Panels for improved roof space insulation

Abstract

An insulating method for use in a roof space using insulation comprising a plurality of panels made of insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene. wherein the edges of the panel comprise at lea

Description

Background The present invention relates to the field of building insulation. In particular, the invention provides a new method of insulating a roof space, such as a loft, ceiling, or flat roof. The current method for insulating such spaces often requires the use of fiber blankets or similar materials that are often provided in large rolls that need to be laid over the surface of the insulated space. However, such rolls of material can be hard to transport and may be difficult to pass through the usually small access hatches, or doors, to a roof space due to their large size. Further, these fibrous materials may be difficult to position as the materials may fall apart, especially when held in-situ on the slope between roof rafters. Furthermore, these fibrous materials can be hazardous to install as they will often need cutting down to size, which may result in the release of fibers that can be hazardous when inhaled, thereby requiring the user to use suitable safety equipment when installing such insulation. Additionally, these blankets are often simply laid over or between the joist of the insulated roof, without any suitable means of fastening them into place and often leaving gaps between the blankets and the adjacent blanket or joist. Such gaps may create cold bridges wherein heat can escape through the insulating layer. Further such gaps may allow moisture to enter through the insulating lay and build in the space below increasing the risk of damp and mold forming in the roof space and potentially damaging the roof joists or rafters. Lastly, these fiber blankets may also form a fire risk if the materials used are not suitably flame retardant as the loose fibers may ignite, and could cause the wooden roof structures to catch fire. An alternative to such fiber blankets includes using wooden inlays, wherein a wooden floor is installed over the joists to create a space that can be filled with insulating material to form an insulating layer. However, such an inlay requires precision tools and a lot of work to install compared to the blankets as the floor needs to be fitted to the insulated space. Further, the increased weight of the inlay may reduce the amount of weight that can be stored within these spaces. Lastly, this insulation can be costly as in addition to the initial installment the wooden panels of the inlay will eventually need to be replaced as they will degrade over time, meaning a skilled workman would need to fit the replacement panels increasing the cost and work needed compared to the alternatives. This need to be replaced is also true for the fiber blankets described above as over time the fibers may degrade or move apart under the force of the objects stored in the roof space, allowing cold bridges to form across the insulating layer. Therefore, there is a need to provide an alternative roof insulation that is easy to install and preferably has small size and is made of a lightweight material to allow easier transportation and installation. This new installation would also preferably be able to carry a large weight without breaking and would be flame retardant. Thereby providing an effective insulating layer that can be easily installed and replaced without the need for a skilled workman or specialized tools. Preferably this alternative insulation would also be configured to not degrade over time thereby providing improved insulation compared to the current methods. Summary The present invention provides an improved solution for installing insulation into a dwelling. Wherein the insulation comprises a plurality of panels that can be placed within the desired location, such as a loft floor, pitched roofs, flat roofs, underfloor, and other suitable locations. Wherein the claimed panels can be easily laid in the desired location, with the edges of the panels having interlocking features that would allow the panels to form a single layer of insulation, without the need for specialized skills or equipment allowing anyone to install the insulation, reducing time and cost. Thereby making the process of insulating a dwelling simpler to achieve. When using such panels the solid layer of insulation formed by the panels helps to ensure there are no spaces in the insulation, which could create drafts in the dwelling which could result in a loss of heat, further the solid layer of insulation ensures there are no spaces for moisture to gather that may result in mold, dampness, and other damages to the dwelling. Additionally, the claimed insulation panels allow for simpler maintenance as panels can be easily removed and replaced with ease, especially as the user may remove individual panels without the need to replace all of the insulation layers. Further, these panels are preferably easy to cut to fit snugly around roof rafters using a hand saw or similar and the embedded line markings aid for accuracy and simplicity in measuring I cutting making installation easy for DIY. It is also noted that individual panels may be more easily fitted close to the sloping edges of the ceiling and roof, to provide maximum insulation and avoid cold bridging while still allowing air to permeate through the roof joists so reducing the risk of condensation forming. More specifically the claimed invention comprises an insulation panel that comprises a main body made of an insulating material with interlocking edges. Wherein the edges of each panel comprise at least one protrusion and at least one cavity configured to receive the protrusion of an adjacent panel. These protrusions and cavities would allow the panels to interlock with little to no space between each panel, thereby forming a solid insulating layer. In cases where there are multiple protrusions, the spacing between the protrusions may act as a cavity as described above. Preferably the panel sides would comprise a plurality of protrusions, with the spaces between each of the protrusions comprising a cavity shaped to receive the protrusions of the adjacent panels. This shape allows each panel to interlock with each adjacent panel by inserting the protrusion of one panel into the corresponding cavity in an adjacent panel, thereby forming a layer of insulation without the need for tools. Additionally, by having the insulation formed from panels the user can more easily transport the insulation as the user may stack the panels within a vehicle, which would allow the user to use smaller vehicles for transporting the insulation, especially when comparing the claimed panels to reels of insulation such as fiberglass. Additionally, the claimed panels would have relatively small dimensions compared to other insulation options, this not only makes the insulation easier to carry to the desired location but would also ensure that the insulation can fit through the typically small access doors to lofts and other roof spaces. Thereby making the claimed insulation easier to install compared to other options. It is noted that the protrusions on the edges of the panels can have a variety of different shapes, each of these shapes provide different benefits and drawbacks. For example, a round protraction may be more resistant to impacts compared to a protrusion with straight sides, however, the rounded protrusion would also provide less friction between the panels thereby increasing the risk of panels decoupling. Therefore, there needs to be a compromise to choose a shape that will be resistant to impact allowing the panel to withstand more weight without the protrusion breaking, while also providing sufficient friction to lock adjacent panels together, reducing the risk of the insulation layer separating after installation. For example, one shape that can achieve this is one wherein the protrusions are truncated or bottled-neck such that the protrusion as a narrower region and a broader region. This shape allows the cavity to surround the broad portion of the protrusion ensuring that the adjacent panels do not separate once interlocked. However, the narrow portion of the protrusion provides a weak point that may break under pressure. To that end the preferred shape should provide similar interlocking of panels without any obvious weak points. From these criteria, the preferred shape for these protrusions is a dovetail shape, it is noted that the preferred dovetail shape would have rounded corners, and where possible rounded edges as this increase the force required to break the dovetail protrusions, thereby helping to prevent material breaking off during handling. The angled sides of the dovetail protrusions can prevent the panels from moving laterally once the panels are locked together, this can prevent the panels from decoupling once they have been placed. It is also noted that in the cases where the protrusions are recessed, as described above, the surface covering the dovetail protrusion can help prevent the panel from moving