composite / Panelised / Insulated Panel
Aerogel-filled translucent panel (10mm, 15mm, 20mm aerogel layer; 24mm-32mm total unit)
Aerogel translucent panels combine very low thermal conductivity (~0.016 W/m?K) with daylighting; Kalwall packages report U?factors 0.53?0.05 W/m??K and VLT 3?50%.
Atlas code
COM-PNL-INS-002
At-a-glance signals
Aerogel translucent panels combine very low thermal conductivity (~0.016 W/m?K) with daylighting; Kalwall packages report U?factors 0.53?0.05 W/m??K and VLT 3?50%.
Overview
Executive summary
Aerogel-filled translucent panels use silica aerogel insulation to deliver very low thermal conductivity (~0.016 W/m?K for aerogel-based boards) while maintaining daylighting. Kalwall?s translucent insulation packages, which can include Lumira? aerogel, list U?factors from 0.53 to 0.05 W/m??K and visible light transmission between 3?50%.
Best when…
- Lowest thermal conductivity of translucent materials (0.016 W/m·K)
- Maintains light transmission (3-50%) with superior insulation
- Non-combustible silica core (dimensional stability to 650°C)
- Excellent acoustic damping properties
- Hydrophobic treatment prevents moisture damage
- UV blocking capability (<1% transmission)
- Museum-quality light diffusion
- 25+ year service life expectancy
- Lightweight compared to triple glazing
- No thermal bridging in properly designed systems
Top advantages
- 01 Lowest thermal conductivity of translucent materials (0.016 W/m·K)
- 02 Maintains light transmission (3-50%) with superior insulation
- 03 Non-combustible silica core (dimensional stability to 650°C)
- 04 Excellent acoustic damping properties
- 05 Hydrophobic treatment prevents moisture damage
Top limitations
- 01 Premium cost (3-10x traditional glazing)
- 02 Limited Australian suppliers and long lead times (12-16 weeks)
- 03 No NATA-accredited test reports for Australian standards
- 04 Requires Performance Solution for NCC compliance
- 05 Fragile during handling and installation
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 100 kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 0.1
- Porosity
- 95 %
- Water absorption
- 0.5 %
- Hardness
- 15
- UV resistance
- 99
- Chemical resistance
- 85
- pH tolerance
- 4-10
- Surface roughness
- 5 µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 0.16 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 0.5 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 0.3 MPa
- Shear strength
- 0.2 MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.2
- Impact resistance
- 5
- Creep resistance
- 60
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 120 kgCO2e/m² Per m² of aerogel panel (high manufacturing energy for aerogel matrix).
- Carbon footprint
- 150
- Embodied energy
- 1500 MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 500 L/kg
- Recycled content
- 0 %
- Renewable content
- 0 %
- Circular score
- 2
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- Non-combustible // Silica aerogel
- Fire resistance level
- 120
- Ignition temp
- 1200 °C
- Flame spread index
- 0
- Smoke dev. index
- 0
- Heat release rate
- 0
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 800-1500 // $/m² - based on international pricing
- Material cost (per unit)
- 1200
- Lead time
- 12-16 weeks // International shipping required
- Lifecycle cost
- 2000
- Annual maintenance
- 5
- Market availability
- Import only // Limited Australian supply
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 25
- Maintenance interval
- 5
- Warranty period
- 10
Layer D
Where it's used
High-performance curtain wall systems
Museum and gallery daylighting
Industrial facility skylights
Commercial building facades
Passive house construction
Heritage building retrofits
Laboratory cleanrooms
Sports facility glazing
Cold storage facilities
Data centre envelope systems