The Heat of the Matter

• Proeksa Meas
• 31 December 2015
• Construction Focus
• 1494 Views

Cambodia’s tropical geography makes it a hot and humid country all year round. This often creates harsh working environments for workers, especially in factories, which themselves also have to pay high energy bills for cooling devices.

A Ministry of Labour official recently reported that as of June this year over 600 workers have fainted in factories, compared with a total of about 800 such incidents in 2013. Pok Vanthat, Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Labour Health department and head of a committee that aims to prevent fainting in factories, told local media that hot indoor environments are the major factor in these mass faintings which seriously impact factories’ productivity and workers’ welfare.

“The weather is extremely hot this year and workers cannot stand the heat,” he said. Experts and factory owners all agree.

Heat not only harms the garment industry that employs some 600,000 workers nationwide, but also impacts many other industries when it comes to working environments and energy expense. The ILO Better Factories Cambodia project that has been working with factories in Cambodia to improve workers’ welfare and safety since 2008 also encourages factories to enhance indoor working environments so that both workers and factories can benefit.

TASHEN Green Tech, a company specializing in insulation products explains that heat gain in buildings mainly comes from solar radiation and 75% of that comes through a structure’s roof. TASHEN products provide a solution to reduce factories’ energy expenses and improve workers’ comfort.

Having started operations in Cambodia last year after supplying insulation materials in Southeast Asia, TASHEN confidently assures clients that installing their reflective blanket around a building can block up to 97% percent of radiant heat, which brings down internal temperatures by up to 10 degrees and reduces overall energy consumption.

The TASHEN reflective insulation blanket is made of two aluminum foil layers that surround a single core layer of polyethylene bubble film. The design results in high thermal resistance and keeps humidity from the exterior from bleeding into a building’s interior.

With reduced heat, building owners will significantly save on their energy bills for cooling devices. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), each degree saved from an air-con’s thermostat, allowed users to save 3–5% on air conditioning costs. TASHEN explains in a study report that if an electricity bill is $3,000/month and the indoor temperature is 8 degrees lower, from 38 degrees to 30 degrees, after insulation, users save at least 24% on air conditioning costs which equals $720, based on the ACEEE estimates.

Sabrina Cambodia Garment Manufacturing Corp which has installed the reflective insulation blanket is incredibly impressed by the product. The factory installed the blanket on its 180 sq/m tiled cafeteria roof with the result that the temperature underneath has decreased from 48.5 degrees before installation to 27 degrees afterwards. Sabrina also installed the blanket on the metal roof of their 4,500 sq/m production line building roof resulting in a temperature reduction from 40.5 degrees to 30 degrees under the metal roof and down to 26 degrees under the ceiling. The cooler environment has comforted workers in the factory, while the factory also spends less on energy consumption for cooling and ventilation devices.

Im Vibol of Group Four Architects & Engineers has installed the insulation blanket on a 3.5m high restaurant roof. After installation, they noticed that much of the heat was reflected outward, and occupants felt a real difference after the blanket was put in. “Now we feel very little heat and the air-con works less, so we save energy,” the manager said.

Besides these benefits, reflective insulation blanket installed under metal roofs reduce the sound of heavy rain, traffic noise or other disturbing noises. They are non-toxic, reusable and do not require regular check-ups or maintenance.

Standard insulation can be used for up to 10 years with superior performance compared to other conventional materials found in the local market. “The higher the temperature is, the better the Reflective Insulation Blanket works,” says TASHEN.

Currently, several insulation products are available in Cambodia, mainly imported from neighboring countries like Vietnam. Unlike other insulation materials that trap air inside and absorb the heat, TASHEN says its insulation blanket reflects radiant heat and decreases the flow of heat throughout an open airspace. In addition, installers don’t need to apply gloves, masks, other special equipment or waterproofing layers. Importantly, no maintenance or special checking needed after installation and the material is fire-retardant.

Reflective insulation blankets offer a perfect solution for insulation and temperature maintenance in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, and projects. They are ideal for cement roofs, iron sheet roofs, rooftop additions, walls, ceilings, attics, and floors of buildings. They can also be applied to automotive insulation. Building insulation is one of the most effective ways to save energy and improve indoor comfort. TASHEN Green Tech knows how important it is for you to spend your money wisely and knows you will be satisfied about the insulation performance.