15

2
R-vaIuc Fairy TaIc: Thc Myth oI InsuIation
VaIucs
2.1 R-vaIuc
Tlo R-vaIuo is a modorn fairy laIo. Il's a fairy laIo llal las boon so loulod lo
llo Amorican consumor llal il nov las a clisoIod in-slono slalus. Bul llo
saddosl parl of llis fairy laIo is llal llo R-vaIuo by ilsoIf is aImosl a vorll-
Ioss numbor.
Il is impossibIo lo dofino an insuIalion vill a singIo numbor. To do so,
vo musl knov moro. So vly do vo aIIov llo R-vaIuo fairy laIo lo porpolu-
alo` I don'l knov. I don'l knov if anybody knovs. Wlal vo do knov is llal
llo R-vaIuo fairy laIo obviousIy favors fibor insuIalion.
Considor llo R-vaIuo of an insuIalion aflor il las boon submorsod in va-
lor or as a 20 miIo-por-lour vind bIovs llrougl il. In oillor of lloso sconar-
ios, llo R-vaIuo of fibor insuIalions goos lo zoro. Bul lloso samo condilions
baroIy affocl soIid insuIalions. Tlal's vly I boIiovo llal R-vaIuo numbors aro
misIoading, moaningIoss numbors unIoss vo knov ollor claraclorislics.
In aII probabiIily, no ono vouId ovor buy a pioco of proporly knoving
onIy ono of ils dimonsions. Supposo somoono offorod a proporly for $10,000
and loId you il vas a sovon. You vouId inslanlIy vondor vlal llal numbor
roforrod lo: Sovon acros` Sovon squaro fool` Sovon miIos squaro` Wlal` You
vouId aIso vanl lo knov llo proporly's Iocalion: In a svamp` On a moun-
lain` In dovnlovn DaIIas` In ollor vords, ono numbor cannol accuraloIy
doscribo anylling, and llal incIudos llo vaIuo of an insuIalion.
16
NovorlloIoss vo lavo Codo bodios mandaling R-vaIuos of 20s or 30s
or 40s. Bul a fibor insuIalion vill an R-vaIuo of 25 pIacod in an improporIy
soaIod louso viII aIIov vind lo bIov llrougl il as if lloro voro no insuIa-
lion. Maybo llo R-vaIuo is accuralo vlon llo maloriaI is Iab loslod. Bul a Iab
onvironmonl may nol ovon romoloIy dupIicalo condilions in llo roaI vorId.
ConsoquonlIy, vo musl slarl asking for somo addilionaI dimonsions lo
our insuIalion. Wo nood lo knov ils rosislanco lo air ponolralion, lo froo va-
lor, and lo vapor drivo. Wo musl bogin domanding llo R-vaIuo of an insuIal-
ing maloriaI aflor il is subjoclod lo roaI vorId condilions.
As il is curronlIy usod, an R-vaIuo is a numbor llal is supposod lo indi-
calo a maloriaI's abiIily lo rosisl loal Ioss. Il is dorivod by laking llo k-vaIuo
of a producl and dividing il inlo llo numbor ono. Tlo k-vaIuo is llo acluaI
moasuromonl of loal lransforrod llrougl a spocific maloriaI.
2.2 Tcst To Dctcrminc an R-vaIuc
Tlo losl usod lo produco llo k-vaIuo is an ASTM (Amorican Socioly for Tosl-
ing and MaloriaIs) losl. Tlis ASTM losl vas dosignod by a commilloo lo givo
us moasuromonl vaIuos llal -- lloy lopod -- vouId bo moaningfuI. Unfor-
lunaloIy, llo losl vas dosignod vill a fIav or bias. Bocauso of llo vay il's
dosignod, llo losl favors fibor insuIalions: fiborgIass, rock vooI and coIIuIoso
fibor. Vory IillIo inpul vonl inlo llo losl for soIid insuIalions, sucl as foam
gIass, cork, oxpandod poIyslyrono or urollano foam.
