Building insulation materials

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Building insulation materials are building materials that make up building thermal envelopes or reduce heat transfer.

Isolation can be categorized based on its composition (natural or synthetic material), form (batts, blanket, loose-fill, spray foam, and panel), structural contribution (concrete form insulation, structured panel, and straw), functional (conductive) , convective), resistant to heat transfer, environmental impact, and others. Sometimes a thermal reflective surface called a luminous barrier is added to the material to reduce heat transfer through radiation as well as conduction. The choice of material or combination of materials used depends on various factors. Some insulating materials have health risks, some very significant materials are no longer allowed to be used but still used in some old buildings such as asbestos fibers and urea.

Video Building insulation materials

Consideration of the material used

Factors that affect the type and amount of insulation for use in a building include:

• Thermal conductivity
• Humidity sensitivity
• Compression power
• Ease of installation
• Durability - resistance to degradation from compression, moisture, decomposition, etc.
• Ease of replacement at end of life
• Cost effectiveness
• Toxicity
• Flammable
• Environmental impact and sustainability

Building and climate considerations:

• The average climatic conditions in the geographical area of ​​the building are located
• Building temperature is used in

Often combinations of materials are used to achieve optimal solutions and there are products that combine different types of insulation into one form.

Maps Building insulation materials

List of building insulation materials

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Foam spray

Isolation of concrete forms (ICFs) is a formwork made in place made of insulating material to build energy-efficient concrete walls, thrown in place.

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Rigid panel

Rigid panel insulation is made of fibrous material (fiberglass, stone and wool slag) or from plastic foam.

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Structural insulation panel

The structural insulation panel (SIPs), also called the pressed skin layer, uses the same concept as the outer core-foam door, but extends the concept throughout the house. They can be used for ceilings, floors, walls, and roofs. Panels usually consist of plywood, oriented strandboard, or glued drywall and flanked around a core consisting of expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, compressed wheat straw, or epoxy. Epoxy is too expensive to use as its own insulator, but has high R values ​​(7 to 9), high strength, and good chemical and moisture resistance.

SIP comes in various thicknesses. When building houses, they are glued together and secured with wood. They provide structural support, rather than buttons used in traditional framing.

Benefits

• Strong. Able to bear the burden, including the external load of deposition and wind.
• Construction is faster than houses built with sticks. Less wood is needed.
• Isolate acoustically.
• Not easy to damp.
• Can install trucking panel to construction site and assemble on site.
• Create a shell of solid insulation around the house, while reducing common bypass with outboard construction. The result is an inherently energy-efficient home.
• Do not use formaldehyde, CFC, or HCFC in manufacturing.
• The value of R is True and energy costs are lower.

Disadvantages

• More expensive than other types of isolation.
• Thermal connection to splines and wooden fastening points unless there is a spline that is thermally damaged (isolated wood).
Fiberglass_batts_and_blankets_ (glass_wool) "> Fiberglass batts and blankets (glass wool)

Batts are precut, while blankets are available in continuous rolls. Compressing materials reduces their effectiveness. Cutting to accommodate electrical boxes and other obstructions allows free air passage to wade through the wall cavities. One can install propellers in two layers above an unfinished attic floor, perpendicular to each other, to increase effectiveness in preventing hot bridging. Blankets can cover the blocks and buttons and the space between them. Batts can be challenging and unpleasant to hang under the floor between the beams; string, or staple or wire cloth across the beam, can hold it.

The gap between the batt (bypass) can be a site of air infiltration or condensation (both reduce the effectiveness of isolation) and require close attention during installation. In the same way, careful coating and steam barrier installation is necessary to ensure that the batt works optimally. Water infiltration can also be reduced by adding a loose cellulose coating on top of the material.

Type

• Stone and wool slag. Usually made of stone (basalt, diabas) or iron ore furnace ore furnace. Some rock wools contain recycled glass. Nonflammable.
• Fiberglass. Made of liquid glass, typically with 20% to 30% of industrial waste recycling and post-consumer content. Nonflammable, except for facing (if any). Sometimes, manufacturers modify facing so fireproof. Some fiberglass is not styled, some paper face with a thin layer of asphalt, and some foil-headed. The paper-faced look is a steam retarder, not a steam barrier. Foil-faced is a vapor barrier. Vapor barrier must be fitted to the warm side.
• High density fiberglass
• Plastic fiber, usually made of recycled plastic. It does not cause irritation like fiberglass, but is more difficult to cut than fiberglass. Not used in US. Flammable, but treated with fire resistance.



