Vacuum Insulation Panels: The Next Leap in Wall Thickness
15 July 2026
Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have quietly insulated refrigerators and freezers for over a decade. They're now starting to show up on UK retrofit specifications, for one simple reason: they let a wall get warmer without getting thicker.
Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have quietly insulated refrigerators and freezers for over a decade. They're now starting to show up on UK retrofit specifications, for one simple reason: they let a wall get warmer without getting thicker.
Why Thickness Matters More Than You'd Think
A VIP achieves roughly five times the insulating performance of mineral wool for the same thickness, by sealing a rigid core inside an airtight envelope and drawing most of the air out of it. On a period conversion where internal wall space is already tight, or a tall-spaces conversion where every centimetre of floor area counts, that difference can be what makes internal insulation viable at all without swallowing a room.
Why Thickness Matters More Than You'd Think
A VIP achieves roughly five times the insulating performance of mineral wool for the same thickness, by sealing a rigid core inside an airtight envelope and drawing most of the air out of it. On a period conversion where internal wall space is already tight, or a tall-spaces conversion where every centimetre of floor area counts, that difference can be what makes internal insulation viable at all without swallowing a room.
The Trade-Off Worth Knowing
The panels can't be cut or drilled on site without destroying their vacuum seal, so every panel has to be measured and ordered to exact size in advance - a detail an architect experienced with the material will plan for from the outset, much like the breathable-wall detailing covered in the site's conversion guides.
The Trade-Off Worth Knowing
The panels can't be cut or drilled on site without destroying their vacuum seal, so every panel has to be measured and ordered to exact size in advance - a detail an architect experienced with the material will plan for from the outset, much like the breathable-wall detailing covered in the site's conversion guides.
