Insulation Materials:

From Fiberglass to Foam,

Lambs Wool to Blue Jeans
Fernando Pages Ruiz
Fernando Pages Ruiz,
Brighton Construction
Builder thirty years

EcoHome Contributor

Two books: Building

and Affordable
House, and
Affordable Remodel.

28 February 2008 2
Efficiency Vermont is a Registered Provider with The American
Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems
(AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be
reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for
both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be

addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Understand insulation nomenclature such as the meaning of R value and U

value.
2. Become familiar with the the features of different insulation materials and
appropriate use.
3. Know the pros and cons of materials such as closed vs. open cell foams,
bio-based blowing agents, and recycled products.
4. Know more about exotic insulation systems such as recycled blue jeans and
lambs wool.
 Course Evaluations
In order to maintain high-quality learning experiences, please access
the evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and
clicking on the Course Evaluation link on the left side of the page.
The Basics
R-Value

U-Value
R-Value = More is more.
R-value is a measure of thermal
resistance used in the building industry.
The R-value depends on the type of
insulation and includes its material,
thickness, and density.
Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a
cooler space.
Heat transfers through three means:
conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction

Heat moves through solid materials: Hot

coffee, cold hands.

Frying pan (steal studs, anyone?)

Thermal bridging

Does heat rise?

Convection
Heat moves in any direction, including down
(hence the importance of foundation insulation).

But warm AIR rises: Enter Convection. The hot

air balloon effect.

Convection is a bigger issue than wind.

Hence the importance of attic sealing.
Works in reverse in summer (heavy air sinks).
Radiation
Heat moves through space.

Sunny day skiing.

Clear line of site to surface temperature. Wood stove.
Un-insulated wall.
Same room, same temp., more glass feels colder.

Solar heat gain through glass increases summer

bills, but lowers winter heating costs.
U-Value = Less is more.
The U-value (or U-factor), also called overall
heat transfer coefficient, describes how well a
building element conducts heat.
It measures the rate of transfer through a
building assembly under standardized
conditions.
The standard test is set at a temperature
gradient of 24 C, at 50% humidity with no wind
(a smaller U-value is better).
How does insulation work?
Some materials allow energy to pass through
easily--they are good "conductors" of energy-
aluminum.

Others, though, absorb heat better than they

release it and these are called poor conductors,
or good insulators, air.

They have High R and low U-values.

Thermal Conductivity (K)
Aluminum 1400
Steel 310
Glass 7.8
Concrete 5.8
Brick 4.3
Wood 1.6
Rubber 1.4
Glass wool 0.26
Air 0.18
BTU-in/hr.ft.F
Insulation works in three (okay,
four) ways:
A poor conductor, such
as glass wool or plastic.

Forcing heat through air

(or other gas) trapped in
fiber mesh or cells.

Reducing convection
through wall cavities.

Some materials also

reflectradiant barriers.
Climate Zones and R-Values

The US Department of Energy has

recommended R-values for given areas of
the USA.

Vermont is in Climate Zone ?

Zone Six

Ceiling R-value 49

Wood Frame Wall R-value 20

Floor R-value 30

Fenestration U-Factor b 0.35

What does R-Value mean in the
real world?

The overall R-value of a wall or ceiling will

be somewhat different from the R-value of
the insulation itself because some heat
flows around the insulation through the
studs and joists.
Whole Wall R-Values
Wall Type W-W R

Standard 2x4 9.7

Perfect 2x6 12.8

Poor 2x6 11

Steel frame wall 5.6

Steel w. insulated sheathing 10.5

SIPS 6-in 21.6

Stucco-straw bale 16-to-28

Concrete block 10-to-30

ICF 26-to-44
The Classic: Batt
Cost: Low
Air sealing: Poor
Best use: Above-grade walls
Other uses: Floors and roofs
 Good: Fiberglass batt plus sealing
and tight fit, least expensive.
To perform well, they must be installed in conjunction with a very well-detailed air
barrier. Unaddressed air leaks in fiberglass-insulated walls can easily lead to
condensation and moisture problems.

Higher density available.

Bad batting, moldy house.
Mineral Wool
Low convection
Sound deadening

Slightly high R-value

Recycled

Costly, itchy.
Cotton
Many of the same drawbacks.

More difficult
to install

Recycled 85%

Acoustics
>Fiber glass R-30 in a 2x6 wall.
< Mineral Wool

$$$ Bonded Logic

.
Wool
Slightly higher than
fiberglass batts

Retains R-value when

wet.

Natural insect and fire

resistant.

Moth balls?
Polyester
Used in baby diapers,
feminine care, hygiene,
apparel, etc.
Hydrophobic won't
absorb moisture
No respiratory or skin
irritation issues no
protective gear for
installation
Made from recycled
plastic bottles and other
post-consumer material
Superior
compression/recovery
Insulation & Infiltration

31 % Floors,
walls, ceiling.

13% Penetrations
Infiltration and Wall Energy
Rating
Small job, big benefits
Simple
sealing
techniques
Blower door
test
Equal value,
lower cost
Blown
Cost: Low
Air sealing: Low to moderate
Best use: Above-grade walls, attic floors
Other uses: Rafter bays
Fiberglass

Better seal than batts.

Not so itchy.
Lower R-values per inch (R-2-to-2.7) than
any other, so best applied at attic.
Convection no longer a concern unless
your attic -20-degrees. (Old at 0-degrees)
Bag count, beware of fluffing. Bag count
on manufacturers web site.
Cellulose
Blown-in cellulose

choice of many green builders for insulating walls, flat ceilings, and
sloped ceilings.

