Consideration of materials used
Factors affecting the type and amount of insulation to use in a building include:
* Climate
* Ease of installation
* Durability - resistance to degradation from compression, moisture, decomposition, etc.
* Ease of replacement at end of life
* Cost effectiveness
* Toxicity
* Flammability
* Environmental impact and sustainability
Often a combination of materials are used to achieve an optimum solution and there are products which combine different types of insulation into a single form.
Eagle Shield Inc - Effectiveness of insulation
The effectiveness of insulation is commonly evaluated by its R-value. However, an R-value does not take into account the quality of construction or local environmental factors for each building. Construction quality issues include inadequate vapor barriers, and problems with draft-proofing. In addition, the properties and density of the insulation material itself is critical. For example, according to Leah Twings, Quality Compliance Manager of Textrafine Insulation, fiberglass insulation materials made from short strands of glass layered over each other is not as durable as insulation made from long entangled strands of glass.
Eagle Shield Insulation terms and definitions:
Loose-Fill Insulation
Insulation in granular, nodular, fibrous, powdery or similar form designed to be installed by pouring, blowing or hand placement.
Insulation Supports
16" or 24" wire rods, nylon banding, or crisscrossed wire to hold floor insulation in place. Sometimes called "lightning rods."
Heat Flux Transducer (HFT)
A device containing a thermopile (or equivalent) that produces an output that is a function of the heat flux.
Heat Flow Rate
The rate at which heat moves from an area of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature. Btu/hr (W/hr). Heat flow is generally used to quantify the rate of total heat gain or heat loss of a system.
For more information check the following articles:
Eagle Shield Industries,
Eagle Shield and
Eagle Shield Franchise Group.
