What is a vacuum insulation panel?

A vacuum insulation panel (VIP) is an insulation panel with a porous core, usually of microporous silica, which has been vacuum-sealed in a gas-tight foil. In Dutch it is called a vip-paneel (vacuüm isolatiepaneel). Because there is virtually no air left in the core, hardly any heat is conducted through it. As a result, a vacuum insulation panel insulates many times better than common insulation materials of the same thickness.

Insulation value

An intact vacuum insulation panel has a very low thermal conductivity. After years of ageing, the thermal conductivity in the centre of the panel is still around 0.007 to 0.008 W/mK; because of the edges, the effective value is slightly higher in practice. For comparison: PIR is around 0.022 to 0.026 W/mK. With a vacuum insulation panel you therefore achieve the same insulation value with roughly a third to half of the thickness.

Note: if the foil is punctured, the core fills with air and the insulation value drops sharply. A punctured panel then insulates roughly like ordinary insulation material.

Application

Vacuum insulation panels are mainly of interest where space is scarce:

• Renovation of floors and terraces, for example above a living space, where the floor must not become higher because of thresholds and doors.
• Roof terraces and balconies with a limited upstand height.
• Internal insulation of external walls where you want to lose little living space.
• Door panels, spandrel panels and frame infill panels.
• Refrigeration and freezer equipment, where the technology has been used for longer.

Tips and pitfalls

• Do not saw, drill or screw: vacuum insulation panels are supplied in fixed sizes. Make a laying plan in advance and fill the remaining spaces with ordinary insulation material (PIR, XPS).
• Protect them during construction: lay them on a flat, clean substrate and cover them immediately. A single nail or a sharp pebble can puncture a panel.
• Thermal bridges at the joints: because of the foil and the edges, the edges insulate less well. Choose panels with a protected edge or lay them in two layers with staggered joints.
• Costs: VIP is several times more expensive per m² than PIR. Only use it where you really do not have the thickness.
• Vapour control layer: with internal insulation, a good vapour-regulating layer remains necessary to prevent condensation within the construction.

Related terms

• Insulation
• Thermal insulation
• PIR
• Thermal bridge
• Vapour control layer
• U-value

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