Fine Homebuilding: Buyers Guide to Insulation
Fine Homebuilding says if youre selecting insulation, you need to make sure that your chosen material is appropriate for its intended location, that it will perform well, that it wont be prohibitively difficult to install, and that it wont blow your budget.
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Fine Homebuilding: U-factor Vs R-value
Fine Homebuilding magazine explains both U-Factor and R-value are measures of a material's insulating performance. The former is a measurement of heat transfer; the latter measures heat resistance. Understanding the difference will help you select energy-efficient windows and insulation.
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GBA: History Of Insulation
Green Building Advisor article and podcast by Dr. John Straube talks about the history of insulation, how different materials work, and where they make sense.
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GBA: Understanding R-Value
Green Building Advisor describes how R-value measures heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation.
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HIRL: Insulation Choices Revealed in New Study
Home Innovation Research Labs says based on the Builder Practices Survey results, Fiberglass insulation remains solidly the most popular insulation material in new homes. Considering all areas of new single-family homes – floors, walls, and roofs – Fiberglass Batt insulation now comprises about 52 percent and Blown Fiberglass represents 19 percent of installations.
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HIRL: Insulation Usage Patterns
US NAHB Home Innovation Research Labs says insulation usage patterns are linked to home type, pricepoint, geography, and builder size.
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BCICA: BC Insulation Contractors Association
BC Insulation Contractors Association members work in residential, commercial, industrial and marine insulation. The association provides development of standards and procedures, member training, and professional networking.
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Building Science: Thermal Metric Research Project Summary June 2015
Building Science provides an update on their Thermal Metric Research Project, undertaken with a consortium of insulation manufacturers, that is studying the thermal performance of building enclosures under realistic conditions. The consortium has undertaken a series of laboratory research projects to: advance the understanding and quantification of building enclosure thermal performance; support the development of a new thermal performance system or metric that credits high-performance assemblies (of all types of construction and insulation materials); support good design and construction practices. (PDF)
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Energy Star: Air Sealing & Insulation Of Homes
Energy Star describes how to seal air leaks throughout a home to stop drafts, add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, and choose Energy Star qualified windows when replacing windows.
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Global Insulation: Resource Site On Insulation
Global Insulation site offers online resources including global insulation news, links to selected insulation sites, information on the Global Insulation Conference and insulation articles.
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JLC: Articles On Insulation
Journal Of Light Construction provides a number of free and paid industry articles on insulation products, problems, and procedures.
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NAIMA: Technical Reports On Insulation
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association library has articles and reports on fibreglass, rock wool, and slag wool insulation products, problems, and procedures.
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US DOE: Resource Site On Insulation
US Department of Energy provides information and resources on insulation including types, materials, where to insulate, existing homes, new home construction, and radiant barriers.
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US DOE: Where To Insulate In A Home
US Department Of Energy provides overview on where to insulate your home, including sections on attic, duct, cathedral ceiling, exterior wall, foundation, basement, crawlspace, slab-on-grade and insulating floors above unconditioned garages.
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BC Housing: Updated Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide
BC Housing online updated Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide looks at current obstacles and opportunities to improve building envelope thermal performance. Version 1.2 expands the thermal performance catalogue with additional data for many newly analyzed assemblies and details. This includes more cladding attachment systems, window interfaces, precast concrete interfaces, wood-frame and brick veneer walls, and other thermal mitigation systems. Version 1.3 adds 99 new details and 363 new scenarios that includes generic and proprietary details and assemblies.
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BOABC: Thermal Bridging & Energy Standards
Building Officials Association of BC online slide show presentation Thermal Bridging and Energy Standards covers the Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide, and current energy codes and standards. (PDF)
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Building Science: Overview Of Thermal Metric Project
Building Science describes their Thermal Metric project that was initiated in 2007 to support good design and construction practices by improving the way thermal performance is measured. Ultimately, the project goal is to develop a metric that can capture the in-service thermal performance of whole assemblies. More accurate measurements will allow truly high-performance assemblies (of all types of construction and insulation materials) to be identified and promoted.
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Building Science: R-Value Myth Busting
Building Science online slide show presentation describes issues and considerations around the difference between R-value of materials and those of walls. (PDF)
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Building Science: Thermal Metrics For High Performance Walls & Limitations Of R-Value
Building Science research report says R-value metric is increasingly unable to measure or accurately compare actual thermal performance because system effects, sensitivity to construction defects, and airflow can play such a significant role in overall performance. It explores thermal performance of building opaque enclosures, and the need for a broader more holistic assessments than the R-value ratings of insulation products alone can provide.
