Radiant Floor Insulation

Planet Earth is now placed in many dire crises. Among them, environmental issues have become the most serious, as natural resources are heading towards their limits, and the consequences of environmental pollution are ice melting and elevation of sea levels.

Regarding these, people should concentrate on looking to develop clean energy resources to overcome the critical situation. The limitation of natural resources has made people look for clean energy. Natural resources have been depleted since mankind started to settle in certain places.

Due to the fact that there are restricted amounts of fossil fuel and the duration of people consuming them is very long, people are seeking renewable energy that can take over the role of fossil fuel.

The consumption of oil, which is constantly attracting the attention among people, shows that when we reach 2012, there will be a severe lack of fossil fuel and petroleum.

The shortage of resources will drive people to chaos, as most of manufacturers we rely on are produced by fossil fuel and coal. Thus, scientists are devoting themselves to the search for energy resources that can be recycled. The seriousness of environmental pollution is another reason people are investigating clean energy.

As people started to unearth and depend on fossil fuel and coal, the rate of carbon dioxide emissions increased and recently it has accelerated. Since CO2 and green house gases are being discharged excessively, the Earth is undergoing global warming.

“An Uncomfortable Truth” directed by Al Gore, told that when the extra amount of green house gases reach its peaks, several countries will sink including the Maldives.

Especially, Tuvalu was mentioned as a country that has the possibility of sinking completely within this century. Hence, the desire to avoid this tragedy among people, explains the reason why we need to focus on developing clean energy.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/10/181_38575.html

To Save the Earth, I will let what you have to do.

EcoFoil Reflective Foil Insulation is a great way to increase R- value and energy efficiency in your home or building. Foil insulation is inexpensive and easy to install. It is not harmful to your skin or your lungs. Foil Insulation can be installed in attics, metal buildings, homes, crawl spaces and many other places. Foil insulation reflects the radiant heat away from the surface and helps reduce energy bills and keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

EcoFoil FAQ's - Radiant Barrier & Reflective Foil Insulation

What is a Radiant Barrier?

Radiant Barrier(radiant barrier) is a layer of Reflective Foil Insulation that is placed in an air space to block Radiant Heat Transfer between a heat radiating surface and a heat absorbing surface.

How can a Reflective Foil Radiant Barrier benefit me?

During hot summer months a Radiant Barrier can block up to 97% of the suns radiant heat from being transferred into your structure. 

During the winter Radiant Barrier keeps heat from escaping your home or business by reflecting 97% of the radiant heat back in, in turn requiring less work by your furnace.

Reflective Radiant Barrier saves energy and money all year around!

What is the R-Value of EcoFoil?

R-Value refers to the “Resistance” of heat flow through an object so we cannot accurately use this method to compare EcoFoil Reflective Insulation and conventional insulation such as fiberglass and cellulose. This is because Reflective Insulation completely reflects/blocks heat flow, it doesn’t absorb or resist it, thus giving Reflective Radiant Barrier Systems superior performance.

How well does EcoFoil work compared to fiberglass insulation?

EcoFoil will stop or reflect 97% of Radiant Heat Energy.  Radiant Heat is often overlooked and misunderstood because R-Values do not take it into account.  Radiant heat transfer is responsible for up to 75% of the total heat gain or loss in a structure.  Traditional insulation products such as fiberglass, cellulose and foam board are effective in reducing CONVECTIVE and CONDUCTIVE heat transfer but are very ineffective against RADIANT heat transfer.

What is RADIANT heat?

Simply stated, it is heat energy that is radiating through an airspace.  If a surface is hotter than an adjacent airspace it will emit that hot energy (in the form of heat rays) into the airspace.  These heat rays are invisible but powerful.  An easy way to understand how heat rays invade airspace is to consider that temperatures in a dark attic can reach 150º when th outside air is only 95º.  This is because the sun is saturating the roof with radiant heat energy that radiates into the attic below.

Are foil radiant barriers the same as standard household aluminum foil?

Standard aluminum foil (i.e. Reynolds Wrap) is not the same as a reflective foil radiant barrier.  Standard household aluminum foil is a very thin sheet of aluminum mixed with other alloys that will oxidize over time, and has virtually no tear-resistance.  Radiant barrier foil has a multi-layer structure, and is reinforced with a woven scrim that provides outstanding tear and tensile strength.  Radiant barrier foil also contains a much higher aluminum content for greater reflectivity, and is coated for durability and corrosion-resistance. 

 

I already have fiberglass or blow in insulation in my attic.  Do I need a Radiant Barrier?

Fiberglass and cellulose insulation work by slowing down heat transfer from one source to another.  Thats why the thicknesses of those insulations are crucial for performance.  Also, fiberglass and cellulose only resist heat transfer, they don't block or reflect it so it eventually escapes through.  Our Perforated Radiant Barrier can be installed over top of existing attic insulation to form a reflective cover to enhance your other insulation.

Will heat build-up in the roof and damage my roofing shingles?

Studies have shown that houses with Radiant Barrier installed in the attic only increase peak temperatures of the roofing shingles between 2-5 degrees fahrenheight.

