Introduction to Q-Bot

making homes warmer together

Introduction to

Q-Bot Underfloor Insulation Who is Q-Bot? Q-Bot is an award-winning company that offers sustainable solutions for home improvements. Q-Bot has developed an innovative way of installing insulation using robots beneath the floor. The robot is inserted from within the property through an opening in the floor, e.g. by lifting a floorboard in an under stairs cupboard. Compared to traditional methods, there is no need to take up the whole floor, eliminating the disruption of the work.

At Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), we have a dedicated team of Q-Bot surveyors and installers.

As a YHN customer you can access this service free of charge.

To find out more about this free service, contact us on 0191 277 1403

Why Underfloor Insulation?

Insulation is an important part of creating a warm, healthy and energy efficient home. Heat lost through the ground floor makes up a large part of total heat loss in a property. In fact, Âź of heat loss is due to uninsulated floors.

Before Underfloor Insulation

After Underfloor Insulation

Key benefits:

Lower Bills

Comfort

Average energy savings of ÂŁ150 per year.

Warmer home with fewer draughts.

High Performance

Accountable

Uniform layer of foam tailored to your floor.

Installation process accredited by the BBA.

How does it work?

1

The Survey

An initial survey takes 30 minutes to an hour. Our surveyor will visit your home, explain the process, answer any questions and perform some checks to see if the property is suitable. We will need to make up to three small access hatches to measure the height between the ground and the wooden joists - this is called the void - and to assess whether existing services need to be treated or repaired (e.g. eletrical wires, gas pipes).

2

The Installation

Access to the void is gained through access points from within the property, e.g. by lifting floorboards.

We are unable to insulate solid and concrete floors.

Our installers put a fan on the access point to ensure the void is well ventilated during the installation.

Once inside the void, the robot applies insulation in controlled layers, typically to an average depth of 150mm.

The results show that 2/3 of customers have noticed a significant reduction in energy bills of between ÂŁ150 and ÂŁ240 per year.

The ventilation gap in the void is maintained, which allows the ground to breath and moisture to escape.

Meanwhile, the floorboards remain on the warm dry side, reducing condensation, damp and extending their life.

At the end of each day, the equipment is packed back into the van, the area inside the property is tidied and cleaned, to return your home to as it was before the install.

Rather than up to a fortnight of disruption that can be experienced with other types of under floor insulation, we complete most of our installations within a day.

Because of the small access point, Q-Bot service has the added benefit of allowing furniture to stay in place while the insulation is sprayed, making for a hassle-free installation.

3

After the Installation

After the install, we will visit your property again to carry out an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) survey. This will be done by our experienced assessor, they will work out what energy efficiency improvement has been made as a result of Q-Bot. This survey will only take a maximum of 30 minutes.

What do customers in Newcastle who have benefited from this service say? ‘‘I am absolutely delighted. My home has never been described as cosy before, it is warm, quieter and there is less draughts.’’ ‘‘It has been great over this cold snap; it’s been much warmer and I’m spending less on heating.’’

‘‘I have definitely noticed a difference. The property keeps the heat better, stays warm and is a lot less draughty now.’’

According to the case study, 9 out of 10 customers said they would recommend Q-Bot to their neighbours.

For more information about the service, contact us on: t: 0191 277 1403 e: Qbot@yhn.org.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of insulation is used?

Q-Bot sprays polyurethane foam (isocyanate and polyol), which expands and fits the shape of the floorboard.

Is the insulation material safe, and does it create a risk of fire?

The insulation is approved by the BBA for use in this application and meets all the relevant Building Regulations requirements. The insulation will not add to any existing fire hazard until the floor is destroyed, and therefore, the insulation will not contribute to the development stages of fire. It will not present a smoke or toxic hazard either.

What is the minimum void height you can access?

The minimum void height needed to insert the robot is 300mm. The technology is continually being improved, so Q-Bot will be able to spray even lower void (<200mm) by summer 2020.

Is there an increased risk of damp or mould?

Independent analysis has shown that insulating the floor using Q-Botâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s method reduces the risk of damp and mould in both the floor and the property. Please note that the air vents of the property should never be blocked to avoid the formation of damp and mould.

Will the insulation prevent the floor from drying out if there is a leak?

The insulation creates a hydrophobic barrier between the floor and wet ground below to keep the floorboards warm and dry. If the insulation or floor gets wet, they can still dry out as moisture is able to pass through both materials.

Is the access to services made more difficult by the presence of insulation?

Services can be accessed in the usual way by lifting a floorboard. Sections of insulation can be easily removed to gain access to the void beneath and refitted afterwards. A map of the services is provided following the installation to make any subsequent work easier.

What is the depth of insulation applied, and what insulation u-value is provided?

Q-Bot normally applies 100 to 125mm of insulation foam, resulting in a post u-value superior or equal to 0.25 W/m2/K (depending on void conditions). The results from our case study done accross 100 homes show an average post installation of 0.19 W/m2/K, representing a 79% improvement compared to before.

Is this service accredited?

A detailed training programme and quality control system ensure that each installation is fully accountable. As a result, Q-Bot has been awarded the highly prized BBA accreditation for the installation process. Q-Bot also passed the PAS 2030:2017 Accreditation for energy efficiency measures in July 2018.

What is the life expectancy and warranty period?

Q-Botâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solution has an expected life of 40 years and a material warranty of 10 years.

making homes warmer together

Reg No. STRI14718 *Floor Insulation

e: Qbot@yhn.org.uk t: 0191 277 1403