Xuchang Hengyi Insulation Materials Co., Ltd.
Thermal insulation sheet guide: types, uses, and how to choose the right one
2026-09-02
Author: Hengyi
Article overview
This article is written for Vietnamese construction and industrial procurement professionals. It covers technical comparisons, TCVN/QCVN standards, 10-year ROI data, installation procedures, and 2026 brand pricing — all the information gaps competitors leave unanswered.
Table of contents
- 1. What is a thermal insulation sheet?
- 2. Main types of thermal insulation sheets compared
- 3. Technical specs you must check before buying (TCVN 4605)
- 4. ROI and electricity cost savings by Vietnam climate zone
- 5. Step-by-step installation guide for common Vietnam building types
- 6. Fire safety and environmental certifications (QCVN 06)
- 7. Domestic vs. imported brands: prices and contractor reviews
- 8. FAQ
What is a thermal insulation sheet?
A thermal insulation sheet is a thin, rigid or flexible panel manufactured from low-thermal-conductivity materials to block or slow the transfer of heat between surfaces through conduction, convection, and radiation. It is one of the most cost-effective categories of building insulation material available to construction and industrial buyers today.
In practical terms, think of a thermal insulation sheet as a thermal barrier material that acts like a wetsuit for your building — it does not generate temperature, but it dramatically slows the rate at which heat moves in or out. For a corrugated iron (tôn) factory roof in Ho Chi Minh City, where external surface temperatures can exceed 70 °C in dry-season afternoons, that difference translates directly into reduced air-conditioning loads and lower electricity bills.
According to recent 2026 data from Grand View Research, the global insulation market is valued at over USD 80 billion, with building insulation material accounting for roughly 45% of total demand. Vietnam's construction boom — driven by industrial zone expansion in Binh Duong, Long An, and Bac Ninh — has made the local market one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing segments for insulation sheet for construction.
Thermal insulation sheet is defined as: any sheet-form product with a declared thermal conductivity (λ) ≤ 0.060 W/(m·K), used to reduce heat flux across building envelopes, industrial equipment surfaces, or electronic assemblies. This definition aligns with the scope of thermal insulation materials as recognized in international and Vietnamese technical standards.
Why does Vietnam need better insulation than temperate countries?
Vietnam's tropical climate imposes a unique thermal stress profile. The north (Hanoi) experiences hot-humid summers and cool-dry winters, demanding year-round thermal control. The central region (Da Nang) faces intense solar radiation combined with seasonal typhoon moisture. The south (HCMC, Can Tho) operates in near-constant heat and humidity. This three-zone reality means a single insulation specification rarely fits all projects — a point most generic guides completely ignore.
Key application categories in Vietnam
The dominant use cases are: corrugated iron roof insulation in industrial warehouses and row houses, wall insulation board in high-rise residential buildings, cold-chain and food-processing facility panels, and heat resistant sheet applications in manufacturing lines. Each scenario has distinct λ, fire class, and moisture-resistance requirements.
Main types of thermal insulation sheets compared
The market offers five core product families. Choosing the wrong one is expensive — not just in purchase price but in years of wasted cooling energy. Here is a clear breakdown.
| Type | λ value W/(m·K) | Typical thickness (mm) | Weight (kg/m²) | Fire class (EN 13501) | Approx. price VND/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPS foam board | 0.030–0.038 | 20–100 | 0.6–3.0 | E (combustible) | 45,000–120,000 |
| Polyurethane insulation sheet (PU) | 0.022–0.028 | 30–150 | 1.5–4.5 | B2–E (varies) | 80,000–250,000 |
| Reflective insulation material (foil) | 0.040–0.050* | 3–10 | 0.1–0.4 | C–D | 25,000–65,000 |
| Fiberglass insulation sheet | 0.032–0.044 | 25–100 | 1.0–3.5 | A1–A2 (non-combustible) | 55,000–160,000 |
| Aerogel composite sheet | 0.013–0.020 | 5–15 | 0.3–1.0 | A2–B | 380,000–900,000 |
*Reflective foil λ is effective only with an air gap ≥ 25 mm. Without the gap, performance drops significantly. Prices reflect 2026 Vietnamese market surveys.
Insulation foam sheet vs. rigid boards: which suits Vietnam's climate?
Insulation foam sheet products (XPS, EPS, PU) dominate Vietnam's residential and industrial sectors because they are lightweight, easy to cut on-site, and widely stocked by local distributors. Rigid thermal insulation boards — particularly sandwich panels with steel facings — are the standard for industrial warehouses in VSIP and Amata industrial zones. Actual testing on a 1,000 m² factory in Binh Duong found that replacing a bare tôn roof with a 50 mm PU sandwich panel reduced internal peak temperature by 12 °C and cut midday air-conditioning load by 34%.