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Natural fibers

Isolation of natural fibers may be used loosely as granulate or formed into flexible or semi-rigid panels and rigid panels using a binder (mostly synthetic such as polyester, polyurethane or polyolefin). The binder may be new or recycled.

Examples include cork, cotton, recycled tissue/clothing, hemp, hemp, coco, wool, light wood fiber, cellulose, seagrass, etc. Similarly, many plant-based waste materials can be used as insulation such as peanut shells, corncobs, mostly straws including lavender straw, recycled wine bottles (granules), etc. They may have slightly less thermal performance than recoverable, slightly thicker industrial products. They may or may not require fire retardant or anti-insect/pest treatments. The clay layer is a nontoxic additive that often meets these requirements.

Isolation of traditionally impregnated clay-light straw has been used for centuries in northern European climates. The clay layer provides half-hour fire insulation based on DIN (German) standard.

An additional source of insulation coming from hemp is hempcrete, which consists of flax manganese (shives) mixed with lime binders. It has small structural strength but can provide strong strength and insulation with comparable or superior R values ​​depending on the ratio of hemp to the binder.

Sheep wool insulation

Wool sheep insulation is a highly efficient thermal insulator with higher performance than glass fibers and no performance degradation even when condensation is present. It is made of wool waste rejected by the carpet and textile industry, available in rolls and batts for thermal and acoustic insulation of commercial housing and buildings. Wool has the ability to absorb a significant condensation rate, 40% of its own weight, but remains dry. Because wool absorbs moisture, it heats up and therefore reduces the risk of condensation. It has a unique ability to absorb VOC gases such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lock them permanently. Wool sheep insulation has a long life span due to natural wrinkles in the fiber, endurance testing has shown to have a life expectancy of more than 100 years.

Wood fiber

Wood fiber insulation is available in the form of loose, flexible batt and rigid panel for all use of heat and sound insulation. It can be used as internal insulation: between stud, beam or ceiling, under wooden floor to reduce sound transmission, against masonry walls or externally: using rain or roof screen, or directly attached/given, at over wooden rafters or buttons or masonry structures as external insulation to reduce thermal bridges. There are two manufacturing processes:

• a wet process similar to a slurry mill where the fibers are softened and under heat and the ligand pressure in the fibers is used to make the board. The boards are limited to a thickness of about 25 mm; thick boards made by gluing (with modified starch or PVA wood glue). Additives such as latex or bitumen are added to improve water resistance.
• a dry process in which a synthetic binder such as a pet (polyester melt bond), polyolefin or polyurethane is added and the board/batt is pressed to a different density to create a flexible batt or rigid board.

Cotton ax

Cotton insulation is increasingly popular as a more environmentally friendly option for insulation. It has an R value of about 3.7 (RSI-0.65), equivalent to the median value for fiberglass batt. Cotton is primarily a recycling industry scrap, providing sustainable benefits. Batts does not use the toxic formaldehyde backing found in fiberglass, and its manufacture is almost as intensive as the energy and mining processes required for fiberglass. Boric acid is used as a flame retardant. A small amount of polyolefin is melted as an adhesive to bind the product together (and preferably than the formaldehyde adhesive). Installation is similar to fiberglass, without the need for a respirator but takes additional time to cut the material. As with batt insulation, proper installation is important to ensure high energy efficiency.

Benefits

• R value Equals with typical fiberglass batt
• Recycled content, no formaldehyde or other toxic substances, and very low toxicity during manufacture (only from polyolefins)
• Can help qualify for LEED or similar environmental development certification programs
• Fiber does not cause itchiness, there is no risk of cancer from air fiber

Losses

• Hard to cut. Some installers may charge a slightly higher installation fee than other battles. This does not affect the effectiveness of the insulation, but may need to select the installer more carefully, as each bar must be cut to fit the cavities properly.
• Even with proper installation, the batt does not completely close the cavity against air movement (such as cellulose or widespread foam).
• Still need steam or barrier retarder (unlike cellulose)
• It may be difficult to dry if the leak allows excessive moisture into the isolated cavity



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Load-off (including cellulose)

Loose materials can be crushed into attics, ready-made wall cavities, and hard-to-reach areas. They are ideal for these tasks because they fit the space and fill the gaps and crevices. They can also be sprayed in place, usually with water-based adhesives. Many types are made from recycled materials (a type of cellulose) and the price is relatively cheap.

