Reflective Foil Bubble Insulation R Value

Green building advisor recently wrote an article about foil faced bubble wrap and did a balanced job of it.

Reflective foil bubble insulation r value.

The foil face bubble wrap manufacturers may have a fantastic product but they unfortunately market their product to an industry that is unaware of codes that restrict its use. If the product is simply doubled with no air space between the layers a very minimal benefit is obtained r 1 1 per layer for the reflective double bubble. Any bubble insulation that is approximately thick can only achieve an average r value of 1 to 1 5 on its own. Air space equals r value.

Of owens corning fiberglass and r 5 per inch with foamular foam board. In contrast reflectix is always tested as part of an assembly e g. Standard insulation is tested as a material with an r value per inch of thickness for example r 13 for 3 5 quot. The r value of reflective insulation is not measured by the inch.

If you install 2 layers of a reflective insulation does the r value double. Reflective insulation and radiant barriers that are safe easy to install and thermodynamically efficient for new building construction. An r 1 1 is provided from the product itself for the reflective double bubble material. The rubber meets the road on reflectix s website where it says no air space no reflective insulation benefit.

Key benefits of this foil faced double bubble include. All our reflective double bubble products. Are two layers of polyethylene industrialized air bubbles bonded between exterior. Any additional r value is achieved by the use of dead air spaces around the reflective product or in used in conjunction with other mass insulation products like fiberglass foam etc.

When i wrote about my trip to the southeast building conference in july i mentioned how some products on display there really annoyed me because they re either bad to the bone or overhyped. Double bubble insulation provides the maximum efficiency and highest r value for bubble insulation. 1 4 5 16 nominal thickness of foil bubble insulation. The main one in the latter category is foil faced bubble wrap sold as insulation.

Double bubble insulation is the most effective bubble insulation with highest r value. A simulated wall with 2x4 studs dry wall an air space and layer of reflectix. Insulation s r value is a measurement how much resistance against conduction. Our double bubble products are ideal for metal buildings where the control of condensation is necessary.

Heat moves by 3 methods. Convection mass air transport conduction by touch radiation. The r value of reflective insulation is measured within a system.