AS 3999—1992

Australian Standard
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Thermal insulation of dwellings—

Bulk insulation—Installation
requirements
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee BD/58, Thermal performance and
Insulation of Dwellings. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards
Australia on 9 January 1992 and published on 16 April 1992.

The following interests are represented on Committee BD/58:

Acceptance Standards of Construction Committee, N.S.W.

Aluminium Development Council
Association of Municipal Electricity Authorities, Vic.
Australian Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association
Australian Clay Brick Association
Australian Federation of Consumer Organizations
Australian Institute of Building
Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating
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Australian Uniform Building Regulations Coordinating Council

Business and Consumer Affairs, N.S.W.
CSIRO, Division of Building, Construction and Engineering
Department of Administrative Services—Australian Construction Services
Department of Industry, Technology and Resources, Vic.
Department of Mines and Energy, S.A.
Fibreglass and Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia
Housing Industry Association of Australia
Hydro-Electric Commission, Tas.
Master Builders Construction and Housing Association, Australia
Ministry of Housing and Construction, Vic.
The Plastics Institute of Australia
Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (New South Wales)
University of Adelaide
The University of Melbourne
Victorian Solar Energy Council

Additional interests participating in preparation of Standard:

Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association
Electrical Contractors Association of Australia
Queensland Electricity Commission
State Electricity Commission of Victoria

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new edit ions as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
Full details of all Australi an Standards and related publi cati ons wil l be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australi an
Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editi ons
and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggesti ons for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head off ice of Standards Australia,
are welcomed. Notif ication of any inaccuracy or ambiguit y found in an Australi an Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 77139.

 AS 3999—1992

Australian Standard
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Thermal insulation of dwellings—

Bulk insulation—Installation
requirements

First publi shed as AS 3999—1992.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 7334 1
 AS 3999—1992 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Thermal Performance and Insulation
of Dwellings. It is one of a series of Standards relating to thermal insulation.

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . .. . . . .. . .. . ... . . 4
1.2 APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . . .. . .. . ... . . 4
1.3 REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS . . .. . . . .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . ... . . 4
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1.4 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . . .. . . . . .. . . . 5

1.5 BULK INSULATION MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . . .. . .. . ... . . 5
1.6 ANCILLARY MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 5

SECTION 2 PRE-INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS AND INSPECTION

2.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 6
2.2 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . 6
2.3 SPECIAL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 6
2.4 TREATMENT REQUIRED FOR SPECIAL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . 6
2.5 CONDENSATION ASSESSMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . . 6
2.6 ELECTRICAL CABLES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 6
2.7 BUILT-IN APPLIANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . 7

SECTION 3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION

3.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

SECTION 4 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION IN ROOFS AND

CEILINGS
4.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 10
4.2 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 10
4.3 LOW-PITCHED ROOFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 13
4.4 PITCHED ROOFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . 15

SECTION 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION IN WALLS AND

FLOORS
5.1 SCOPE OF SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WALLS AND BULKHEADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.3 REQUIREMENTS FOR FRAMED, MASONRY CAVITY AND CONCRETE WALLS . . 20
5.4 FLOORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
 3 AS 3999—1992

FOREWORD

This Standard specifies the procedures for installing bulk thermal insulation in dwellings consistent with
good building practice. The requirements were compiled from a wide range of procedures used in
Australia and considered as good practice in the installation of all types of bulk thermal insulation with
the exception of foamed in situ materials, which are dealt with elsewhere.
The Committee has recognized the possibility of certain electrical cables and equipment overheating
when operating for extended periods when partially or completely surrounded by thermal insulation.
To minimize this possibility a pre-installation inspection has been called for in order to identify whether
this potential problem may occur where the thermal insulation is to be placed. The procedure to be
adopted as a result of the inspection is set out in this Standard.
Rather than attempt to give details of all the usual methods of insulating all the building elements
commonly found in dwelling construction, general requirements have been given to be followed by the
insulation installer. For a selected number of special cases, specific methods of installing thermal
insulation have been given.
The various sub-structures which may be insulated with bulk insulation are dealt with in separate
sections with cross-references where necessary.
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Users of this Standard are therefore recommended to read the document as a whole in addition to
information on any particular building sub-structure which it may be desired to insulate.
Installation of bulk thermal insulation, using the requirements and methods given in this Standard, will
lead to reduction of heat gain in summer and of heat loss in winter.
Attention is drawn to the Application Clause in Section 1 which sets out the intentions of the
Committee as to how the Standard should be applied.