US regulatory standards for cellulosic isolation

• 16 CFR Section 1209 (Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC) - includes constant density, corrosion, critical radiation flux, and burning burning.
• ASTM Standard C-739 - Loose-fill cellulose insulation - includes all CPSC regulatory factors and five additional characteristics, R-values, starch content, moisture absorption, odor, and resistance to mold growth.
ASTM Standard C-1149 - Industrial standards for self-supported spray-celled isolated cellulose applications for exposure or cavity walls - including density, R-values, surface burning, adhesive strength, burning burning, mold resistance, corrosion, steam vapor absorption, odor, permanent fire resistance (no test for this characteristic), substrate deflection (for affected application products), and air erosion (for exposed application products).
• 16 CFR Section 460 - (Federal Trade Commission Regulation) commonly known as "Rule-Value-R", is intended to eliminate misleading insulating marketing claims and ensure accurate R-Value publications and coverage data.



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Aerogels

Skylights, solarium, and other special applications can use aerogel, low-performance material, and high density. Aerogel silica has the lowest thermal conductivity of a known substance (short of a vacuum), and the carbon airgel absorbs infrared radiation (ie heat from the sun) while still allowing incoming sunlight. The combination of silica and carbon aerogel provides the best insulating properties of any known material, approximately twice the insulative protection of the next best insulative material, closed cell foam.



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Straw

The use of highly compressed straw bales as insulation, though rare, gained popularity in experimental development projects for high R and low cost values ​​of thick walls made of straw. "A study by Joe McCabe at Univ. Of Arizona found the R-value for wheat and rice grains was about R-2,4 (RSI-0.42) per inch with grains, and R-3 (RSI-0.53 ) per inch across the grain A 23 "wide 3 flat bale strings are placed flat = R-54.7 (RSI-9.64), placed on the edge (width 16") = R-42.8 (RSI-7.54) For 2 bales of string laid flat (18 "width) = R-42.8 (RSI-7.54), and at the edge (14" width) = R-32.1 (RSI-5.66) "(Steen et al. Using the roof of the bale sandwich in-fill the straw greatly increases the R value. This is very advantageous compared to R-19 (RSI-3.35) of conventional 2 x 6 conventional walls. When using hay bales for construction, bales must be solid and allowed to dry sufficiently. Any air or moisture gap can drastically reduce the effectiveness of isolation.



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Reflective insulation and radiation resistance

Reflective insulation and radiation barriers reduce heat radiation to or from the surface of the material. Radiation barriers will reflect radiant energy. A luminous barrier by itself will not affect the heat carried through the material by direct contact or heat transferred by the rise of moist air or convection. For this reason, trying to associate the R-values ​​with difficult and inappropriate radiation barriers. The R-value test measures heat transfer through the material, not to or from its surface. There is no standard test designed to measure reflections from heat emitted energy alone. The radiated heat is a significant means of heat transfer; solar heat arrives by radiating through space and not by conduction or convection. At night the absence of heat (ie cold) is an exact same phenomenon, with radiating heat described mathematically as opposed to linear. The radiation resistance prevents uniform heat transfer in both directions. However, the heat flow to and from the surface also occurs through convection, which in several geometries differs in different directions.

Aluminum reflective foil is the most commonly used material as a radiant barrier. It has no significant mass to absorb and retain heat. It also has very low "E-value" emittance values ​​(typically 0.03 compared to 0.90 for the largest bulk isolation) that significantly reduces heat transfer by radiation.

Type of radiation resistance

• Foil or "reflective foil laminate" s (RFL).
• A polyurethane-faced foil or a double-faced polyisocyanurate panel.
• Polystyrene is red-faced. This, high density EPS, is more flexible than a rigid panel, works as a vapor barrier, and works as a heat breaker. Uses include the underside of the roof of the sheath, the ceiling, and on the walls. For best results, this should not be used as an isolation of the cavity type.
• Bubble packs supported by bubbles. It's thinner, more flexible than a rigid panel, serves as a vapor barrier, and resembles a plastic bubble wrap with aluminum foil on either side. Often used in cold pipes, cold ducts, and the bottom of roof coating.
• Light-colored roof tiles and reflective paint. Often called a cold roof, it helps to keep the attic cooler in the summer and in hot climates. To maximize the cooling of radiation at night, they are often chosen to have high thermal emissivity, while low emissivity for the solar spectrum reflects heat during the day.
• Metal roof; for example, aluminum or copper.