vertically, thereby further ensuring that the panels remain locked together. By restricting the movements of the panels, the dovetail protrusions provide a stronger connection between the panels. These stronger connections between the panels mean that once the panels are interlocked, they can form a layer that not only provides insulation to the dwelling but can also have sufficient strength to support the weight of users walking over the insulation, or any flooring placed over the panels, and ensures that the insulating panels do not come apart under the force of such weight. It is also noted that it is preferable that these protrusions be moulded into the material of the panel itself. That is to say the edges of the panel will be shaped to form the necessary protrusions, rather than forming the protrusions from a different material. Firstly, because if the protrusions were separate components from the panel the coupling points of the protrusions could be a potential weak point, such that the protrusions may separate from the panel under pressure. More importantly, by having the protrusions be made from the same insulating material as the panel the protrusions will be able to insulate the region in between the bodies of adjacent panels, further the interlocking of such protrusions would form a near continuous layer of insulation over the desired area, reducing the amount of heat leaking from between the panels. In some cases, the cavities on the edge of the panel may be recessed into the body of the panel, to provide a stronger connection between panels. In these cases, the dovetail protrusions and cavities may also be made shorter than the body of the panel thereby leaving a gap above the protrusions and leaving a lip or surface over the cavities of the panel. This means that when adjacent panels are connected the lip formed by the top surface of the panel covers the connecting protrusions of the adjacent panel. By using these recessed cavities, the user can protect the dovetail protrusions from external forces that may damage or possibly break the dovetail, thereby reinforcing the panel layer, as the top layer of the panel would cover the seams between adjacent panels and create a layer that would bear any force applied to the area where two or more panels meet. Additionally, the straight edge seem between the lip of one panel and the body of the adjacent panel would also have a smaller length compared to the jagged seam formed by the dovetails, thereby reducing the area over which a cold bridge could form, this is reduced further by overlapping the seams and only the area where the lip seam and dovetail seam meet are at risk of forming such a cold bridge. Therefore, a set of panels with recessed cavities are preferable as they provide an insulating layer with more strength allowing the panel to support more weight without the risk of damaging the dovetail connections. Additionally, it is noted that the dovetail connections between panels leave little to no space between each pair of panels, this helps to prevent moisture from entering the space below the insulating layer, this is preferable as the build-up of such moisture can lead to damp or mold forming within the insulated space. Further by having recessed dovetails that hide the seams between panels the risk of moisture entering the insulating layer is reduced. Further, the dovetail connection helps to reduce the risk of cold bridges forming, this term refers to gaps or spaces within insulation that can allow heat to escape. More specifically, the dovetail connection ensures there is minimal space between each panel, further if the dovetail cavities are recessed the cover surface over the dovetail can act as a barrier ensuring heat does not escape between the panels. In cases, wherein the panel includes a lip or surface that is configured to cover the interlocking protrusion, the panel may include an adhesive on the lip to seal the covering surface to the adjacent panel. More specifically a layer of adhesive may be positioned over the edge of the lip of the panel such that when the panels are interlocked the adhesive is positioned between the lip and the surface of the adjacent panel. This way the adjacent panels can be coupled together thereby reducing the risk of panels decoupling. In addition, the adhesive would seal and possibly insulate the small gap between the panels, thereby preventing draughts and moisture from leaking through the gaps between the panels. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive would be in the form of an adhesive strip along the surface of the lip thereby allowing the user to control when the adhesive is active thereby ensuring the panels do not stick together in transit or before being positioned. It is also noted that in most installations the insulating panels would be positioned over joists within a building roof which has a specific distance between each joist, as set out in build standards and regulations, as such the distance between each pair of joists should be fixed. In some cases, the bottom face of the insulating panel, which refers to the face of the panel that is in contact with these joists, may include recesses configured to receive one of the joists. This way when the panels are laid in place the joists of the roof structure will sit within the recess, thereby increasing the amount of friction between the panel and the joist, this reduces the risk of individual panels sliding. Additionally, the recessed joists would provide extra support to the panel, as the panel can dissipate any force exerted upon it into the joist, and the joist will help prevent the panel bending when under pressure. Both of these effects will allow the panel to withstand more weight exerted upon it without sliding or breaking. It is noted that there would be two sets of recesses as the joists can be arranged in a vertical or horizontal direction, depending on whether they align with the length or the width of the roof. Therefore, there need to be suitable recesses for both joist alignments, wherein the recess would have different widths and / or spacings to accommodate the different alignments. It is also preferable to have both types of recesses in one panel allowing the same panel to be used regardless of the joist alignment. To achieve this the different joist sizes / spacings can be overlapped, creating an irregular series of recesses, this is to say that the resulting joist recess would not have a uniform spacing or size on a given panel, in use, the user can simply align the joists with the corresponding recesses based on the alignment of the joists in the roof structure, thereby forming a panel that can be coupled to joists in either the horizontal or vertical alignment. In some cases, the edges of the panels base may also be recessed to create a shoulder which can be used to rest the panel on larger joists, such as a central joist, or rest on the joist around the edge of the insulated area, noted that the wider central joist would be covered by the shoulders of two adjacent panels, thereby creating a recess larger than the individual recesses on a given panel. These joist recesses are used to help secure the panel layer in place. For the recessed joists would stop the panels from sliding in the direction perpendicular to the length of the joist. Additionally, the recesses would help to increase the friction between the panels and the joist, thereby reducing the risk of the insulating layer sliding in a direction parallel to the length of the joists. This increased friction between the joist and the panels may also help to reinforce the panel layer with the recesses joist allowing the panels to support more weight without breaking. It is noted that a user may form an insulating layer using the insulating panels as described above, by aligning the panel with the joists to rest the joists in the recess of the panel, the panel can then slide along the joists to make space for the next panel which is coupled to the first by inserting the dovetails of one panel into the side recesses in the adjacent panel. This process can be repeated until the desired area is covered in interlocked panels. This may allow the user to form the initial rows of an insulating layer without the need to stand on the roof joists, once such a row is formed the user can stand on each row when laying the adjacent row of insulating panels. These fitted panels in the initial rows would also reduce the need for the user to walk on joists to lay the panels, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the roof structure. Once each of the panels has been placed as described above the user may secure the insulating layer into place using a suitable fastening means such as long screws or bolts which would pass through the panels and into the joists beneath, these fasteners may also include washers to increase the frictional force between the panel and the fastener. Further, if such washers are sufficiently wide the force, they provide may also help to prevent the material of the panel from breaking or splitting where the fastener has been inserted. This would allow