The Barrier

Rob Rice_2

We are trying to research under slab insulation products. A product called The Barrier, which is 3/8" EPS sandwiched between 3 mil plastic with no foil, is cost competitive, but we wonder how it's insulative properties compare to bubble/foil/bubble products. We have used 2" Styrofoam in the past, but like the idea a non-rigid insulation.
The Barrier.com makes some unusual comments re: R- value vs. K-value(which we'd never heard of), and show an apparent confusion about radiation reflectivity and heat loss from airflow.
Are you familiar with The Barrier? What do you suggest using under slabs?

Thank you,
Rob & Jill Rice

Nron_13

Insultarp

We are using the product insultarp it has a published r value , CMHC published an artical about under floor insulation values we is good to read through. just enter insultarp into a seach engine and it will come up .

hr

more info

How Radiant Barriers Work
………hits the surface at a right angle (perpendicular.) From one brand of radiant barrier to another, how shiny the material is, and it’s emissivity, is so similar that it makes little difference as far as thermal performance. (Most products have emissivities between 0.03 to 0.05, which is the same as a reflectivity of 97% to 95%.) Also the greater the desired temperature difference between the sides of the radiant barrier material, the greater the benefits a radiant barrier can offer.

It may also be worth noting that a very glossy white paint is within10% of as good reflector of heat as most of the common radiant barriers currently available in residential construction.

Since insulation of any type is intended to keep heat from moving in an undesired direction, the amount of thermal insulation already in the attic affects the benefits a radiant barrier may have in energy savings. For example, installing a radiant barrier in an attic that already has at least the DOE minimum recommendation of attic insulation for that climate will be less cost effective than an attic insulated to an inferior level. It is also necessary that an air space be on at least one side of the reflecting surface. If the material intended as a radiant barrier is "sandwiched" between two other materials without the air space the insulating effect from the foil surface is reduced to zero.

Selection
…… Since there is currently no standard method for equating how well a radiant barrier works when comparing it to other insulation types, many manufacturers use the term "equivalent R-value." Be wary of such claims since this has no scientific or legal meaning, and manufacturers’ claims often reflect optimum conditions and not necessarily climate conditions at your homesite …..





REFERENCE 5 : U.S. Department of Energy – Radiant Barrier Fact Sheet


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George Peteya_2

R-value

HR - A-MEN! Equivalent r-value = effective r-value = mumbojumbo r-value!

[Deleted User]

I compared The Barrier...

against numerous other products, and the only advice that I can give you is to think thickness... The thicker, the better. It takes dead air to create resistance to conductive energy flow.

No hocus pokus bogus reflectivity R value equivilent for bent K or U values, just dead air.

Stick with what you know for a fact works.

JMHO

ME