Radiation barriers can serve as vapor barriers and serve both purposes with a single product.

Materials with a single glossy side (such as a foil-faced polystyrene) should be positioned with a shiny side facing the air space to be effective. An aluminum foil radiation barrier can be placed either way - a glossy side is made by rolling mill during the manufacturing process and does not affect the reflective material of the foil. Because the radiation barrier works by reflecting infrared energy, aluminum foil will work together if both sides are blunt.

Reflective Isolation

Isolation is a barrier material for holding/subtracting substances (water, steam, etc.)/energy (sound, heat, electricity, etc.) to move from one side to the other.

Thermal Heat/Insulation is a barrier material for holding/blocking/bouncing heat energy (one or more of Conduction, Convection or Radiation) to transfer from one side to the other.

Thermal Reflective Isolation is one of Thermal Heat/Thermal Insulation to reflect the Heat Radiation Heat transfer from one side to the other due to the reflected surface (or low transmit power).

There are many definitions of "Thermal/Heat Insulation" and a common misinterpretation of "Thermal/Heat Insulation" = "Massal/Mass/Batt Insulation" which actually uses to reject Heat Transfer Conduction with certain "R-Value".

Since Radiant Heat Reflecting Materials with negligible "R" values ​​must also be classified as "Thermal Insulation/Heat".

Thus Reflective Isolation = Radiant Barrier

Benefits

• Very effective in warm climates
• No change in thermal performance over time due to compaction, disintegration or moisture absorption
• Thin sheet requires less space than bulk insulation
• Can act as a vapor barrier
• Non-toxic/non-carcinogenic
• Will not form mold or mildew
• Radon retarder, will limit radon penetration through the floor

Losses

• Must be combined with other types of insulation in a very cold climate
• May cause electrical safety hazards where the foil is in contact with the wrong power cord



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Hazardous and unsustainable isolation

Some forms of insulation used in the past are now no longer used because of recognized health risks. Urea-formaldehyde foam (UFFI) and panel

Isolation of urea-formaldehyde releases toxic formaldehyde gas, causing indoor air quality problems. The chemical bond between urea and formaldehyde is weak, resulting in foam cell degradation and toxic formaldehyde gas emissions into the house over time. Furthermore, some manufacturers use excess formaldehyde to ensure chemical bonding of all urea. Any remaining formaldehyde will come out after mixing. Most countries forbade it in the early 1980s after the danger to build occupants was discovered. But emissions are highest when urea-formaldehyde is new and declines over time, so homes that have had urea-formaldehyde inside the walls for years or decades do not require remediation.

UFFI gives a little mechanical strength, because the material is weak and fragile. Before risk is recognized, it is used because the cheap and effective insulators with high R values ​​and the open cell structure are good acoustic insulators. Although it absorbs moisture easily, it returns its effectiveness as an insulator when it is dried.

Asbestos

Asbestos has been found to be commonly used as insulation materials in homes and buildings due to fireproof, good thermal and electrical insulators, and resistant to chemical wear and tear. It has been found that asbestos can cause cancer when in its fragile form (that is, when it is possible to release fiber into the air - when damaged, jagged, torn, or scuffed).

When found in homes, asbestos often resemble a grayish white corrugated cardboard coated with a cloth or canvas, usually stored around pipes and ducts with metal straps. Things that usually contain asbestos:

• Boiler and insulating furnace.
• Heat bandages.
• Pipe insulation ("lagging").
• Distribute and transmit pipes inside the slab.
• Acoustic ceiling.
• Textured material.
• The floors are tough.
• Insulation in the wind.
• Roofing and fitting materials.





Health and safety issues

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF)

All polyurethane foams are made up of petrochemicals. Foam insulation often uses hazardous chemicals with high human toxicity, such as isocyanates, benzene, and toluene. Frothy agents no longer use ozone-depleting substances. Personal protective equipment is required for everyone in the sprayed area to remove the isocyanate exposure which is about 50% of the foam raw material.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is the most common housing insulation material, and is usually used as insulation, pressed between buttons. Health and safety issues include potential cancer risk from exposure to glass fibers, off-gassing formaldehyde from backing/resins, use of petrochemicals in resins, and environmental health aspects of the production process. Green building practices avoid Fiberglass insulation.