the user to ensure that the panels are secured in place with no risk of the insulating layer sliding out of place. Though different types of fasteners may be used, the preferred fastener would comprise self-drilling insulation screws, preferably with suitable insulating washers to spread the load and reduce potential damage to the panel from the screws. These fasteners are configured such that they can be drilled into the insulating panel and the joists they are affixed to without the need to predrill a hole into the joist or panel. This removes the need to use a drill on the panels which may risk breaking the panel if not done correctly. Further, this type of screw and washer are configured to help prevent heat leaks through the crew, as normal metal screws and washers are conductive so may act as a heat bridge through the insulation. When using such fasteners to secure the insulating panel. The panels may include indicia on their top surface, this being the surface opposite the side touching the joists, to indicate where the fasteners need to be inserted, as these indicia would show the location of the joist under the panel. Such indicia may be in the form of symbols and other suitable markings. In some cases, the panels may have two different indicia, with the first indicating the location of the joists when the joists are arranged vertically, and the other indicia indicating the location of the joists when the joists are arranged horizontally. In such cases, the two indicia would need to be suitable to be visible when overlapped, for example, if the first indicia were a cross and the second was a ring, a user would be able to see when the indicia are overlapped to show a point that requires a fastener regardless of the joist orientation. Alternatively, the panels may use a third type of indicia to indicate the points that require a fastener regardless of the joist orientation. As noted, the insulating panels described above can be made of any suitable insulating material. However, in the preferred embodiment these panels would be formed from expanded polystyrene, this material is formed by heating polystyrene beads within suitable molds so that the beads expand and fuse forming blocks that can be cut into the desired panel shape. This provides a material that provides good thermal insulation and can be easily cut into the desired shape to form the panels described above. Further, expanded polystyrene provides material that is lightweight for ease of transportation, while still having enough strength to withstand the weight of objects likely to be stored within a roof space. Further, this material does not produce fibers when cut, such as the fibers produced by fiber insulation blankets, this is preferable as such fibers could potentially cause harm to a user if inhaled. It is also noted that the expanded polystyrene can be formed from recycled materials such as post-consumer plastics, as those from Pyrolysis oil techniques. Though the expanded polystyrene panels can be provided in a variety of sizes, the dimensions for the preferred panel would be 1200 x 400 x 125mm, as this provides a large panel that is still small enough to enter most loft hatches with ease, while providing a long enough surface to reach across the joists within a loft, and is thin enough to fit between rafters when insulating a roof. The dimension described above also allows the panel to have a plurality of 600mm recesses for receiving joists on the base of the panel. It is also noted that these panels may be thicker than 125mm are generally thicker than other forms of insulation, this added thickness helps to improve the compression strength of the panel. The thicker panels also allow the panel to support larger protrusions, which can help increase the amount of friction between adjacent panels while allowing sufficient room to recess the protrusion cavities to form a lip as described above. It should be noted that for these large panels the recessed protrusion cavities are preferable as they allow the user to couple the panels by placing the lip over the protrusions and pressing down on the whole panel, because in cases where exterior spacings are used as cavities for the protrusions, the friction between adjacent panes would be so high that pushing down on the protrusion of one panel may cause the protrusion on that panel or the adjacent panel to break, however, this risk is reduced with the recessed cavity as the user can apply force to the top surface of the panel rather than the protrusions. It is noted that the plurality of protrusions on the edge of the panel would have spacings of 100mm in this preferred panel dimensions, as this would allow the protrusions to be large enough to have sufficient strength to hold the weight placed on the panel, while also being numerous enough to have a strong connection with the adjacent panels. This regular spacing of the protrusions and cavities along the edges of the panel provides a guide for users who need to cut the panel down to size, for example along the edges of the insulated area, allowing the user to use the spacing to determine the length or width of the cut panel. In some cases, the top surface of the panel may include cutting lines spaced 100mm apart to further help guide the user when cutting a panel to size. Wherein the cutting lines can be used as a guide when cutting individual panels down to size and provides rough measurements for the pieces after the panels have been cut allowing the user to quickly check the sizes of the individual panel pieces more easily. It is also noted that when installing the panels there may be vertical structures, such as eaves, that the panel needs to surround. These cutting lines can help guide the user in creating suitable cutaways to house such a structure, with sufficient space around the structure to allow ventilation around the structure. In some cases, an additive may be inserted into the mold when forming the expanded polystyrene to alter the material properties. Notably, the beads may include additives to provide additional strength to the finished product, and to provide certain properties namely an additive that would be the insulation flame retardant. The preferred additive for expanded polystyrene is carbon, most likely in the form of graphene, a carbon-containing geopolymer or a fine powder. By including carbon in the polystyrene structure, the resulting product is flame-retardant and would have increased infrared absorption compared to polystyrene alone. This carbon-lased polystyrene is preferable as it would have improved thermal insulation due to the higher infrared absorption and would be safer to use as the material is flame retardant and therefore reduces the risk of a fire spreading through the insulated space. To achieve these effects the amount of carbon added to the polystyrene would make up between 0.01-0.05% of the total mass, preferably between 0.01-0.02%, as carbon structures such as graphene are thermally and electrically conductive on their own, therefore if a large amount of these materials were included within the polystyrene, they could cause the panels to be more conductive, thereby reducing their effectiveness as an insulator. Additionally, this additive would increase the density of the final product, though the product would still have a relatively low weight overall, the carbon structure would increase the density and in doing so increase the compressive strength of the insulating panel, allowing the panel to support more weight before the panel deforms, and / or ruptures. For example, in testing a panel with a density of 24Kg / m3 the panel could support 251kg which is the equivalent of three people standing on the panel at once. It is also noted that this density of polystyrene produces a low thermal conductivity compared to lower densities, with higher densities providing roughly the same result, therefore making this an optimal value for providing both a low thermal conductivity and less weight for the panels. it is noted that the panels as described above, including the carbon additives, can be created using 100% recycled materials, for example from plastic waste. This makes the claimed panels an environmentally friendly alternative to many of the current forms of insulation used in modern homes. Additionally, as the panels are formed from recycled materials it is noted that the panels themselves are fully recyclable, meaning there is no waste produced when panels are cut down to size, or when worn panels are replaced as all the excess panels and off-cuts can be recycled. It is also noted that in some cases, the insulating panels may include a metallic layer on one side of the panel. For example, the panels may include a small layer of aluminum of the bottom or top of the panel. Wherein this metallic film is attached to the isolation panel is configured to act as a thermal reflector. Wherein when the panel is installed the metallic layer can be used to reflect thermal energy into or away from the dwelling. This layer allows the heat trapped by the insulating panels to be redirected back into the building the insulation is