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 Mobile View INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR SEALING STRATEGIES ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BRICK LINED WALLS BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CRAWL SPACES DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms Definition of BTUs, BTUH, & Calories Definition of K value K-coefficient heat transmission Definition of U value or U-coefficient heat loss resistance Definition of R-Values for Insulation or Buildings Definition of Design Temperature for Buildings Definition of Heating or Cooling "Degree Day" Definition of Tons of Cooling Capacity ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS ENERGY USE MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS MOLD FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS BASEMENT HEAT LOSS ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS CALCULATIONS HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSEWRAP - TYVEK INSTALLATION DETAILS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR SEAL STRATEGIES Asbestos Identification in Buildings ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BASEMENT HEAT LOSS Blocked Soffit Intake Vents BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold Inspect Building Exterior Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic Insulation Air & Heat Leaks INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION CHOICES INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION PLACEMENT in BUILDINGS INSULATION R-Values & Properties LOG HOME WALL INSULATION VALUES PHENOLIC FOAM INSULATION POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM BELOW SLABS POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS ROOF VENTING NEEDED? ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY MONITORING PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing Vermiculite Insulation INSULATION CHOICES INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Asbestos Identification in Buildings Asbestos-Free Insulation Materials Balsam Wool Batt Insulation Cotton Insulating Batts Cellulose loose fill insulation Concrete insulation, light-weight Fiberglass Insulation Foam Board Insulation Foam Insulation Types - Visual Id Homasote & Other Insulating Board Icynene Foam Spray Insulation Insects & Foam Insulation Mineral Wool - Rock Wool Insulation Mold in Fiberglass Insulation Mold in Foam Insulation Paper Duct Insulation Perlite Insulation PHENOLIC FOAM INSULATION POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM BELOW SLABS POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing Vermiculite Insulation INSULATION LOCATION in BUILDINGS - WHERE TO INSULATE INSULATION CHOICES INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION LOCATION & QUANTITY for ATTICS INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION LOCATION for PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR SLAB INSULATION LOCATION for SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS INSULATION LOCATION for SWIMMING, INDOOR INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOG HOME WALL INSULATION VALUES INTERIORS of BUILDINGS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS Mold Growth Resistance of Foam Insulation MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY MONITORING PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION SOLAR COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY COMPARISONS SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS SOLAR COLLECTOR WOOD HOUSINGS SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, INDOOR SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, OUTDOOR DIAGNOSIS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS STAIN DIAGNOSIS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING VENTILATION in BUILDINGS WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information  InspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
This article discusses the properties of various building insulation materials: fiberglass insulation, expanded polystyrene insulation, foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulation, and extruded polystyrene. Table of insulation properties at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. For a complete listing of types of building insulation, their properties, and how to identify or use them, see INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT. Readers should also see INSULATION R-Values & Properties for an extensive table describing the properties of different insulating materials used in buildings. Also see SUPER HI-R INSULATION. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. Building insulation properties of fiberglass insulation, expanded polystyrene insulation, foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulation, and extruded polystyrene"Insulation Options, a few facts to help you choose among foams and fibers" - links to the original article in PDF form immediately below are followed by an expanded/updated online version of this article.
For superinsulated buildings the article concludes that a double-stud wall with fiberglass batts provided the greatest insulating value per dollar. However other insulating products may be a better choice depending on other construction details and space limitations. Our photograph (left) shows an insulation retrofit in a crawl space where icynene foam spray was applied to the crawl space wall and between the floor joists overhead. The article also discusses the question of air permeability of fiberglass insulation and its impact on the actual insulating value of the material compared with impermeable (to air) foam insulation products. The impact of moisture on the R-value of fiberglass insulation is also discussed (it's low). Fiberglass both gains and loses moisture more rapidly than some other insulating products. Foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulation such as the Thermax® and Hi-R® brands are discussed - these products give the highest R-value per inch among insulating materials. Also, as we tested in the 1970's, the use of these products combined with a 3/4" air space permits achieving an additional R 2.7 provided that the foil is clean and the gap or air space is uniform. See POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION for details about polyisocyanurate insulation use. The polystyrene family of insulations are discussed and are recommended particularly for insulation below grade using expanded polystyrene (EPS or beadboard) and extruded polystyrene (such as Styrofoam or Foamular). The article pointed out that in the 1980's there were more than 150 different manufacturers of EPS/beadboard and only three or four of extruded polystyrene. Claims (perhaps by competitors) that EPS absorbs water are dismissed as nonsense - the material is used to float docks. The article also discusses the use of polystyrene insulation as a non-structural building sheathing (permitting insulating over building band joists and headers) and as an added control of air infiltration. Problems reported with use of polystyrene as non-structural sheathing where horizontal wood siding is installed included loose clapboards, cupping or cracked clapboards, and nail pulling due to thermal movement of the foam. The article concludes:
See POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION for details about polystyrene foam board insulation use. Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Share this Article
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
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03/11/2010 - 09/05/1986 - InspectAPedia.com/Energy/Insulation_Options.htm - © 2010 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark
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