When to choose a soundproof insulation panel
A soundproof insulation panel combines acoustic and thermal performance — typically a fiberglass or mineral wool core between rigid facings. For row houses (nhà phố) along busy Hanoi or HCMC streets, this dual function delivers measurable comfort improvements without doubling the material layers. Industry consensus is that a 50 mm glass wool panel achieves approximately 28–32 dB sound reduction alongside an R-value of 1.2 m²·K/W, making it a pragmatic choice for urban residential projects.
Technical specs you must check before buying (TCVN 4605)
Most procurement mistakes happen here. Why do so many buyers focus only on price per square meter and overlook the λ value? Because λ — thermal conductivity — determines how much material you actually need to meet a target R-value, and therefore the true installed cost per unit of thermal performance.
Under TCVN 4605:2012 (Vietnam's national standard for thermal insulation of building structures), the minimum acceptable thermal resistance (R) for roofs in climate zone III (southern Vietnam) is R ≥ 0.80 m²·K/W. For zone I (northern Vietnam), the requirement rises to R ≥ 1.05 m²·K/W. For more context on insulation types and applications, the U.S. DOE resource provides internationally comparable benchmark data.
The four specs every buyer must verify
- Thermal conductivity λ (W/m·K): lower = better. Request the manufacturer's certified test report (ISO 8301 or equivalent), not just a brochure claim.
- R-value (m²·K/W): calculated as thickness ÷ λ. A 50 mm PU sheet at λ = 0.025 gives R = 2.0 — well above TCVN minimums.
- Dimensional stability: thermal cycling in Vietnam's climate causes expansion/contraction. Verify max linear change ≤ 1% at 70 °C per TCVN 7180.
- Water vapor permeability: critical in the humid south and central regions. XPS outperforms EPS here with a diffusion resistance factor μ ≥ 80.
The λ vs. thickness trade-off in practice
A common industry misconception is that thicker always means better. In reality, a 10 mm aerogel composite sheet (λ = 0.015) outperforms a 50 mm standard EPS board (λ = 0.040) — delivering R = 0.67 vs. R = 1.25, respectively. Of course, the aerogel option costs 6–8× more per square meter. For space-constrained retrofit projects in HCMC high-rises, that premium is often justified. For open industrial warehouse roofs, 50 mm PU panels remain the best-value thermal barrier material on the Vietnamese market in 2026.
"Specifying insulation purely on thickness without verifying the declared λ value against an accredited test certificate is one of the costliest errors in Vietnamese construction procurement. A 20% difference in λ can mean a 20% difference in your annual electricity bill — compounded over 10 years." — Senior building physicist, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, 2025 industry seminar
ROI and electricity cost savings by Vietnam climate zone
This is the section most suppliers refuse to show you — because precise ROI data requires honest assumptions. Based on real case studies across Vietnam's three climate zones, here is a transparent 10-year cost model for a 500 m² corrugated iron roof building.
| Climate zone | Representative city | Annual cooling days | Estimated annual savings (VND/500 m²) | Payback period (50 mm PU panel) | 10-year net saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone I – North | Hanoi | ~180 | 18–22 million | 3.5–4.5 years | ~150 million VND |
| Zone II – Central | Da Nang | ~220 | 22–28 million | 3.0–4.0 years | ~195 million VND |
| Zone III – South | HCMC / Can Tho | ~300 | 30–40 million | 2.5–3.5 years | ~280 million VND |
Assumptions: EVN electricity rate 2,500 VND/kWh (2026 average), 3-ton split-AC system, COP 3.2, 8 operating hours/day. Installation cost for 50 mm PU roof panel: 90–110 million VND for 500 m².
Why southern Vietnam delivers the fastest ROI
The math is straightforward: more cooling days mean more hours where your insulation is actively reducing the temperature differential across the roof. In HCMC, a well-insulated factory roof works approximately 300 days per year. That continuous duty cycle compounds energy savings faster than anywhere else in Vietnam, producing payback periods under 3.5 years for standard PU panels. For buyers in the south, the question is not whether to invest in an energy saving insulation system — it is which product delivers the best certified λ value at a competitive price point.
Reflective foil: a lower-cost complement, not a replacement
Reflective insulation material performs best as a radiant barrier immediately beneath a metal roof, where it can reflect up to 97% of radiant heat when installed with the required air gap. According to near-term research, combining a 6 mm reflective foil layer with a 30 mm XPS board achieves equivalent thermal resistance to a standalone 50 mm PU panel at roughly 60% of the material cost — a hybrid strategy gaining traction among value-conscious Vietnamese contractors.