installed in. Additionally, during hot weather the metallic layer can help redirect heat from the external surroundings away from the inside of the building, thereby allowing better climate control within the building. In some cases, the panels may include micro-fibers as an additional additive to provide structural support to the panel. These fibers may be loose within the panel or in the form of a mesh. In either case, these structures may provide additional flexibility to the panel allowing the edges of the panel that are not supported by the joist to bend more before breaking. This may allow the panels to support additional weight as the panel can deform more before breaking. In another variation of the above-mentioned panel, the panel may include an insulated tube that extends laterally through the body of the panel. This tube would be positioned such that when the panels are interlocked the tubes form a continuous tube, or pipe, through the layer of panels. This tube within the panel layer may be used to house wires located within the roof space. This way the user can extend wires through the insulating layer, instead of leaving the wires exposed on top of the insulating layer. This can improve the user’s safety within the roof structure as these wires will no longer pose a tripping hazard. Additionally, the wires will be less exposed reducing the risk of the wires being damaged, and if the wires should become worn, they will be insulated by the surrounding tube and panel thereby reducing the danger to any personnel within the roof space. To this end, it is preferable that these tubes be made of a material that is both an electrical and thermal insulator to protect the panel surrounding the tube. Said tubes are preferably placed symmetrically within the panels as arranged in use such that tubes from adjoining panels for producing continuous conduit for the receipt of, for example services and for the optional addition of foam to join the panels and insulate any services. The preferred form of said tubes is a central lateral and a central longitudinal tube as said tubes, prior to any filling with foam, such as an expanding polyurethane foam, maybe less insulating than the body of a panel. Also within the scope of the present invention is a method of laying panels as described herein the panels comprising said tubes and carrying out subsequent step of injecting and expanding, curing foam so is to secure the blocks in place. This avoids the use of external glues and can be used to secure a whole floor of panels by injecting through suitable apertures leading into the tubes in one or two places for a whole floor. This greatly secures and speeds up installation. It is noted that the tube described above can create a break in the insulating layer allowing the formation of heat bridges through the insulating layer. Therefore, it is preferable for the user to have a means of sealing the tube when they are not in use. To this end, the panels may include one or more sealing caps to seal the tubes around the edges of the insulating layer. However, the space within the panel may still create a weak point and a potential heat bridge through the insulating layer. To address this issue, the user may insert an insulating sealing material, for example an expanding foam, such as a polymer foam, to seal and insulate the inside of the tube. Additionally, when the foam expands and hardens, the foam will form a supporting structure within the panel layer which can help support any weight placed on top of the panels, and may also help hold adjacent panels together, as the foam bridges the gap between adjacent panels and therefore can also be used as a means to physically couple the adjacent panels together. In some cases, the user may not be able to access the sides of the panels once they have been placed. Therefore, the user will need an alternative means to access the tubes as the opening at the ends of the panel layer will be inaccessible. In such cases, the panels may comprise a lateral tube that is perpendicular to the tubes that are positioned across the panel. These vertical lateral tubes will have one end connected to the horizontal tubes within the panel, the other end will be left open and will extend towards the top of the panel. This way the user may insert the sealing material as described above into the panel tubes. As noted, this material can seal the tubes to insulate them and prevent the formation of heat bridges within the insulating layer, additionally the material will extend between panels and will allow the panels to be coupled together via the sealing material extending through each panel of the layer. It is noted that the tops of the panel may include additional indicia to indicate to the user the position of the vertical tubes. These indicia help ensure that the user does not insert their fasteners into the tubes, and will allow the user to locate the tube within the insulating panel. It is noted that the fasteners may cause damage to the tubes and may damage the wires with or result in the sealing material leaking. In other cases, the location of all of the tubes may be indicated on the top surface of the panel again to avoid the user accidentally damaging the tubes when inserting fasteners. Additionally, the panel may include a cap to seal the lateral tubes to help ensure that they do not form a heat bridge through the insulating layer, and prevents the sealing material from overflowing through these vertical tubes. It is also noted that the insulating panel may include a lip made from the insulating material of the panel that will cover the exposed ends of the tube, in a manner wherein the user can peal back the insulation allowing access to the tube. Then when the tube is not in use the lip can be replaced thereby ensuring that the end of the tube is also insulated. Detail description: The present invention is depicted in the following drawings: 11 Figure 1: depicts an isometric view of the top side of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 2: depicts an isometric view of the bottom of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 3: depicts an example of the protrusions on the edges of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 4: depicts an example protrusion as per the claimed invention. Figure 5: depicts an example cavity configured to receive the protrusion of Figure 4. Figure 6: depicts an example of a cavity and a protrusion on the edges of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 7: depicts a plan view of the top side of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 8: depicts a plan view of the bottom of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel. Figure 9: depicts a plan view of the elongated side of the claimed insulation panel which includes protrusions. Figure 10: depicts a plan view of the short side of the claimed insulation panel which includes protrusions. Figure 11: depicts a plan view of the elongated side of the claimed insulation panel which includes cavities. Figure 12: depicts a plan view of the short side of the claimed insulation panel which includes cavities. Figure 13: depicts a plan view of the top side of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel in which the positioning of internal tubes, such as to act as a conduit for services, such as electrical services are shown. Figure 14: depicts a plan view of the short side of the claimed insulation panel showing an outlet of an elongate raffle tube suitable for receiving services, such as electrical cabling, water pipes. It is also suitable for being filled with a foam for securing adjoining panels and said services whilst maintaining insulation. The claimed invention comprises the following features, it is noted that like features are indicated by the use of like reference numerals: 10 - Insulating plate / panel 20 - protrusion 21 - protrusion curved edges 22 - protrusion rounded corners 23 - base of the protrusion 30 - recessed cavities 31 - cavity curved edges 32 - cavity rounded corners 40 - cavity lip 50 - measurement lines / marking indicia 60 - joist recesses 70 - joist shoulder 80 - small joist protrusion 81 - large joist protrusion 90 - elongate longitudinal internal tube (horizontal tube) 92 - elongate lateral tube (horizontal tube) 94 - end of elongate lateral tube 98 - aperture perpendicular to and intersecting lateral tube to enable foam injection for sealing the lateral tube (vertical tube) The claimed invention provides an insulation panel that can be used to form layers of insulation in roof spaces such as attics, rafters, or the space under flat roofs. In general, each panel comprises protrusions and cavities along its edges, wherein the cavities are configured to receive the protrusions of an adjacent panel allowing the panels to be interlocked to form an insulating layer over a desired area. It is noted that by having the insulation layer be formed from the interlocking panel the insulation is more easily transported, as such panels may be stacked in transit and can be additionally the individual panels can be sized to ensure they can enter the typically