Insulation Calculator
Calculate insulation requirements for walls, roofs, and floors. Determine thickness needed to achieve target R-value or U-value.
R-value: 0.025 m²K/W per mm | Density: 40 kg/m³
Enter insulation requirements to calculate materials
ESTIMATION NOTICE
This calculator provides APPROXIMATE QUANTITIES for budgeting and planning purposes.
Please note:
• Results include standard wastage factors but actual waste may vary based on site conditions, workmanship, and material quality.
About This Calculator
The Insulation Calculator helps MEP engineers and contractors determine thermal insulation requirements for buildings across the UAE and Gulf region. Calculate insulation thickness needed to achieve target R-values or U-values for walls, roofs, and floors. Useful for checking U-value targets under Dubai's Al Sa'fat green building system or Abu Dhabi's Estidama (Abu Dhabi only), and for achieving energy-efficient designs in the extreme Gulf climate.
When to Use This Calculator
- Designing wall assemblies to meet energy code requirements
- Specifying roof insulation for Gulf climate conditions
- Calculating insulation thickness for Al Sa'fat (Dubai) or Estidama (Abu Dhabi) U-value targets
- Comparing insulation material options and costs
- Verifying HVAC load reduction from improved insulation
How to Use This Calculator
Select Building Element
Choose wall, roof, or floor assembly type for insulation calculation.
Enter Target Performance
Input required R-value (thermal resistance) or U-value (thermal transmittance).
Choose Insulation Material
Select material: XPS, EPS, mineral wool, PIR, or spray foam with its k-value.
Specify Assembly Details
Enter existing construction layers and their thermal properties.
Calculate Results
Get required insulation thickness, material quantity, and cost estimate.
Typical Scenarios in UAE & Gulf Projects
A commercial tower must meet the Al Sa'fat maximum wall U-value for its building type. The engineer enters the insulation material and thickness to compare the resulting R- and U-values against the current Al Sa'fat table before finalising the wall build-up.
A 300 m² villa roof targets a total R-value of 3.5 m²K/W (convert the maximum U-value in the applicable Abu Dhabi requirement, e.g. Estidama, to R), with the existing slab and finishes at about R 0.2. The calculator gives 82 mm of PIR board (λ ≈ 0.022 W/mK), achieving R 3.89; the same target needs about 92 mm of closed-cell spray foam, 126 mm of XPS or 146 mm of mineral wool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take Your Calculations Further
This calculator reflects the logic built into Arkan's construction management platform.
Last Updated: January 2026
Standards Reference: Thermal resistance per ISO 6946 principles; targets from Dubai Al Sa'fat or Abu Dhabi Estidama (Abu Dhabi only)