Made from recycled newspaper

Cellulose is inexpensive, packed in delivers R 3.8 per inch.

Better at reducing infiltration, 3.2 loose.

Disadvantage: Moisture.

Becomes soggy, holds

a lot of water.

Detection of leaks delayed.

Retrofit walls and attics
Spray Foam
Cost: High
Air sealing: Excellent
Best use: Air sealing difficult areas
Other uses: All insulation jobs
Closed-cell
Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam
performs better than any other insulation. It has
a high R-value per inch (R-6.2 to R-6.5), it's
impervious to moisture, and it's an effective
vapor retarder. It is also an excellent air barrier.
Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam can be
used under slabs, on below-grade or above-
grade walls, in ceilings, or even as roofing. It is
also the most expensive residential insulation
available.
Open-cell
Open-cell spray polyurethane foam has some
but not all of the virtues of closed-cell foam. Like
closed-cell foam, open-cell foam creates an
effective air barrier. However, open-cell foam
has an R-value of about R-3.6 per inchmuch
less than that of closed-cell. Unlike closed-cell
foam, open-cell foam absorbs and holds water. It
is also vapor-permeable, which can be a virtue
or a drawback, depending on the application.
Open-cell spray foam costs less than closed-cell
foam.
Closed cell, R-19 3.5-inches

BioBased Insulation
Open cell, R-3.6-inch,
12.6 at 3.5-inches
(about the same as FG)

Icynene.
MD-R-200 Medium-density
R-5.1 per inch.

Icynene
BASF: Flood areas, sucrose-
based polyols.

Spraytite medium-density
Hybrid systems

Johns Manville
Flash and Batt
1 to 2 inch layer of
closed-cell foam and
fiberglass or
cellulose.

45-55 % R-Value
(condensation)

Lower cost option.

Generally, Polyurethane

When high-performance builders talk

about spray-foam insulation, theyre
typically talking about polyurethane. But it
turns out theres more than one kind of
spray foam used in residential
construction.
Phenol-formaldehyde and urea-
formaldehyde insulation also are available,
Other Foams Exist
Urea-formaldehyde earned a bad reputation in
the 1970s after high levels of formaldehyde were
detected in homes where it had been installed.
Canada banned the foam outright, and some
states in the U.S. continue to prohibit its use.
Some manufacturers turned to a phenol-
formaldehyde resin with lower emissions. In the
meantime, a urea-formaldehyde manufacturer
says newer formulations meet federal
formaldehyde standards.
RetroFaom

RetroFoam is banned in Canada, as well

as in California, Massachusetts and
Vermont.
But, the company adds, the insulation has
been reformulated since its original
introduction and now meets federal
emission standards. Some regulatory
agencies just haven't caught up.
Exotic Foams: Air Krete
R 3.9-inch
Magnesium silicate,
cement-based
insulation.
Pumped into closed
cavities
Hypoallergenic for
chemically sensitive.
Fire-proof, contact
with high-heat
sources.
Rigid Foam Board

Cost: Moderate
Air sealing: Very good
Best use: Walls, slabs, sloped roofs
Other uses: Floors
Highlighs of Foam Board
Rigid foam insulation: effective air barrier, better than batts, or
blown-in insulation, especially if the seams between sheets are
carefully sealed with caulk or tape.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) versatile insulation that can be used

below grade, on walls, or on roofs. EPS is less expensive than XPS
or polyiso. If the correct density is chosen for the application, EPS is
not affected by moisture.

Extruded polystyrene (XPS) shares many of the strengths of EPS.

However, it is stronger, denser, smoother, more water-resistant, and
has a higher R-per inch (R-5 for XPS versus R-3.8 for EPS). It also
costs more than EPS.

Polyisocyanurate has the highest R-value per inch (R-6.5 to R-6.8)

of any rigid insulation. Its blowing agent is environmentally benign,
and it is free of the brominated flame-retardant chemicals that taint
polystyrene. However, polyiso easily absorbs water, so it can't be
used below grade.
Exterior Insulating Sheathing
Economical
basement
insulation.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS)

FPSF (Frost protected Shallow Footing)

Extruded polystyrene (XPS)

Insulating Sheathing
Insulated Siding
Insulated siding is an
option for compliance with
thermal bridging reduction
requirements to earn the
label for new homes under
ENERGY STAR Qualified
Homes Version 3 Federal
Trade Commission.
For products such as
insulated siding, the
appropriate standard for
testing R-value is ASTM
C1363 Standard Test
Method for the Thermal
Performance of Building
Materials and Envelope
Assemblies
R-value Testing
ASTM C1363 (aka, the Hot Box)
ASTM C1363 testing is conducted
to determine an insulated siding
products specific R-value
Insulated siding is tested in a
realistic setting
Close to field application
Includes air circulation around siding
Initial results indicate insulated siding
products on the market have R-values
between 2.0 and 3.0
Each profile has its own R-value

62
HERS Index Improvements Using Insulated
Siding
Improvements to the HERS Index and projected energy
use for homes using R-values for insulated siding of 2.0,
2.5 and 3.0 show insulated siding can provide a 1 to 3
point improvement
This improvement accounts for up to 23 percent of the
total improvement necessary to achieve compliance with
ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes Version 3

63
Bills Eco-B&B
 Course Evaluations
In order to maintain high-quality learning experiences, please access
the evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and
clicking on the Course Evaluation link on the left side of the page.
Affordable
Remodel

Fernando Pages Ruiz

buildingaffordable.com