 Copyri ght STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Users of Standards are reminded that copyri ght subsists in all Standards Australi a publications and soft ware. Except where the
Copyri ght Act all ows and except where provided for below no publications or software produced by Standards Austr alia may be
reproduced, stored in a retri eval system in any form or transmitt ed by any means without pri or permission in wri ti ng fr om
Standards Australi a. Permission may be conditi onal on an appropriate royalt y payment. Requests for permission and information on
commercial soft ware royalti es should be dir ected to the head off ice of Standards Australi a.
Standards Australi a wil l permit up to 10 percent of the technical content pages of a Standard to be copied for use
exclusively in-house by purchasers of the Standard without payment of a royalty or advice to Standards Austr alia.
Standards Australi a wil l also permit the inclusion of its copyri ght material in computer soft ware programs for no royalt y
payment provided such programs are used exclusively in-house by the creators of the programs.
Care should be taken to ensure that material used is fr om the current editi on of the Standard and that it is updated whenever the
Standard is amended or revised. The number and date of the Standard should therefore be clearly identif ied.
The use of material in pri nt form or in computer soft ware programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in
commercial contracts is subject to the payment of a royalty. This policy may be vari ed by Standards Austr alia at any ti me.
 AS 3999—1992 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Thermal insulation of dwellings—Bulk insulation—Installation requirements

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE This Standard deals with the installation of bulk thermal insulation in all classes of
dwellings.
This Standard is not intended to apply to the insulation of building services and equipment. It does not
deal with foamed in situ and reflective foil laminate thermal insulation materials.
1.2 APPLICATION
1.2.1 Relationship with regulations This Standard is intended to provide technical requirements for
implementation by reference in statutory (building) regulations.
The requirements of this Standard may be read in conjunction with, but do not take precedence over,
any statutory regulations that may apply in any area.
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NOTE: It should be noted that an installati on may come under the jurisdiction of several authori ti es with dif feri ng areas of
responsibili ty, and that an approval from one does not necessari ly consti tute an approval from others.
1.2.2 Method of application This Standard is intended to be used by the building professions and the
installers of bulk thermal insulation both commercial and do-it-yourself.
Bulk thermal insulation shall comply with Sections 2 and 3, and the following, as applicable:
(a) Roofs and ceilings—Section 4.
(b) Walls and floors—Section 5.
1.2.3 New designs and innovations Notwithstanding the specific requirements of this Standard, any
novel materials, designs and methods of assembly, which give equivalent results to those specified, are
not necessarily prohibited if they are consistent with good building practice.
1.3 REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
1.3.1 Referenced documents The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1326 Polyethylene (polythene) film for packaging and allied purposes
1736 Code of practice for pliable roof sarking
1903 Reflective foil laminate
2352 Glossary of terms for thermal insulation of buildings
2627 Thermal insulation of dwellings—Design guide
2627.1 Thermal insulation of roof/ceiling in dwellings which require heating
2870 Residential slabs and footings
2870.1 Construction
3000 SAA Wiring Rules
ASTM
E 96 Test methods for water vapour transmission
BS
2782 Methods of testing plastics
Method 513 A, B, C, and D
5250 Code of basic data for the design of buildings: The control of condensation in dwellings
Worksafe Australia
National code of practice for the safe use of synthetic mineral fibres
1.3.2 Related documents Attention is drawn to the following related documents:
1366 Rigid cellular plastics sheets for thermal insulation
1366.1 Rigid cellular polyurethane (RC/PUR)
1366.2 Rigid cellular polyisocyanurate (RC/PIR)
1366.3 Rigid cellular polystyrene—Moulded (RC/PS—M)
1366.4 Rigid cellular polystyrene—Extruded (RC/PS—E)
1904 Code of practice for installation of reflective foil laminate in buildings
2461 Mineral wool thermal insulation—Loose fill
2462 Cellulosic fibre thermal insulation
2463 Sea grass bulk thermal insulation
3742 Mineral wool thermal insulation—Batt and blanket
CA55 Code of recommended practice for the design and installation of bituminous fabric roofing

COPYRIGHT
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AS 3999-1992, Thermal insulation of dwellings -

Bulk insulation - Installation requirements
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