small access points to roof spaces such as loft doors, or the space between roof panels and flat roof ceilings. Such panels can also be stacked in transit and may be transported more easily than the reels of insulating materials that are currently used to insulate roof spaces. Additionally, the panels can form an insulating layer that is relatively thicker than other insulating materials allowing the insulation to support more weight within the roof space allowing the user to use these spaces for storage without risk of damaging the insulation. For example, the panels may be made of expanded polystyrene, however, it is noted that material such as glass fiber would likely need to be thicker than the panel to have the same thermal performance as the polystyrene, though such material would likely not be able to carry much weight compared to the expanded polystyrene panels. Lastly, the interlocking mechanism can reduce the space between panels, creating smaller gaps compared to the spacing between adjacent stripes of the reeled insulating material which is normally positioned between joists. This is important as such gaps can produce cold bridges that can allow heat to escape through the insulating layer. Reducing the size of the gaps in the insulating layer may also reduce the risk of moisture entering the space between and below the insulation, it is preferable as such moisture may cause damp, mold, or cause water damage to the roof structures. Though the panels described above could have various designs for the panels, protrusions, and cavities, the preferred embodiment of the panels is depicted in the attached figures. Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulation panel 10. In this example, the panel 10 comprises a rectangular panel made of insulating material. Wherein the sides of the panel 10 comprise a plurality of protrusions 20, in the depicted example two sides, namely one long and one short side of the rectangular panel, comprise these protrusions 20, with the opposite sides of the panel comprising a plurality of cavities 30 configured to receive the protrusions 20 from an adjacent panel. In the depicted embodiment each side comprises only protrusions 20 or only cavities 30, however, in some cases, the edges of the panel 10 may comprise both protrusions 20 and cavities 30 along the same side. Further, in some cases, all of the sides may include protrusions 20, wherein the shape of the protrusions is such that the spaces between the protrusions 20 forms a space that functions as a cavity configured to receive the protrusions 20 of the adjacent panel. Regardless of the arrangement of the protrusions 20 and cavities 30, the panels 10 would be configured to form a single insulating layer within a desired space, by placing the panels 10 over the desired area and interlocking the adjacent panels by inserting the protrusion 20 of one panel into the cavities 30 of an adjacent panel. Once the panels 10 are interlocked, they 14 would form a single solid layer that can cover the desired area as a single insulating sheet. It is noted that these panels 10 can simply rest on the joist, rafters, or other structures present in the insulated area making the installation of the panels easier for the user as they do not require any specific tools or skills to install. The insulating layer formed by locking the panels 10 together is also sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the user, or items they may wish to store in the roof space. This means that the user is free to walk on the panels 10 as they are being installed which again makes the task of installing the insulation easier for the user. Further, the depicted example illustrates a series of lines 50 on the top surface of the panel 10. These lines 50 are one example of several possible indicia which can be used to help the user when installing the panels 10. In the case of the depicted lines 50 shown on the panel, these lines 50 have a fixed spacing and may be used as an indicator of where to cut the panel 10 to have a specific length. This may be necessary for the edges of the insulated area where there is not sufficient room for a full panel. When this is the case, the user can use the lines 50 on the panel 10 to guide their cut across the panel and can be used to determine the length of the cut panel pieces. As can be seen in this figure and in figure 7, there is a combination of both vertical and horizontal lines on the panel 10 to guide the user when cutting the panel in either the horizontal or vertical directions. It is noted that the top surface of the panel may include further indicia, specifically fastener indicia which indicate to the user when they may insert a suitable fastener for securing the panel into place. The fasteners used to secure the panel 10 may include a sufficiently long screw or nail which can be inserted through the panel 10 and into the roof structure underneath such as a joist or rafter. It is noted that a panel 10 may need more than one fastener indicia, specifically though the distance between joists within a roof space is generally standardized the joists may have a vertical or horizontal alignment, with a different size spacing for each alignment. Therefore, the panel would have at least two indicia to indicate where the fastener would be inserted for each alignment. More preferably the panel would have a plurality of the two indicia to show multiple locations where a fastener may be inserted for each alignment. These indicia may be included on the panel 10 in addition to the measurement lines 50. Figure 2 depicts the underside of the panel 10 from figure 1, this figure shows that the base of the panel comprises a plurality of recesses 60. These recesses 60 are configured to receive the roof structures that the panel 10 would rest upon, for example, the joists under the panel 10. These recesses 60 help to secure the panel into place and also help prevent the panels from coming apart as these recesses would restrict the movement of the panels within the insulating layer. Lastly, these recesses 60 may allow the panel 10 to withstand more weight as the recesses 60 would allow more of the force acting on the panel 10 to be distributed to the roof structure underneath. As can be seen in figure 2 there is also a recessed shoulder 70 around the edge of the panel 10. The shoulder 70 is included as a further recess that would rest on the roof structure, more specifically this should rest on larger joists that would not fit within the other recesses 60, and would also allow the joists to recess into the joint between panels, as the shoulders of adjacent panels would form a further recess under the insulating layer. It can also be seen that the raised sections or protrusions 80,81 between the joist recesses 60 have different sizes, this allows for a different spacing size between the recesses 60 for the different joist orientations. More specifically, the base of the panel comprises both large protrusions 81 and small protrusions 80 which creates different size spacings between the joist recesses 60. Specifically, the protrusions 80,81 are arranged to have two smaller joist protrusions 80 near the center of the panel 10 with two larger joist protrusions 81 between the small protrusions 80 and the recessed shoulder 70 the panel 10. These different protrusion sizes create a pattern of recesses 60 that is able to receive joists of the roof structure regardless of the orientation of the joists, as the spacing between the joists is determined by the orientation, either vertically or horizontally relative to the surface of the roof. By including different recess spacing on the base of the panel, the user may secure the panel 10 to the joists as described above regardless of the joist orientation. These recesses 60 may be used separately or in addition to the fasteners to help secure the insulation panels 10 in place. Figures 3 and 4 depict the preferred shape for the protrusions 20 used to couple the panels together. In general, the protrusions 20 would preferably have a dovetail shape, wherein the width of the protrusion 20 increases as it moves away from the body of the panel. This provides protrusions with sloped sides that would increase the friction caused when the panels attempt to move apart thereby making the connections between the panels more secure. This shape would also provide spacings between the protrusions 20 that may act as cavities for receiving the dovetail protrusions of the adjacent panels. However, there are some issues with such a shape, in particular, the thinner portion of the protrusion, namely the base where the protrusion connects to the panel is a potential weak point as it would reduce the amount of force needed to break the protrusion 20 off of the panel 10. Similarly, the sloped sides of the protrusions create acute corners at the ends of the protrusion remote from the panel 10, which can easily break off deforming the protrusion which could cause panels to decouple or the broken protrusion could create may create a channel through the insulating layer that would form a cold bridge allowing warm air to escape