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NPI & Carlisle Insulation, Inc. . Presentation By Dave Eckley. Insulation R-Values.
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NPI & Carlisle Insulation, Inc. Presentation By Dave Eckley
Insulation R-Values • R value insulation ratings are used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. House Insulation should be purchased based on its R value, not thickness or weight.
Zone 5 Insulation • Attics R-38 to R-60 • Cathedral Ceilings R-30 to R-38 • Walls R-13 to R-15 • Floors R-25 to R-30 • Local energy codes do override these r values. • 2009 IECC may be adopted
Types of Insulations • Fiberglass (virgin/non virgin wool) • Cellulose • Rockwool • Spray Foam • Vermiculite
Fiberglass • Fiberglass • Either in its loose-fill or in rolled blankets and batts forms, fiberglass is by far the most common type of insulation material in home buildings. Fiberglass is made from molten glass, and is usually presented in yellow or pink.
. The R-value of different types of fiberglass is not the same per inch. For example, you can expect R-values between 3.2 to 3.3 per inch in fiberglass batts and blankets when fully expanded. Loose fiberglass fill (poured or blown) usually exhibits an R-value of 2.1 to 2.7 per inch.
Cellulose Cellulose composition Cellulose is mostly made from recycled newsprint, cardboard, paperboard and other waste paper products treated with chemical to obtain fire-resistant and insect-resistant properties. Cellulose is presented as loose-fill or as a wet-sprayed material.
Performance of Cellulose insulation • Tightly packed cellulose insulation is more thermally efficient than fiberglass. Although cellulose R-value (around 3.7 per inch) is very similar to hard fiberglass batts.
Rockwool • Rockwool R-value is slightly higher than that of common fiberglass: approximately R-3.7 per inch, which amounts to high-density fiberglass batts or cellulose R-values. • However, since mineral wool is a less common material, its prices are often higher and much more variable than those of fiberglass.
Spray Foam • Spray-on insulation is a powerful and relatively recent plastic material, with an insulating efficiency (rated in R-values) that amounts to the double of traditional insulation products like fiberglass batts/rolls.
Foam insulation is difficult to apply in existing homes, besides being pricey in many applications than traditional fiberglass, cellulose and mineral wool insulation. • Costs-benefits analysis • The installed cost for sprayed foam insulation may cost about 2-3 times more per inch/square foot than traditional insulating materials: something around $1.25 to $2.25 per square foot, depending on wall thickness or type of foam...
Vermiculite • Insulation made of vermiculite was sold under the brand name Zonolite, and was sold as a product for attic insulation and marketed until the mid 1980's. Vermiculite from Grace's mine at Libby, Mont., was sold for use in garden products, fireproofing, cement mixtures and more than a dozen other consumer products. The bulk of the ore was heated until it expanded like popcorn. Then marketed as Zonolite insulation.
Attic Ventilation There are many types of attic vents available today. There are power vents, ridge vents, turbine vents, soffit / cornice vents, gable vents, starter vents, and cupola vents. These all come in a wide variety of sizes, styles and shapes
To properly ventilate an attic, two types of vents are needed. Intake vents, which are located at the downslope edge of the roof (a.k.a. eaves) and allow fresh air into the attic; and exhaust vents, which are located near or on the ridge line of the roof and allow air to leave the attic.
Calculating how much venting your attic needs is relatively simple. All you need to know is the area of the attic floor. Include the garage, if you have one, and the soffited overhang because heat gets trapped above them, too. A common rule of thumb is the 1/150 rule, which means 1 square foot of net free vent area per 150 square feet of attic floor space.
Baffles • Attic insulation baffles are forms, typically made of cardboard or plastic, that create a gap between the attic insulation and the roof sheathing, allowing air to flow from the soffit vents into the attic itself. Baffles are secured to the roof sheathing near the eaves. They effectively prevent the attic insulation from covering the soffit vents, promoting airflow from the soffit vents across the roof sheathing to the ridge vents.
Where Mold Grows • ◘ Attics with roof leaks or inadequate ventilation◘ Basements with dirt floors or water problems◘ Behind and under showers, tubs, toilets, and bathroom walls
Causes of Mold • High indoor humidity levels often cause condensation on cold surfaces such as windows. If moist air is allowed to get into the attic, more serious problems may arise, such as mold, mildew and rotting wood beams. Failed roofs and the potential for risks to family health such as respiratory difficulties and aggravated allergies can follow.
What is an ice dam? • An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
Three things are required for an ice dam to form: snow, heat to melt the snow and cold to refreeze the melted snow into solid ice. Ice dams can form when as little as 1 or 2 inches of snow accumulates on a roof – if the snowfall is followed by several days of sub-freezing temperatures. Ice dams develop as snow on the upper part of the roof melts. Water runs down the roof slope under the blanket of snow and refreezes into a band of ice at the roof’s edge creating a “dam”. Additional snow-melt pools against the dam and eventually leaks into the building through the roof or roof trim.
Radiant Barriers • Radiant barrier insulation is a reflective insulation system that offers a permanent way to reduce energy costs. Radiant barrier insulation systems reflect radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it. A pure aluminum radiant barrier reflective insulation is unaffected by humidity and will continue to perform at a consistent level no matter how humid it may be. A radiant barrier insulation system is a layer of foil facing an airspace and is installed in the envelope of a building.
Radiant Barrier Effectiveness • Radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates. Some studies show that radiant barriers can lower cooling costs between 5%–10% when used in a warm, sunny climate. The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system. But in cool climates, it's usually more cost effective to install more than the minimum recommended level of insulation rather than a radiant barrier.
