About us

At beatthefreeze.ie we recognise that every house and business premises is different.

A question that we get asked frequently is why pipes freeze in an attic when there is now so much insulation placed in the attic space of our homes. The current building regulations specify a U-value of 0.16W/m2K at ceiling level and 0.2W/m2K at rafter level. Insulation is generally placed at ceiling level if the attic space is unoccupied. This is usually achieved by placing quilted insulation in layers totaling 300mm (1ft) thick across the attic at joist level.

This is actually making the heating pipes and tanks more prone to freezing, as the area above the insulation is now an unheated zone. In the past there was little or no insulation in the attics of homes and warm air from the rooms below rose into the attic and prevented the heating pipes and tanks from freezing. A point to remember is that pipe insulation placed around pipes will not prevent the pipes from freezing over time; it will only decrease the amount of freezing taking place.

We have spoken to the S.E.A.I (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and the N.S.A.I (National Standards Authority of Ireland) and they agree that the current specification for insulation for pipes in unheated areas (as per the building regulations 2007 part L) using insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK will not prevent pipes from freezing during a prolonged spell of frosty weather. If you have got a grant for your property for insulation, there is a greater chance that the pipes in the attic will freeze.

Therefore, through careful research and design, beatthefreeze.ie have come up with methods which when implemented will help prevent water pipes and tanks from freezing in the attic and therefore reduce the occurrence of burst pipes. We believe in prevention rather than cure. We will offer our clients a whole solution to all issues relating to frozen pipes. We aim to educate our clients in the workings of their domestic heating system and to provide them with information of the location of all necessary stopcocks/shut off valves.

We will be providing information on a phased basis and some of the scenarios mentioned will not be available until 2012.