 

When to use a perforated radiant barrier:

When installing radiant barrier over the attic floor you must use the perforated radiant barrier for maximum breathability.  Moist air that is created inside your home must be able to escape as it rises through your ceiling.  If a perforated radiant barrier is not used, the moisture will be trapped in between the barrier and your cieling.  When trapped this will cause condensation to form inside the building materials and insulation creating damage and mold.

When to use non-perforated (SOLID) radiant barrier:

If you are using a radiant barrier in wall cavities as a house wrap you should use a non-perforated (SOLID) radiant barrier if the following conditions exist:

• IF you live in high humidity / high hydrostatic pressure areas located between the southern tip of Texas and the Florida-Georgia border on the Atlantic Ocean AND you have a stucco structure,
• OR you are installing in sub grade locations in any area of the country (basements/underground rooms),
• OR you are installing a radiant barrier in a cathedral ceiling application between the insulation and the ceiling drywall.

My attic is already well ventilated. Do I still need a Radiant Barrier?

Radiant heat travels in the form of invisible waves through space until it is absorbed or reflected by a solid surface.  Very little Radiant Heat is removed by the movement of air through your attic. Reflective Insulation provides the extra element of protection against Radiant Heat that ventilation cannot provide.

 How does reflective foil insulate if it is so thin?

It's a common misconception that insulation must be thick to perform well.  A thicker insulation will always have a higher R-value than a thinner insulation but R-value does not measure all heat transfer.  It's highly possible for a thinner reflective material to provide better thermal performance than a thicker non-reflective product with a higher R-value.

Radiant Floor Insulation

Radiant Floor Heating(radiant floor insulation) has become very popular in new home and commercial building applications.  The most effective type of insulation to use in making your radiant floor economical is Reflective Insulation.  Our Under Concrete Barriers are specially designed to resist corrosion when in contact with concrete.  Reflective Concrete Insulation is tougher and easier to install than traditional foam board insulation that easily cracks and breaks.  The Radiant Foil reflects 97% of radiant heats rays back toward the flooring, allowing your heating system to operate more efficiently.  See how Reflective Foil Insulation can be used with the following construction methods.........

Metal Building Insulation

You will find a variety of insulations used in pre-engineered metal building applications.  The most common types are reflective Insulation, fiberglass insulation, rigid foam insulation and spray foam insulation.  Since steel conducts heat, a metal building naturally transfers heat energy in and out very freely.  Because of this, condensation easily occurs inside metal buildings when there is a significant temperature difference outside the building.  To remedy these problems, a steel building needs to be properly equipped with the most effective insulation and vapor barrier.

Therefore, the most effective form of insulation to use is reflective foil bubble insulation.  Foil bubble insulation will reflect heat out of your building in hot climates and reflect interior heat back in during cold months. This will create a more uniform temperature inside the metal building as well as create a vapor barrier, eliminating condensation. 

Traditional fiberglass insulation resist heat loss by conduction and convection but it has little effect on radiant heat gain/loss.  Radiant heat can account for up to 70% of a buildings overall heat gain or loss.  Reflective Bubble Insulation is unaffected by humidity or moisture, whereas fiberglass insulation absorbs water, making it even less effective. 

Installation of Reflective Bubble Insulation is very clean and easy, not requiring any special clothing or breathing equipment.  Installing fiberglass building insulation can be very dirty, itchy and uncomfortable because of the loose fibers.

Attic Insulation

EcoFoil Reflective Attic Insulation is NEW and IMPROVED!

Reflective radiant barrier insulation is becoming very popular for use in attic applications. The climate where you live, will determine the installation method you choose when using radiant barrier in your attic.  Here are the typical options and methods of installation for warm and cold climates.  If you live in an area where both warm and cold seasons are fairly equal, you can utilize both of the following methods of installation for maximum performance year around.

Cold Climate

          

During cold winter months, up to 75% of your home or building's heat can be lost through your attic area.  You may already have fiberglass or cellulose insulation in your attic but these types of insulation only RESIST heat transfer.  Once fiberglass or cellulose absorbs the maximum amount of heat that it physically can absorb, it must release some of that heat energy. That means it just slows down heat loss it does not prevent it!  Radiant barrier REFLECTS up to 97% of radiant heat back toward the living space, keeping your home warmer and saving you on energy costs. Installing attic insulation is clean, quick, and easy with our EcoFoil Perforated Radiant Barrier product.  Just roll it out across your attic floor right over top of any existing insulation.

 

Warm Climate

          

In warm climates or during summer months, attic temperatures can reach as high as 140° farenheit! The heat in your attic tries to invade your living space making your air conditioner work harder to keep your house cool.  Radiant barrier installed under the roof rafters in your attic can reflect up to 97% of the sun's radiant heat waves away from your attic.  This method will keep your attic cooler, in turn requiring less energy from your air conditioning unit.  Installing radiant barrier insulation in your attic is a snap...just roll our lightweight radiant barrier over the face of your roof rafters and staple it thoroughly.

Solid Radiant Barrier or Perforated Radiant Barrier can be used for this application but if using solid be sure to leave a 6" gap on the top and bottom for adequate ventilation.

Installation tip for cramped attics: Take measurements inside your attic, then cut the sheets you need in a garage or living room where you have extra space.  This also makes the sheets easier to roll out as they are more flexible off the roll.