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Table of Insulation Material R-Values & Other Properties InteriorAPedia © Insulation materials R-values, rates of heat loss or gain, flame spread, toxicity, durability What insulation "R" values should be used in a building insulation?

This article provides a Table of Insulation Values and Properties for Various Insulation Materials useful in procedures to measure or calculate heat loss in a building, defines thermal terms like BTU and calorie, provides measures of heat transmission in materials, building insulation design data, and heat loss in a building. Photograph at page top © 2009 Daniel Friedman. Because no amount of insulation can keep a drafty building warm, also review Priorities for building energy efficiency. See BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION for a discussion of measuring air leakage in buildings. Also see HEAT LOSS INDICATORS (where is the building losing heat during the heating season, or gaining un-wanted heat during the cooling season), and see HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION for a guide to calculating heat loss (or gain) rates for buildings and building insulation.

Formula-R and Owens Corning which may be visible in this photograph of pink Styrofoam insulation boards are registered trademarks of Owens Corning and were photographed at a Home Depot (R) building supply center. © Copyright 2009 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.

Table of Characteristics of Various Insulating Materials: fiberglass, mineral wool, cellulose, foam insulating board, UFFI, vermiculite, others

1. R-Value is expressed as rate of heat loss per hour per square foot per inch of thickness of material per deg. F - see "R" value definition at Definitions of R K U values
2. Insulation density is expressed in pounds per cubic foot of material
3. Permeability is expressed as the water vapor permeability of the material per inch of thickness. These numbers are most useful to compare one insulating material to another.
4. Absorption is the tendency of the insulation to absorb water in percent by weight. This is important for assessing the risk of mold in some materials
5. Flame Spread is a measure of fire resistance of the material. Use these numbers to compare one insulating material to another.
6. Smoke is a measure of fire safety - that is, the relative amount of smoke produced if the insulation is exposed to flame or combustion
7. Toxicity is a measure of fire safety - that is, toxins given off if the insulation is exposed to flame or combustion.
8. Polystyrene may be in molded or extruded forms and like some other plastic or foam insulations may be in open or closed cell form. (Closed cell foams are more moisture resistant). Polystyrene also is referred to as molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and extruded polystyrene (XPS) - the most common foam board insulation product. MEPS & XPS are used in insulated structural panels and in insulating concrete forms (ICFs).
9. Links to details: Insulation product names in the first table column include links to articles that help identify and provide the properties of each insulating material listed.
10. Open vs. closed cell: Foam insulation densities vary among closed-cell vs open cell forms. Open cell foams are typically about 1/2 lb/cubic foot; Closed cell foams are more dense and rigid, typically about 2 lb/cu. ft.
11. C or Thermal conductance of these materials is the reciprocal of the R-value. C is known only when the k, the thermal conductivity of a material is known. k is the heat transmitted through a 1-inch thickness of homogenous material per square foot per hour when there is 1 degree of temperature change. k= (BTU * inch) / sq.ft. * hour * degF.
12. Air film: This table of R-values does not consider the insulating characteristic of the air film on each side of a surface nor the effects of wind on the air film or on the material itself. Some of these materials are more resistant to wind-caused heat transmission than others.
13. Moisture: Closed cell foams resist moisture uptake (good) but if construction is improper they can trap moisture (bad) leading to rot or mold problems in other building materials.
14. Insects: Exterior foam board on foundations can ease attack by wood destroying insects.
15. Fire & smoke: Foam insulation products present fire-smoke hazards and usually they must be protected with a fire barrier (usually 1/2" drywall).

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Use the links at the left of each page or these links just below to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
INTERIORS
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms
HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
  How to measure heat movement through a wall
  How to measure building insulation
  How leaky is the building
  Priorities for building energy efficiency
  Radiant Heat Floor Mistakes to Avoid
  ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up
HEATING SYSTEMS
HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
INSULATION & VENTILATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
Insulation Material Identification Guide
LIST of Asbestos Containing Products
Mold Growth Resistance of Foam Insulation
Table of Properties of Insulating Materials
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
ICE DAM PREVENTION
MOISTURE, MOLD, ICE DAM LEAKS in ATTICS & ROOFS


• Thanks to Andrew Cole, FOAM FACTOR, a Canadian based installer of 2lb. Closed Cell foam. Mr. Cole informs us that they only work with this material. "We feel that the superior performance characteristics make it a far superior choice in building envelopes of all types. Our material of choice now is POLARFOAM 7300-0 SOYA which is manufactured by DEMILEC here in Canada." Mr. Cole can be contacted at 905-271-6644 or at acole@bestsprayfoam.com - 04/30/2009.
  
  
• Asbestos pipe insulation in buildings
• Brick "Insulation" in Building Walls
• HEAT LOSS CALCULATIONS, Insulation Properties, Definitions of R, K, U values, Insulation Design
• How to Choose an Air Conditioner - BTU Chart
• How to Detect and Correct Attic Condensation & Prevent Ice Dam Leaks in Buildings
• How to Inspect Building Interiors and Building Insulation/Ventilation list of articles about building insulation inspection, defects, design, and ventilation requirements
• Insulation Materials as Indicators of Building Age
• Indoor Air Quality Investigations: Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
• Insulation Identification Photographs - Cellulose insulation photos, Mineral wool insulation photos, rock wool insulation photos, cotton insulation photos, balsam wool insulation photos
• Insulation Identification Photographs - Vermiculite insulation photos
• LP or Natural Gas Pressures & BTUH per Cubic Foot
• Insulation Properties, Table of R-Values, density, moisture permeability, fire safety, aging effects on various insulation materials
• Mold in Fiberglass in Insulation
• Radiant Heat Floor Mistakes to Avoid
• Rated Cooling Capacity - How to Determine Air Conditioning Equipment Rated Cooling Capacity
• Un-Vented Roof Solutions - How to Prevent Attic Condensation, Ice Dam Leaks, Roof Mold, & Roof Structural Damage in Buildings with Un-vented Roof Cavities
• Vermiculite Building Insulation & Asbestos

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