SOPREMA UK has expanded its external pitched roof insulation range with two membranes, Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra, in an announcement dated 25 April 2023. The two products sit below the existing BreatherQuilt membrane, which the company describes as its original offer in this category1.
The three products are built on a roofing membrane called RoofTX. According to SOPREMA, BreatherQuilt, Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra respectively add 10, 2 and 1 layer or layers to that membrane1. The company states that RoofTX is BBA certified and CE marked, Agreement certified by BBA in the UK for use in warm non-ventilated, cold ventilated and non-ventilated pitched roof systems and walling, manufactured in the UK, highly resistant to water penetration, wind driven rain, snow and dust, and stabilised against UV degradation1.
"Recently, we have expanded our range with Breathe-R, our entry-level product, and Breathe-R Ultra, our middle-entry product."
The three membranes differ in thermal performance. SOPREMA gives the following figures and equivalent insulation thicknesses1:
| Product | R-value (m2K/W) | Equivalent mineral wool | Equivalent EPS | Equivalent PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BreatherQuilt | 1.62 | 75 mm | 65 mm | 35 mm |
| Breathe-R Ultra | 0.711 | 35 mm | 30 mm | 16 mm |
| Breathe-R | 0.450 | 20 mm | 20 mm | 10 mm |
SOPREMA states that Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra are supplied in 25-metre rolls, and that all three products have a built-in double-sided self-adhesive tape for a 25-millimetre overlap between layers1. On materials, the company says the polyester wadding in the Breathe-R Ultra and Breathe-R membranes contains 70% recycled material, while BreatherQuilt is manufactured using 72% recycled materials1.
SOPREMA also cites heat loss reduction figures for the products, stating that Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra guarantee up to 39% and 54% reductions in heat loss respectively, while BreatherQuilt offers a 76% decrease, based on a single layer in a pitched roof1. The page attributes a separate figure to the Energy Saving Trust and other sources, that 25% of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home1. The basis on which the reduction percentages were calculated is not set out beyond the reference to a single layer in a pitched roof.
Why it matters for households
Roof insulation is one of the routes by which a home reduces the heat it loses, and the roof insulation guide sets out how pitched, room-in-roof and flat roof options differ. The practical point in this announcement is the spread of performance across the range: the entry-level Breathe-R carries an R-value of 0.450 m2K/W, roughly a quarter of BreatherQuilt's 1.62 m2K/W, so a householder choosing between them is trading thermal resistance against cost and thickness. The membranes replace a standard breather membrane rather than adding to it, which SOPREMA says keeps the overall roof profile height down1.
For a home's energy independence, the relevant measure is how much heat the roof retains rather than the product name. The insulation and energy independence guide explains how fabric measures of this kind reduce the energy a dwelling needs to buy in. The reduction percentages quoted by SOPREMA are the manufacturer's own and are stated for a single layer in a pitched roof; independent verified savings for a specific property have not been reported.
What happens next
No installation dates, pricing, availability dates or accredited installer arrangements are given in the announcement. SOPREMA directs enquiries about the external pitched roof insulation products to its technical team1.
Sources1 cited
- External pitched roof insulation solutions | SOPREMA UK, soprema.co.uk