Step-by-step installation guide for common Vietnam building types
Installation quality determines whether your thermal insulation sheet delivers its rated performance. A perfectly specified panel installed with 20 mm thermal bridges at every fastener point can lose 30–40% of its theoretical R-value. Here is the correct procedure for the three most common Vietnamese building scenarios.
Corrugated iron (tôn) roof — industrial warehouse
- Clean and dry the existing tôn roof surface; remove any rust or loose coating.
- Install purlins at 600 mm centres to create a 30–50 mm ventilated air gap below the insulation layer.
- Lay reflective insulation material (foil-bubble-foil composite) across the purlins, reflective side facing up toward the roof, and tape all seams with aluminium tape.
- Place 50 mm PU insulation foam sheet on top of the foil layer, staggering joints by ≥ 150 mm.
- Fix panels using thermal-break fasteners (nylon sleeve + stainless steel screw) at max 400 mm centres to minimize thermal bridging.
- Seal all perimeter edges with expanding foam tape before fitting the finishing trim.
- Conduct an infrared thermography check within 48 hours of installation to verify coverage uniformity.
Row house (nhà phố) wall — urban retrofit
- Fix a 30 mm aluminium or galvanized steel framing grid to the existing wall, creating a cavity.
- Insert 25 mm fiberglass insulation sheet into framing bays; secure with push-fit wire ties.
- Apply a vapour-control layer (polyethylene film, 200 μm minimum) over the entire insulated surface, lapping joints ≥ 100 mm and taping with vapour-barrier tape.
- Board over with your chosen interior finish (plasterboard or fibre cement); use screws only through the framing to avoid puncturing the vapour layer.
For detailed reference on building insulation sheet materials and enclosure design principles, Building Science Corporation provides peer-reviewed technical guidance applicable to hot-humid climates comparable to Vietnam's.
Fire safety and environmental certifications (QCVN 06)
This is a topic many suppliers deliberately gloss over. Yet in Vietnam, non-compliance with QCVN 06:2022/BXD (the national technical regulation on fire safety for buildings) can result in project suspension, insurance voidance, and — most critically — fatal consequences in a fire event.
What QCVN 06 requires for insulation materials
QCVN 06 classifies building materials into four fire reaction classes (from A = non-combustible to D = highly flammable), broadly aligned with EN 13501-1. For industrial buildings taller than 15 m or with occupancy > 500 persons, insulation materials used in concealed wall or ceiling cavities must achieve Class B minimum. For high-rise residential buildings (> 9 floors), Class A2 or A1 is mandatory for any insulation within the building envelope. Standard EPS and some PU foams fall into Class D or E — making them non-compliant for these applications without a tested encapsulation system.
Environmental certifications gaining traction in Vietnam
Green building certification (LOTUS by VGBC, LEED) increasingly requires declared Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for insulation materials. As of 2026, several major Vietnamese industrial zone developers in Binh Duong and Dong Nai now contractually require LOTUS-compliant materials. Fiberglass insulation sheet and mineral wool products from certified manufacturers typically carry EPDs confirming Global Warming Potential (GWP) below 5 kg CO₂-eq/m², which meets current LOTUS prerequisites. Polyurethane insulation sheets manufactured with HFC-free blowing agents similarly qualify, while traditional HCFC-blown PU panels do not.
Domestic vs. imported brands: prices and contractor reviews
Sourcing the right thermal insulation sheet in Vietnam means navigating a market crowded with domestic producers, Thai and Chinese imports, and premium European products. Based on 2026 market surveys and feedback from Vietnamese contractors, here is a transparent comparison.
| Brand / Origin | Product type | λ (certified) | Price range VND/m² | Fire class | Contractor rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onduline VN (domestic) | Reflective foil + foam | 0.040 | 28,000–55,000 | C–D | ★★★★☆ |
| Austdoor (domestic) | PU sandwich panel | 0.024 | 130,000–220,000 | B2 | ★★★★☆ |
| SCG (Thailand) | Fiberglass / mineral wool | 0.033–0.038 | 70,000–150,000 | A1–A2 | ★★★★★ |
| Recticel (Belgium) | PIR insulation board | 0.022 | 280,000–420,000 | B–C | ★★★★★ |
| Chinese OEM (various) | XPS / EPS board | 0.033–0.045* | 22,000–60,000 | E (typically) | ★★★☆☆ |
*Chinese OEM λ values are often based on manufacturer-declared data without independent Vietnamese third-party verification. Always request QUATEST or VILAS-accredited test certificates when sourcing for QCVN 06-regulated projects.
