Recently I decided to conduct research on the different insulation types and summarize their advantages, disadvantages, and best applications. Here's what my references helped me conclude:
Fibreglass (Batt and Loose)
Advantages:
-Low cost per R
-Relatively non-flammable
-Resistant to moisture damage
-No setting
-Comes in most sizes and quantities
Disadvantages:
-Awful to handle
-Respiratory difficulties
Best Applications:
-Cavity walls
-Attic space
Fibreglass (Rigid)
Advantages:
-Light easy to handle
-Breathes, permitting vapour to pass through
-Resistant to moisture damage
-Relatively non-flammable
-Low cost per R
-Can be used as exterior sheathing
Disadvantages:
-Needs strapping for application to outside walls
-Compressible
Best Applications:
-Shutters
-Exterior walls
-Roofs
Cellulose
Advantages:
-Recycled materials
-Low cost per R
-Small particles blow into most cavities
-Resists air flow
-Not affected by normal water-vapour
Disadvantages:
-Absorbs heavy moisture
-Settles
-Possible fire problems is retardant not properly applied
Best Applications:
-Blow in existing cavities
-Attics
Urea Formaldehyde
Advantages:
-High initial R
-Low flammability
-Non-settling
-Fills cavity
Disadvantages:
-High vapour permeability
-Linear shrinkage leads to low R effectiveness
-Environmental problems; Formaldehyde can emit gas
Best Applications:
-Cavity walls
Expanded Polystyrene (Beadboard)
Advantages:
-Cheapest foam
-Breathes
-Easy to use
-Moisture resistant
Disadvantages:
-Low R Value
-Flammable
-Not a vapour barrier
-Degrades under exposure
Best Applications:
-Insulating exposed floors
-Ceilings
Extruded Polystyrene
Advantages:
-Waterproof
-Vapour barrier
-High R value
-Low outgassing
Disadvantages:
-U.V. degradation
-Flammable
-Costly
Best Applications:
-Exterior or interior of masonry walls and foundations
-Sheathing
-Under slabs
Urethane
Advantages:
-High initial R
-Applies on irregular surface
Disadvantages:
-Highly flammable
-Outgassing of fluorocarbons
-High cost
-Diminishing R value
Best Applications:
-Coolers, etc.
Vermiculite
Advantages:
-Fire Resistant
Disadvantages:
-Causes compression of other materials
-Absorbs moisture
-High cost
Best Applications:
-Attics
-Floors
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Out of these 8 types of insulation, which one do you think is best for a residential house in Kamloops, B.C.? By looking at the advantages and disadvantages from a glance my guess would either be fibreglass or cellulose.
ReplyDeleteMuch of what you have outlined above can all be found in one document on the CMHC Web site: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/enefcosa/enefcosa_002.cfm
ReplyDeleteTo make this an applied research report, I suggest apply this information to a particular design in a particular place.
A new type of insulation that is gaining popularity are VIPs - vacuum insulated panels. They claim to have R-values up to 50 per inch! While quite expensive, they can be practical where space is a premium. Perhaps your research could focus on insulation designs for thin walls. You could compare the Green Dream Home which has 18 inch thick walls to the Burnaby Harmony House (EQuilibrium home) which proposes to use VIPs.
Hi David, that is a great question. At the moment I can't currently tell you exactly which one would be the best but I can give you an idea of what I think is ideal here. First of all, fibreglass insulation is probably your best bet if you are planning on keeping the cost down. It will still give you a relatively high R value without the expensive price tag. However, if cost isn't an option, I would have to say Extruded Polystyrene such as the Green Dream Home here in town. I predict that this type of insulation will become more popular in the future and as the demand for it increases, the cost will probably go down. To sum up your question, I would say either Fibreglass or Extruded Polystyrene. However, the purpose of my report is to also establish which type of insulation is most ideal here, so I will be able to answer your question in full detail once my report is complete. Thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteHi Dale,
ReplyDeleteI just checked out that link and was impressed with the info on the website. I already checked one CMHC book out of the library but haven't had much of a chance to look it over yet. The table on that website is very similar to two tables that I have already wrote up. It's nice to see the information that I got from other sources is rather accurate when compared to CMHC's data. I will be posting my other insulation data table within a few days. As for the VIP's, I have yet to read about them. They sound quite interesting and it is something I definately think will be beneficial towards the end product of my project. I think your idea of focussing on insulation designs for thin walls is a great suggestion. I will have to give it some thought because I'm already started my project but it's something to consider. Perhaps we could discuss my research topic direction in further detail next week?
Hey Scotty, I found your topic quite interesting. Im not sure if you've looked at the pros/cons of denim insulation yet but I found a website for you to check out if you're interested. http://www.twinmaplemarketing.com/catalog.php?cat=27
ReplyDeleteWe can meet any time to discuss your research.
ReplyDeleteLooking at alternative forms of insulation like recycled cotton as Chad has suggested is a great idea. Almost every type of insulation has some recycled content, but how much is the question.
Note: the Green Dream Home uses expanded polystyrene, not extruded. There is a significant difference. I have samples in my office.
It looks like Jocelyn is studying VIPs now, so you might want to leave that out, or just not go into as much depth in this area.
ReplyDeleteHi Chad, thanks for the link but I've decided to stick with my topic. I was going to change but I already started writing a bit on my report.
ReplyDeleteDale, as I said to Chad, I think I'm going to stick with my topic. Jocelyn really wanted to do something else for a topic so I mentioned that you told me about VIP's. She seemed a little bit more in need of a topic change than me so I let her take it.
Hi Scotty,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we are both doing research related to ICF in a different way. Mabe we can share resources? I have some links that I have and I also have some pdfs of papers that would be related to your topic but I can’t post them here. Let me know if you want a copy.
Here are the links, hope they help.
http://www.cement.ca/index.php/en/Concrete_Applications/Concrete_Applications.html
http://www.forms.org/index.cfm/Energysavings
http://www.forms.org/index.cfm/technicallibrary
http://www.icfmag.com/articles/features/performance_r-value.html
http://rvalue.net/page5.html
http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/techasmt/programs/residential/reports/Zoo_Project_Final_Report.pdf
http://www.ais-group.com.au/homeinsulation/comparative_survey.htm
(Keep in mind that some are academic and some can be a bit biased.)
Good Luck.
Regards,
Jody
Wow, thank you Jody! I will definately have to look over those. As for my resources, I have them referenced on the side of my blog and you are welcome to use them at any time if your interested. Just let me know at school and I'll bring them in. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHey Scotty, I have this book I've been reading over and it gives a table with different insulations and has the R-value per inch. & in regards to wool and cotton batts, they are at a higher cost & low availability than some insulations but they have many other desirable features. The book is called Green From The Ground Up.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellissa, it could be due to the difference in dates between my books and yours. Since technology has changed over the years, we are able to more accurately measure R-Values of various insulation types. Do you think I can take a look at your book one of these days?
ReplyDelete