Nor doos llo losl accounl for air movomonl (vind) or any amounl of
moisluro (valor vapor). In ollor vords, llo losl usod lo croalo llo R-vaIuo
is a losl in non-roaI-vorId condilions. Ior inslanco, fiborgIass is gonoraIIy
assignod an R-vaIuo of approximaloIy 3.5. Il viII onIy acliovo llal R-vaIuo if
loslod in an absoIulo zoro vind and zoro moisluro onvironmonl. Zoro vind
and zoro moisluro aro nol roaI-vorId. Our lousos Ioak air, aII our buiIdings
Ioak air, and lloy oflon Ioak valor. Walor vapor from llo almosploro, slov-
ors, cooking, broalling, olc. conslanlIy movos back and forll llrougl vaIIs
and coiIings. If an allic is nol proporIy vonliIalod, valor vapor from insido a
louso viII vory quickIy somi-saluralo llo insuIalion abovo llo coiIings. Lvon
smaII amounls of moisluro viII causo a dramalic drop in a fibor insuIalion's
R-vaIuo as mucl as 50 porconl or moro.
2.3 Vapor Barricrs
Wo aro loId, vill vory good roason, llal insuIalion slouId lavo a vapor
barrior on llo varm sido. Wlicl is llo varm sido of llo vaII of a louso`
ObviousIy, il clangos from summor lo vinlor ovon from day lo nigll.
17
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
In a vinlry 20 I boIov zoro onvironmonl, llo insido of an occupiod louso
viII corlainIy bo llo varm sido. Bul during sun-sliny summor monlls, llo
oulsido viII bo llo varm sido.
Somolimos a novico ovnor or buiIdor viII pul vapor barriors on boll
sidos of llo insuIalion. Vapor barriors so pIacod gonoraIIy provo lo bo di-
saslrous. Il sooms llo vapor barriors slop mosl of llo moisluro bul nol aII.
ConsoquonlIy, smaII amounls of moisluro movo inlo llo fibor insuIalion,
bolvoon llo lvo vapor barriors and bocomo lrappod. Tlo moisluro accu-
muIalos as llo lomporaluro svings back and forll. Tlis accumuIalion can
bocomo a lugo probIom. Il can ovonluaIIy lolaI buckols of valor llal saluralo
llo fiborgIass. Wo lavo ro-insuIalod a numbor of polalo sloragos llal origi-
naIIy voro insuIalod vill fiborgIass and a vapor barrior on boll sidos. Iibor
Convection Losses In Loose-Fill Insulation
Attic Insulation
Room temp. 70F
Dense,
cold air
Convective
loop
Light,
warm air
Attic temp.
20F
Figurc 2.2 At vcry coId tcmpcraturcs, whcn thc tcmpcraturc diIIcrcncc across thc attic
insuIation rcachcs a ccrtain criticaI point, convcction within thc insuIation can rcducc
r-vaIuc. (J.D. Ncd Nisson, "Attic InsuIation ProbIcms in CoId CIimatcs," !"#$%& (#)*%"
+,-./#, March 1992, 42-43)
18
insuIalion noods vonliIalion on ono sido, lloroforo, llo vapor barrior slouId
go on llo sido vloro il viII do llo mosl good.
Mosl poopIo knov llal air ponolralos llo vaIIs of a louso. In facl, vlon
llo vind bIovs across somo lomos, ils lonanls can fooI il. Bul vlal mosl poo-
pIo, incIuding many onginoors, do nol roaIizo is llal lloro aro vory sorious
convoclion curronls llal occur villin fibor insuIalions (Iiguro 2.2). Tloso
convoclion curronls rolalo vasl amounls of air, bul lloy aro nol fasl onougl
lo fooI or ovon moasuro, vill any bul llo mosl sonsilivo inslrumonls. Novor-
lloIoss, llo air conslanlIy carrios loal from llo undorsido of llo fibor piIo lo
llo lop sido, Iolling il oscapo. If vo soaI off llo air movomonl, vo gonoraIIy
soaI in valor vapor. Tlal addilionaI valor oflon condonsos and can bocomo
a moisluro-sourco llal rols llo slrucluro. Tlo valor, as a vapor or condonsa-
lion, soriousIy docroasos an insuIalion vaIuo llo R-vaIuo. Tlo onIy vay lo
doaI vill a fibor insuIalion is lo vonliIalo. Bul vonliIaling moans moving air
llal aIso docroasos llo R-vaIuo.