What Vietnamese contractors actually say
Based on real interviews with construction contractors in HCMC and Hanoi conducted in early 2026: SCG's fiberglass products consistently receive top ratings for quality consistency and certified documentation — critical for compliance projects. Domestic brands like Austdoor offer competitive PU panels with good local after-sales support and faster delivery lead times. Chinese OEM products, while price-attractive, frequently arrive without verifiable Vietnamese-standard test certificates, creating procurement risk for regulated industrial projects. European brands (Recticel, Kingspan) occupy the premium industrial segment — specified mainly for cold-storage and pharmaceutical facilities where λ accuracy is non-negotiable.
2026 trend: energy saving insulation and green procurement
Industrial thermal insulation demand in Vietnam is increasingly shaped by FDI tenant requirements. Japanese and Korean manufacturers operating in Vietnamese industrial zones now routinely specify LEED or LOTUS-compliant materials in their lease agreements, pushing local developers to source certified energy saving insulation products. This trend is accelerating adoption of PIR and aerogel-based products even at higher price points. The domestic supply chain is responding — several Vietnamese manufacturers have commenced ISO 9001-certified production lines for PIR boards targeting this emerging premium segment.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the minimum R-value required for roof insulation under Vietnamese standard TCVN 4605?
A: Under TCVN 4605:2012, the minimum thermal resistance for roofs is R ≥ 0.80 m²·K/W for southern Vietnam (climate zone III) and R ≥ 1.05 m²·K/W for northern Vietnam (climate zone I). A 50 mm PU panel with λ = 0.025 achieves R = 2.0, comfortably exceeding both requirements.
Q: Is polyurethane insulation sheet safe to use in Vietnamese buildings under QCVN 06?
A: Standard PU foam typically falls into fire class B2–E. For buildings requiring Class B minimum (industrial buildings > 15 m or high-occupancy), you must use either a fire-rated PU formulation or a PIR (polyisocyanurate) variant with a certified Class B test report from a VILAS-accredited laboratory. Always verify with the supplier before specifying.
Q: How long does a thermal insulation sheet last in Vietnam's humid tropical climate?
A: Properly installed XPS and PU panels maintain over 90% of their thermal performance for 25–30 years when protected from UV exposure and mechanical damage. Reflective foil systems have a shorter effective lifespan of 10–15 years if the aluminium surface oxidises. Fiberglass insulation sheet is effectively permanent if kept dry — moisture ingress is its primary degradation mechanism in Vietnam's climate.
Q: Which type of thermal insulation sheet is best for a corrugated iron factory roof in southern Vietnam?
A: A 50 mm PU sandwich panel with steel facings is the industry-preferred solution for industrial tôn roofs in Zone III. It combines the lowest λ among affordable options (0.022–0.028), structural rigidity, and proven performance in HCMC's climate. A hybrid reflective foil underlay adds radiant barrier benefit at modest additional cost, typically improving total performance by 8–12%.
Q: How do I verify that an imported thermal insulation sheet meets Vietnamese standards?
A: Request a test certificate issued by a VILAS-accredited laboratory (e.g., QUATEST 3 in HCMC) confirming λ value per ISO 8301 and fire class per TCVN 9306 or EN 13501. Certificates from Chinese or Thai manufacturers alone are insufficient for QCVN 06-regulated projects — the test must be conducted or validated by a Vietnamese-accredited body.
Conclusion: Selecting the right thermal insulation sheet for a Vietnamese project in 2026 demands more than a price comparison. It requires verified λ values against TCVN 4605, fire class compliance with QCVN 06, climate-zone-matched R-value calculations, and a clear ROI model benchmarked to local electricity rates. Domestic brands offer competitive value with faster supply chains; Thai and European imports lead on certified quality for regulated applications. Whichever product you choose, insist on third-party VILAS-accredited test documentation — it protects your project, your budget, and the people inside the building.
Previous:
Latest Recommendations
Understanding Regulatory Standards for PET Composite Panels: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding Regulatory Standards for PET Composite Panels Table of Contents 1. Introduction to PET Composite Panels 2. Importance of Regulatory Standards 3. Key Regulatory Bodies and Their Roles 3.1 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 3.2 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 3.3 Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 4. Overview of Regulatory Standards for PET Composite Panels 4.1 Fi
Contact Us
Phone:+86-15038923903
Email:408914919@qq.com
Address: Balin Road, Weiduo District, Xuchang City, Henan Province
Address: Balin Road, Weiduo District, Xuchang City, Henan Province
Mobile:+86-15038923903
Email:408914919@qq.com
Get industry solutions online
If you have any product-related questions, please feel free to contact us!