An Insulation Primer

Optimal oven design demands a highly efficient insulating layer that is able to effectively stop heat from leaving the oven cooking chamber. A properly insulated oven will better maintain high temperatures for pizza baking, and more effectively store retained heat for better baking and roasting. It will also heat up faster, consume less wood, and use less floor space—allowing you to incorporate a larger over in the same space.

All of this is made possible by highly efficient, modern ceramic insulation. Each Forno Bravo modular and assembled oven comes with 100% ceramic insulation and all of the insulation your oven requires, including:

• For the oven dome: Forno Bravo Insulation Blanket, a flexible, woven ceramic blanket, is highly efficient and takes up very little space. We provide 3″ of woven ceramic dome insulation with the Giardino and Casa2G ovens, 4″ of dome insulation with the Premio2G and Professionale ovens, and 4″ – 6″ of dome insulation with the Modena2G ovens.
• Under the oven floor: Forno Bravo Insulation Board, a stiff engineered insulating panel, provides an effective insulating layer beneath the thermal layers of the oven floor. We provide 2″ of ceramic board floor insulation with the Giardino and Casa2G ovens, 3″ of board insulation with the Premio2G ovens, and 4″ of board insulation with the Professionale and Modena2G ovens.

Alternatives to Avoid

Loose Insulation

Vermiculite, Perlite, and expanded clay are loose insulators (think of them as heat resistant popcorn,) which are roughly half as efficient as ceramic insulation. Beware of ovens that do not include all required insulation and recommend that you buy Perlite. Those ovens will not be as well insulated as a Forno Bravo oven, they will not cook as well, and they require more floor space.

Too Little Insulation

Beware of ovens that provide a small amount of ceramic insulation (1″ – 2″,) and imply that this thin insulation layer is sufficient for proper oven operation. Under-insulated ovens do not retain heat properly and the oven enclosure can become hot to the touch.

Ceramic Insulating Blanket that can be applied in layers

Insulation Board for use under the oven floor