through the insulation. These problems are made worst by the use of multiple protrusions 20, as additional protrusions increase the amount of frictional force generated when the panels 10 are being coupled together, this increases the force that needs to be exerted onto the panel 10 during the construction of the insulating layer which increases the risk of the protrusions breaking, it also reduces the amount of weight the panel 10 can withstand before the protrusions break. To overcome these problems the shape of the protrusions 20 has been changed to those depicted in figures 3 and 4. This preferred protrusion shape still comprises a dovetail, however, the sides 21 of the dovetail are curved and the base 23 of the protrusion 20 is wider than the thinnest point, additionally, the protrusion shape is designed to be significantly wider than the protrusion’s length. These choices increase the strength of the dovetail protrusion 20 allowing the joints between panels to hold more weight before breaking and reducing the risk of individual protrusions breaking when the panels are coupled together. This is because the broader base 23 and broader shape of the protrusion 20 allows the force acting on the protrusions 20 to be spread over a wider area. Also, the corners 22 and edges 21 of the protrusion have been rounded, this again reduces the risk of the protrusion corners 22 breaking off and reduces the risk of the protrusion edges 21 wearing and breaking down under constant force either from friction with the adjacent panel or the weight of objects placed onto the panel 10. It can also be seen from figure 3 that each of the protrusions 20 is recesses relative to the top edge of the panel. It is also noted that the protrusions 20 may be spaced apart so that the spacing between each protrusion is wider than the protrusions themselves, thereby necessitating the need for separated cavities 30 configured to receive the protrusions 20 on the adjacent panels. This spacing of the protrusions and the use of cavities 30 helps to reduce the amount of frictional force acting on the protrusion 20 when coupling the panels together. During the coupling process, the user can rest the adjacent panel in the spacing between the top of the protrusions and the top of the panel and then push down the adjacent panel to couple the panels together. This process distributes the coupling force over the entire panel 10 thereby reducing the force exerted on individual protrusions 20 and cavities 30. Additionally, by using protrusion-specific cavities 30 instead of having the protrusion 20 interlocked, the amount of friction exerted on the protrusion 20 after the panels are coupled is reduced. Both of these features reduce the risk of the protrusions 20 breaking after the insulating layer is formed. Figures 5 and 6 depict the preferred shape for the cavities 30 with the panel 10, which corresponds to the protrusions 20 from figures 3 and 4. It is noted that the cavities 30 recess into the body of the panel and are open at the base of the panel, as shown in figure 5, allowing the panels 10 to be coupled using the method described above where the adjacent panel rests on the space between the top of the protrusion 20 and the top of the panel 10, and the protrusions are inserted into the cavities 30 of the adjacent panel through the opening on the bottom edge, by pressing down on the adjacent panel, thereby inserting the protrusions through the open ends of the cavity in the base of the adjacent panel. Further, it can be seen that the edges 31 and corners 32 of the cavity 30 are rounded in the same manner as the edges 21 and corners 22 of the protrusions 20. These rounded edges 21,31 and corners 22,32 reduce the amount of friction acting between the surface of the cavity 30 and the protrusion 20, which again reduces the risk of wear to either feature and prevents any breakages that may form cold bridges through the insulating layer. Further, it is noted that the use of the recessed cavities 30 as shown in figures 5 and 6 is preferable as they further reduce the risk of cold bridges forming. More specifically, the cavities 30 are recessed relative to the top of the panel just like the protrusions 20, thereby leaving a lip at the top of the panel on the sides which comprise cavities 30. After the cavities 30 and protrusions 20 are coupled together this lip will cover the seam between the adjacent panels thereby preventing air from escaping through the insulating layer via the gaps between panels 10, this lip would also reduce the risk of moisture entering the gap between the panels the lip form a physical barrier. Additionally, as the protrusions 20 would be encased within the walls of the recessed cavity 30, if there were any damage or wear to the protrusion 20 the walls of the cavity would still encase the protrusion 20 preventing air from escaping through the broken protrusion. Both of these features would not be possible if the protrusions were exposed. Further, the lip allows any force exerted onto the joints of the panel 10 to be dissipated over a wider area, reducing the risk of damage to the protrusions 20 allowing the panels 10 to support more weight, especially at the points where the panels interlock. Figures 7 and 8 show a plan view of the top and bottom sides of the preferred embodiment of the claimed insulating panel 10 respectively, with figures 9 to 12 showing a plan view of each side of the panel 10 as depicted in figures 7 and 8. These figures show how in the preferred embodiment each side comprises either cavities 30 or protrusions 20 only, with the opposite feature being included on the opposite side of the pane, wherein the cavities 30 and protrusions 20 comprise the curved shape described above. This choice ensures that the panels can be coupled using the method described above and would spread the force applied to the panels 10 over all of the protrusions 20 simultaneously reducing the risk of damaging any of the protrusions 20. Further, the combination of the features described above with the indicia 50 on the top surface and recesses 60 on the bottom surface of the panel 10 makes the process of installing the panels 10 easier for the user. More specifically, the user can lay the first panel in the area to be insulated, this panel can be positioned by inserting a joist into the relevant recess 60 in the base of the panel 10, and then the panel 10 can be secure in place by passing a fastener through the top surface of the panel and into the joist in the recess 60. Then a second panel can be coupled to the first by placing the cavity side of the second panel over the corresponding protrusion side of the first panel, in this case, we are referring to the sides of like length where one side has protrusions 20 and the other comprises cavities 30 for said protrusions 20 such as the sides in figures 9 and 11 and the sides in figures 10 and 12 respectively. These sides can then be coupled together by aligning the base of the cavities 30 with the protrusions 20 and pressing onto the second panel. This process can then be repeated with the other panels until the complete insulating layer is formed. Once the layer is formed, or intermittently during the process of forming the layer, a user can insert one or more fasteners into each panel 10 to secure them in place. Another important factor of the claimed insulating panels 10 compared to current insulating layers is the relative thickness of the insulating layers. In the case of the claimed panels 10, the body of the panels is preferably 125mm, which is generally thicker than other forms of insulation. This additional thickness helps to improve the compression strength of the panel 10. The thicker panels also allow the panel 10 to support larger protrusions 20, which can help increase the amount of friction between adjacent panels while allowing sufficient room to recess the protrusion cavities 30 to form a lip as described above. It also further prevents the risk of panels 10 breaking during the installation of the panels as described above. It is also noted that the depicted panels 10 would preferably have dimensions 1200 x 400 x 125mm, as this provides a large panel that is still small enough to enter most loft hatches with ease, while providing a long enough surface to reach across the joists within a loft, and is thin enough to fit between rafters when insulating a roof. The dimension described above also allows the panel 10 to have a plurality of 600mm recesses 60 for receiving joists on the base of the panel. It is noted that the plurality of protrusions 20 on the edge of the panel 10 would have spacings of 100mm in this preferred panel dimensions, as this would allow the protrusions to be large enough to have sufficient strength to hold the weight placed on the panel 10, while also being numerous enough to have a strong connection with the adjacent panels. This regular spacing of the protrusions 20 and cavities 30 along the edges of the panel 10 provides a guide for users who need to cut the panel down to size allowing the user to use the spacing to determine the length or width of the cut panel. Though