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Construction Canada: Insulations Role In Controlling Noise
Construction Canada says the best strategy for optimizing acoustic comfort in dwelling units is to address all the possible sound transmission paths in the architectural details so they can be easily incorporated during construction.
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CWC: Online Calculator for Effective R-Value of Walls
Canadian Wood Council online calculator for effective R-Value will provide designers with climate zone-appropriate insulated wall assembly solutions that are easily comparable with national and provincial energy efficiency prescriptive provisions.
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EEFA: Guidance on Specifying Healthier Insulation
Energy Efficiency for All online report Guidance for Specifying Healthier Insulation and Air Sealing Materials provides information that can be used to evaluate and select healthier products and write project specifications that incorporate healthier insulation and air-sealing materials for energy efficiency upgrade projects in multifamily housing.(PDF)
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Energy Vanguard: 4 Types Of R-Value
Energy Vanguard says if we use R-value to describe only the insulating properties of the insulation we install, we neglect the insulation value of the other layers in a building assembly. In a wall, those layers include drywall, sheathing, cladding, and air films. They add to total R-value.
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GBA: Green Seal Publishes New Insulation Standard
Green Building Advisor says Green Seal, a nonprofit certifier of green building products, has published a green standard for insulation, giving builders and homeowners the most comprehensive guide to date for choosing products with the lowest potential to damage human health and the environment.
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GBA: Is R-Value Dead As A Dodo?
Green Building Advisor says the R-value of your insulation is just one number, and it’s not enough to tell you everything you need to know about your wall’s thermal performance.
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GBA: What Is Thermal Bridging?
Green Building Advisor says to understand thermal bridging, you need to understand your home’s wall assembly and the various materials used in its construction.
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Health Canada: Health Risks Of Asbestos
Health Canada describes the health risks of asbestos and how exposure can be dangerous to your health, as well as how to properly handle a potential asbestos problem. They provide sections on what is asbestos?, what are the health risks of exposure?, how can you be exposed to asbestos?, how do you reduce your risk of exposure?, how does the Government of Canada protect you from exposure?, and sources of more information.
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II: Why Some Products Have Cancer Warning Label
Insulation Institute says today’s fiber glass and mineral wool insulation products do not need a cancer warning label. This industry conducted extensive research and testing to confirm that these products present no possible cancer hazard and that research and those tests were recognized by two important authoritative bodies – IARC and NTP.
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JLC: Mice And Insulation
Journal of Light Construction says there's no easy way to keep mice from infesting house walls, but here are some reasonably effective strategies.
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Morrison Hershfield: Real R-Value Of Exterior Insulated Wall Assemblies
Morrison Hershfield offers online paper wherein the authors have undertaken analyses, using the modeling program THERM, to numerically evaluate effective thermal resistance of some typical wall assemblies used in high-rise residential buildings. They evaluated impact of slab edge detailing and a variety of secondary structural elements needed to support cladding. They developed a method of presenting information in a manner that architects can practically use to determine actual insulation thicknesses required to obtain the overall walls desired thermal performance. Free registration required. (PDF)
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NRCan: Calculating Effective Thermal Resistance of Opaque Assemblies
NRCan provides thermal resistance properties of opaque assembly materials required to calculate the total effective thermal resistance of building assemblies under Energy Star for New Homes Standard. The format is designed to provide simple, easy-to-use look-up tables for the effective thermal resistance of portions of assemblies containing both framing members and cavity insulation, as well as continuous material layers (including air films).
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Building Science: Deep Energy Retrofits With Exterior Cladding`
Building Science online slide show presentation Deep Energy Retrofits: Exterior Cladding Research covers benefits of exterior insulation strategies, different methods and materials that can be used in exterior insulation applications, cladding attachment issues, and system limitations. (PDF)
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Building Science: External Insulation Of Masonry & Wood Framed Walls
Building Science research report External Insulation of Masonry Walls and Wood Framed Walls developed baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2” to 8”) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls through the use of wood furring strips (fastened through the insulation back to the structure) as a cladding attachment location.