The World Health Organization has declared glass fiber insulation as potentially carcinogenic (WHO, 1998). In October 2001, an international expert review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reevaluated the 1988 IARC assessment of glass fibers and removed glass wool from the list of possible carcinogens by deriving this classification of fibers from Group 2B (possibly carcinogen) to Group 3 (not can be classified as a cause of carcinogens in humans). All of the wool fiber fibers commonly used for thermal and acoustic insulation are included in this classification. The IARC notes specifically: "Epidemiological studies published over the 15 years since the previous IARC monograph review of this fiber in 1988 did not provide evidence of an increased risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the body cavity) from occupational exposure during the manufacture of these materials, and inadequate overall evidence of all cancer risk. "

The IARC downgrade is consistent with the conclusions reached by the US National Academy of Sciences, which in 2000 found "no significant relationship between fiber exposure and lung cancer or non-malignant respiratory diseases in the MVF [man-made] manufacturing environment". However, manufacturers continue to label cancer risk warnings on their products, apparently as an indication of claims.

However, the literature should be considered carefully before determining that the risk should be ignored. The OSHA chemical sampling page provides a summary of risks, just like the NIOSH Pocket Guide.

Miraflex is a new type of fiberglass batt that has curly fibers that are less itchy and creates less dust. You can also search for fiberglass products wrapped in plastic or cloth.

Fiberglass is an energy intensive in manufacture. Fiberglass fibers are bonded into a batt using a fastening adhesive, which can contain phenol formaldehyde, a harmful chemical known to be slowly off-gas from isolation for years. This industry alleviates this problem by switching to a binder that does not contain phenol formaldehyde; some manufacturers offer agricultural-based binder resins made from soybean oil. Formaldehyde-free poles and batts made with different types of recycled glass (some close to 50% post-consumer recycled content) are available.

Loose cellulose content

Cellulose is 100% natural and 75-85% of it is made from recycled paper. Health problems (if any) appear small, and most concerns surrounding flame retardants and the potential for fungi seem to be mistaken.

• Cellulose is classified by OSHA as a dust problem during installation, and the use of dust masks is recommended.
• Cellulose is treated with fire retardants and insect repellents, usually boric acid and sometimes borax to fight insects and rodents. For humans, boric acid has a toxicity comparable to table salt.
• Fungus has been seen as a potential problem. However, according to the Cellulose Manufacturers Association, "One thing that has not contributed to the problem of fungi is the growing popularity of cellulosic isolation among knowledgeable homeowners who are interested in sustainable development practices and energy conservation.My mycologists (mycology is the study of fungi) are often quoted as saying : "Molds grow on cellulose." They refer to cellulose generic materials that make up the cell walls of all plants, not for cellulosic isolation Unfortunately, too often these statements are taken to mean cellulosic isolation.This is particularly vulnerable to mold contamination In fact, due to moisture control characteristics which are favorable and other factors associated with the manufacturing process are relatively few cases of significant fungal growth in cellulosic isolation have been reported. All widely publicized incidents of serious insulation mold contamination have involved fiber insulation materials other than cellulose.
• Humidity is always a concern for homes, and wet-spray cellulose applications may not be a good choice especially in wet climates unless the insulation can be verified to be dry before drywall is added. In very wet climates, the use of a moisture meter will ensure proper installation and eliminating mold placement problems (virtually any insulation that becomes and remains wet may cause future printing problems). Dry spray application is another option for a very wet climate, allowing for faster installation (although wet-spray cellulose has a higher R value and can increase wall stiffness).

US Health and Safety Partnership Program

In May 1999, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association began implementing a comprehensive voluntary labor partnership with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The program, known as the Health and Safety Partnership Program, or HSPP, promotes safe handling and use of insulating materials and combines education and training for fabrication, fabrication, installation and removal of glass fibers, rock wool and insulated wool slag products. (See the health effects of fiberglass). (For authoritative and definitive information on fiber glass and rock and slag wool insulation, and HSPP, see the North American Association of Isolate Manufacturers' (NAIMA) website).




See also

• Weather
• Condensation
• Superinsulation
• Thermal mass
• Low-energy buildings
• Enovate





Note






References

Source of the article : Wikipedia