want ultra-low U with minimal build-up.

Operational meaning, not just maths

At a winter ΔT = 20 °C, a wall at U ≈ 0.22 leaks ≈4.4 W/m², where older uninsulated masonry might leak 30–70 W/m². Over a 50 m² elevation, that is 130–330 W less heat bleeding continuously—quieter plant, steadier surface temperatures, and a measurable drop in bills. In summer, the same resistance slows heat ingress, softening late-afternoon HVAC spikes.

Practical specification notes (to land the advantage on site)

Declare the assembly U-value with substrates, rails and cavity; we provide U- and ψ-value sketches for tender.
Use factory sizing: DVIP panels are cut to your façade grid, with reinforced edge zones for fixings; avoid site drilling through the vacuum core.
Detail reveals and slab edges with pre-cut returns; this is where DVIP’s thinness removes bridges conventional layers cannot treat cleanly.
Fire strategy: select the A1 configuration appropriate to your rails and cavity ventilation; document as an assembly.
Durability: our accelerated ageing indicates ≥ 35 years before any modest thermal drift begins; panels are waterproof, freeze–thaw stable, anti-ageing.

When to choose DVIP over thick conventional layers

Depth-constrained façades (balconies, parapets, planning set-outs, sightlines).
Heritage and premium schemes where proportions and internal area are non-negotiable.
Fast reclads and occupied retrofits where fewer trades reduce risk and time on the scaffold.
Hot- and cold-edge elevations where treating psi-values makes the comfort difference.

Next steps—turn the comparison into your façade plan

Contact our Customer Service Team for full spec sheets, BIM objects and payback calculators tailored to your wall build-ups.
Prefer a direct conversation? Email or phone Professor Saim Memon for a free façade assessment and a thickness/weight/U-value strategy matched to your grid and brackets.
Explore the range, videos, FAQs and purchasing process at www.sanyoulondon.com.

Bottom line: Side-by-side, our DVIP delivers target U-values in millimetres that foams and wools need centimetres for—saving space, weight and energy while simplifying construction.