as previously mentioned, the top surface of the panel may include cutting lines 50 spaced 100mm apart to further help guide the user when cutting a panel 10 to size. It is also noted that the insulating panels described above can be made of any suitable insulating material. However, in the preferred embodiment these panels 10 would be formed from expanded polystyrene, this material is formed by heating polystyrene beads within suitable molds so that the beads expand and fuse forming blocks that can be cut into the desired panel shape. This provides a material that provides good thermal insulation and can be easily cut into the desired shape to form the panels described above. Further, expanded polystyrene provides material that is lightweight for ease of transportation, while still having enough strength to withstand the weight of objects likely to be stored within a roof space. Further, this material does not produce fibers when cut, such as the fibers produced by fiber insulation blankets, this is preferable as such fibers could potentially cause harm to a user if inhaled. It is also noted that the expanded polystyrene can be formed from recycled materials. In some cases, an additive may be inserted into the mold when forming the expanded polystyrene to alter the material properties. Notably, the beads may include additives to provide additional strength to the finished product, and to make the insulation flame retardant. The preferred additive for expanded polystyrene is carbon, most likely in the form of graphene, a carbon-containing geopolymer or a fine powder as the polystyrene structure, the resulting product is flame-retardant and would have increased infrared absorption compared to polystyrene alone. This carbon-lased polystyrene is preferable as it would have improved thermal insulation due to the higher infrared absorption and would be safer to use as the material is flame retardant and therefore reduces the risk of a fire spreading through the insulated space. To achieve these effects the amount of carbon added to the polystyrene would make up between 0.01-0.05% of the total mass, preferably between 0.01-0.02%, as carbon structures such as graphene are thermally and electrically conductive on their own, therefore if a large amount of these materials were included within the polystyrene, they could cause the panels to be more conductive, thereby reducing their effectiveness as an insulator. Additionally, this additive would increase the density of the final product, though the product would still have a relatively low weight overall, the carbon structure would increase the density and in doing so increase the compressive strength of the insulating panel, allowing the panel to support more weight before the panel deforms, and / or ruptures. For example, a panel with a density of 24kg / m3, the panel could support 251 kg which is the equivalent of three people standing on the panel at once. It is also noted that this density of polystyrene produces a low thermal conductivity compared to both higher and lower densities, therefore making this an optimal value for providing both a low thermal conductivity and less weight for the panels 10. Further, the claimed invention may be provided to the user as a kit of parts. Wherein such a kit would comprise a plurality of panels 10 as described above. The kit may comprise a plurality of suitable fasteners for securing the panels 10, with the kit likely containing at least one fastener per panel. Lastly, the kit may also include a tool for inserting and removing the specific fasteners included within the kit. By using a plurality of insulating panels 10 as described above, a user I provided with an easier means of insulating a desired roof space without the need for specialized skills or tools. Once the insulating layer is formed a user can easily remove one or more panels when they need replacing. Additionally, the design of the panels provides added protection preventing the formation of cold bridges through the insulating layer, and also prevents moisture from entering through the insulating layer. The shape of the panels also allows the panels to be coupled together by interlocking the protrusions and cavities on adjacent panels while reducing the risk of the panels breaking under the frictional forces created during and after the panels are coupled together. The size of the panels allowing the user to easily transport the panels to the desired locations and is strong enough to support the user’s weight making the installation of the panels easier still. Therefore, the claimed panels would provide an improved insulating layer compared to current methods. Claims, 1. Insulating panel (10) comprising a panel of insulating material wherein the edges of the panel comprise: At least one protrusion (20); and At least one cavity (30) configured to receive the protrusion (20) of an adjacent panel. 2. The panel (10) of claim 1 wherein the panel has the at least one protrusion (20) along a first edge and second edge of the panel and has the at least one cavity (30) on a third edge and fourth edge of the panel; Wherein the first and second edges are on the opposite side of the panel (10) relative to the third and fourth edges. 3. The panel (10) of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of protrusions (20) and where the at least one cavity (30) comprises the spacing between the protrusions (20). 4. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the at least one cavity (30) is recessed into the panel, and wherein the at least one protrusion (20) and at least one cavity (30) are shorter than the panel leaving a space between the top of the protrusions and cavities and the top of the panel. 5. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the at least one protrusion (20) comprises a dovetail shape with curved edges (21) and rounded corners (22). 6. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the cavities (30) comprise an open side for receiving the protrusions (20). 7. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the base of the panel includes one or more recesses (60) configured to receive a joist or rafter. 8. The panel (10) of claim 7 wherein the base of the panel includes recesses (60) for both a horizontal and vertical orientation of the panel (10) relative to the joists or rafters 9. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the edges of the base of the panel include a recessed shoulder (70) configured to receive a joist or rafter. 10. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel has the dimensions 1200 x 400 x 125mm. 11. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel has a density of 24kg / m3. 12. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the top surface of the panel includes at least one indicium to indicate where to affix a fastener to the panel. 13. The panel (10) of claim 12 wherein the panel includes at least two unique indicia, comprising two unique indicia indicating where to affix a faster to the panel for (i) a vertical orientation and (ii) a horizontal orientation. 14. The panel (10) of claims 12 or 13 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of indicia. 15. The panel (10) of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of cutting lines (50) on the top surface of the panel, wherein said lines have a 100mm spacing. 16. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel is made from expanded polystyrene. 17. The panel (10) of claim 16 wherein the expanded polystyrene contains carbon which forms 0.01-0.05% of the expanded polystyrenes. 18. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the panel further comprises a reflective metallic layer on the top and / or base of the panel. 19. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the panel further comprises one or more insulated tubes that pass laterally through the body of the panel, such that the ends of the tubes are positioned on opposite sides of the panel (10). 20. The panel (10) of claim 19 wherein the panel further comprises one or more vertical tubes, that are perpendicular to the lateral tubes, with a first end coupled to the lateral tube and a second end which extends to the top surface of the panel. 21. An insulating layer formed by interlocking a plurality of panels (10) as disclosed in claims 1 to 20. 22. A method of forming the insulating layer of claim 21 comprising: Placing a plurality of panels (10) on the surface to be insulated; Interlocking the panels (10) by inserting at least one of the protrusions 20 on the edge of one panel into the at least one corresponding cavity (30) in the edge of an adjacent panel; and Repeating the interlocking step for each of the plurality of panels (10). 23. The method of claim 22, further comprises inserting one or more fasteners through each of the panels (10) and into the surface below the base of the panels. 24. The method of claims 22 or 23, further comprising inserting a plurality of joists or rafters of the surface to be insulated into a corresponding recess (60) in the base of the panels (10). 11 06 24 AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:-

