An insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-Value. The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-Value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. When calculating the R-Value of a multi-layered insulation, add the R-Values of the individual layers.
Insulation levels are specified by R-Values. An R-Value is a measure of insulations ability to resist heat traveling through. The higher the R-Value, the better thermal performance of the insulation.
Unlike traditional insulation materials, Salaro Shield Multi-Layered Reflective Insulation is also a radiant barrier and is made of highly reflective materials that re-emit radiant heat rather than absorbing it, reducing cooling loads.The effectiveness of this system not only lies in the R-Value of the insulation, but also in its ability to reduce heat gain by reflecting heat away from the living space.
The effectiveness of an insulation material’s resistance to hat flow also depends on how and where the insulation is installed. For example, insulation that is compressed will not provide its full rated R-Value. The overall R-Value of a wall or ceiling will be somewhat different from the R-Value of the insulation itself because heat flows more readily through studs, joists, and other building materials. In addition, insulation that fills building cavities reduces airflow or leakage and saves energy.
Regardless of the mechanism, heat flows from warmer to cooler areas until there is no longer a temperature difference.In your home, that means in the winter, heat flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and especially to the outdoors.Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors. Wherever there is a difference in temperature, during the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.
Most common insulation materials work by slowing conductive heat flow and convective heat flow. Radiant barriers and reflective insulation systems work by reducing radiant heat gain. To be effective, the reflective surface must be in contact with an air space
Installing more insulation in your home increases the R-Value and the resistance to heat flow. In general, increased insulation thickness will proportionally increase the R-Value. However, as the installed thickness increases for loose-fill insulation, the settled density of the product increases due to compression of the insulation under its own weight. Because of this compression, loose-fill insulation R-Value does not change proportionately with thickness. To determine how much insulation you need for your climate, refer to the R-Value Chart.