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Building Science: High-R Walls Case Study Analysis
Building Science study considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control. Unlike previous studies, this one considers performance in a more realistic matter, including some true three-dimensional heat flow and the relative risk of moisture damage. (PDF)
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Building Science: High-R Walls For Pacific Northwest
Building Science research report High-R Walls for the Pacific Northwest-A Hygrothermal Analysis of Various Exterior Wall Systems considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control. It considers performance in a realistic matter, including some two- and three-dimensional heat flow and analysis of the relative risk of moisture damage.
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Building Science: Residential Exterior Wall Superinsulation Retrofit Details & Analysis
Building Science paper focuses on retrofitting very high insulation levels (i.e., superinsulation, or deep energy retrofits). Several cold-climate residential retrofit projects have been completed using an exterior insulation approach on light-frame above-grade walls. This type of retrofit is a reasonable step if a recladding of the building is already being done for aesthetic or ongoing maintenance reasons. The methods demonstrated here result in walls with insulation levels in the R-35 to R-40 range. (PDF)
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GBA: Overview Of Insulation
Green Building Advisor provides information and resources on insulation purposes, types, applications, and considerations for selecting the right product for your application.
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GBA: Two Different Specs For Superinsulated House
Green Building Advisor describes how two experienced designers decided on their optimal wall designs, roof designs, insulation R-values, and window glazing. Is either system right for you? It depends on your climate, performance goals, and budget.
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HIRL: Installation of Common Insulation Types
Home Innovation Research Labs online tech note Installation of Common Insulation Types: Wood-Frame Walls and Attics, provides practical information for the installation of three types of insulation in various applications: fiberglass, cellulose, and spray polyurethane foam. (PDF)
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II: Novel Approach to Insulating Vented Attic
Insulation Institute describes an attic insulation approach that applied a continuous layer of zip sheathing on top of the attic joists, with the seams sealed with tape. sheathing. No insulation in the ceiling cavity, as it was applied on top of the sheathing.
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Massachusetts Univ: Insulating On The Outside
University of Massachusetts describes how wrapping a home with insulating sheathing saves energy and can be cost effective, if the design considers a host of structural concerns including moisture, shear loads, insects and fire.
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NAIMA: Key Checkpoints for Inspecting Insulation Jobs
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association bulletin Key Checkpoints for Inspecting Insulation Jobs helps you determine if insulation is properly installed in walls, ceilings and floors and provides guidance on air sealing, insulating around combustible sources and more. (PDF)
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NAIMA: Where & How To Insulate A Home
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. shows where and how to insulate walls, attics, above ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls (especially bathrooms), ceilings or floors.
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NRC: Properties and Position of Materials in the Building Envelope
Canadian National Research Council online Report on Properties and Position of Materials in the Building Envelope for Housing and Small Buildings summarizes computer modelling of different wall systems in different Canadian climates incorporating outboard insulation of an R-4 or higher. The results found that for all of the configurations studied the outboard insulation reduced the risk of condensation by increasing the wood sheathing temperature. (PDF)
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NRCan: Keeping The Heat In
Natural Resources Canada online guide Keeping The Heat In describes basic principles of building science and provides guidance in home retrofit projects such as insulation and air sealing improvements. (PDF)
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RDH: Online R-Value Calculator
RDH Building Sciences online R-Value calculator allows you to quickly and accurately calculate the overall effective R-value of a building enclosure.
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US DOE: Insulation Guide for Contractors to Share With Homeowners
US Department of Energy online Best Practices Series: Volume 17 Insulation: A Guide for Contractors to Share With Homeowners will help contractors and homeowners identify ways to make their homes more comfortable, more energy efficient, and healthier to live in. It also identifies the steps to take, with the help of a qualified home performance contractor, to increase their homes insulation, ensure healthy levels of ventilation, and prevent moisture problems. (PDF)
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US DOE: Wall Air Sealing & Insulation Methods In Existing Homes
US Department of Energy Measure Guideline: Wall Air Sealing and Insulation Methods in Existing Homes provides renovators and retrofit contractors an overview of considerations when including wall air sealing and insulation in an energy retrofit project. (PDF)
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NAIMA: Canadian Financial Incentives For Insulation
Canadian division of North American Insulation Manufacturers Association provides searchable database of grants and rebates that are available from the federal and provincial governments, and local utilities across Canada.
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