Claims

1. Insulating panel (10) comprising a panel of insulating material wherein the edges of the panel comprise:at least one protrusion (20);at least one cavity (30) configured to receive the protrusion (20) of an adjacent panel; andwherein the base of the panel includes one or more recesses (60) configured to receive a joist or rafter.

2. The panel (10) of claim 1 wherein the panel has the at least one protrusion (20) along a first edge and second edge of the panel and has the at least one cavity (30) on a third edge and fourth edge of the panel;wherein the first and second edges are on the opposite side of the panel (10) relative to the third and fourth edges.

3. The panel (10) of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of protrusions (20) and where the at least one cavity (30) comprises the spacing between the protrusions (20).

4. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the at least one cavity (30) is recessed into the panel, and wherein the at least one protrusion (20) and at least one cavity (30) are shorter than the panel leaving a space between the top of the protrusions and cavities and the top of the panel.

5. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the at least one protrusion (20) comprises a dovetail shape with curved edges (21) and rounded corners (22).

6. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the cavities (30) comprise an open side for receiving the protrusions (20).11 06 247. The panel (10) of claim 1 wherein the base of the panel includes recesses (60) for both a horizontal and vertical orientation of the panel (10) relative to the joists or rafters8. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the edges of the base of the panel include a recessed shoulder (70) configured to receive a joist or rafter.

9. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel has the dimensions 1200 x 400 x 125mm.

10. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel has a density of 24kg / m3.

11. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the top surface of the panel includesat least one indicium to indicate where to affix a fastener to the panel.

12. The panel (10) of claim 11 wherein the panel includes at least two unique indicia, comprising two unique indicia indicating where to affix a faster to the panel for (i) a vertical orientation and (ii) a horizontal orientation.

13. The panel (10) of claims 11 or 12 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of indicia.

14. The panel (10) of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of cutting lines (50) onthe top surface of the panel, wherein said lines have a 100mm spacing.

15. The panel (10) of any preceding claim wherein the panel is made from expanded polystyrene.

16. The panel (10) of claim 15 wherein the expanded polystyrene contains carbon which forms 0.01-0.05% of the expanded polystyrenes.11 06 2417. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the panel further comprises a reflective metallic layer on the top and / or base of the panel.

18. The panel (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the panel further comprises one or more insulated tubes that pass laterally through the body of the panel, such that the ends of the tubes are positioned on opposite sides of the panel (10).

19. The panel (10) of claim 18 wherein the panel further comprises one or more vertical tubes, that are perpendicular to the lateral tubes, with a first end coupled to the lateral tube and a second end which extends to the top surface of the panel.

20. An insulating layer formed by interlocking a plurality of panels (10) as disclosed in claims 1 to 19.

21. A method of forming the insulating layer of claim 20 comprising:placing a plurality of panels (10) on the surface to be insulated;inserting a plurality of joists or rafters of the surface to be insulated into a corresponding recess (60) in the base of the panels (10).interlocking the panels (10) by inserting at least one of the protrusions 20 on the edge of one panel into the at least one corresponding cavity (30) in the edge of an adjacent panel; andrepeating the interlocking step for each of the plurality of panels (10).

22. The method of claim 21, further comprises inserting one or more fasteners through each of the panels (10) and into the surface below the base of the panels.

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