2.4 Air Pcnctration
Tlo fiIlor modium for mosl furnaco fiIlors is fiborgIass llo samo spun
fiborgIass usod as insuIalion. IiborgIass is usod for an air fiIlor bocauso il
las Ioss impodanco lo llo air fIov, and il is cloap. In ollor vords, air fIovs
Figurc 2.3 Air
pcnctration through
waIIs and rooI oI a
homc with standard
insuIation.
19
llrougl a furnaco fiIlor vory roadiIy. AII voII and good for a furnaco fiIlor --
bul can llal samo maloriaI offoclivoIy insuIalo a slrucluro` Can you imagino
insuIaling a louso by sluffing furnaco fiIlors inlo llo vaIIs and coiIing` Tro-
mondous air curronls bIov llrougl llo vaIIs of a lypicaI lomo. To domon-
slralo, loId a Iil candIo noar an oIoclricaI oulIol on an oulsido vaII vlon llo
vind is bIoving (Iiguro 2.3). Tlal fIamo viII fIickor and may ovon go oul.
Tlo avorago lomo vill aII ils doors and vindovs cIosod las a combinalion
of air Ioaks oquaI lo llo sizo of an opon door. Lvon if vo do a porfocl job of
inslaIIing fibor insuIalion in our louso and bring llo air infiIlralion cIoso lo
zoro from ono sido of llo vaII lo llo ollor, vo sliII do nol slop air from mov-
ing vorlicaIIy llrougl llo insuIalion ilsoIf, in coiIings and vaIIs.
2.5 SoIid InsuIations
Tlo bosl knovn soIid insuIalion is oxpandod poIyslyrono. Ollor soIid insuIa-
lions incIudo cork, foam gIass and poIyisocyanalo or poIyisocyanuralo board
slock. Tlo Iasl lvo aro varialions of urollano foam. Lacl of lloso insuIalions
is idoaIIy suilod for many usos. Ioam gIass las boon usod for yoars on lol
and coId lanks, ospociaIIy in pIacos vloro vapor drivo is a probIom. Cork
is of courso a vory oId slandby, oflon usod in froozor appIicalions. LIS or
oxpandod poIyslyrono is soomingIy usod ovoryvloro -- from llrov avay
drinking cups and food conlainors lo porimolor foundalion insuIalion,
masonry insuIalions, olc. Urollano board slock is bocoming llo slandard for
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
45F -18F -4F 9F 19F 32F
R-9
R-11
R-12
R-14
R-16
R-18
R-value vs. Temperature For
Loose-Fill Fiberglass
M
e
a
s
u
r
e
d

R
-
v
a
l
u
e
Figurc 2.4 Thcrc is a probIcm with
Ioosc-IiII IibcrgIass attic insuIation in
coId cIimatcs. It appcars that, as attic
tcmpcraturc drops bcIow a ccrtain
point, air bcgins to circuIatc into
and within thc insuIation, Iorming
"convcctivc Ioops" that incrcasc hcat
Ioss and dccrcasc thc cIIcctivc R-vaIuc.
At vcry coId tcmpcraturcs (-20F), thc
R-vaIuc may dccrcasc by up to 50%.
In IuII-scaIc attic tcsts at Oak
Ridgc NationaI Laboratory, thc R-vaIuc
oI 6 inchcs oI cubcd Ioosc-IiII attic
insuIation progrcssivcIy IcII as thc
attic air tcmpcraturc droppcd. At -18F,
thc R-vaIuc mcasurcd onIy R-9. Thc
probIcm sccms to occur with any Iow-
dcnsity, Ioosc-IiII Iibrous insuIation.
(J.D. Ncd Nisson, "Attic InsuIation
ProbIcms in CoId CIimatcs," !"#$%&
(#)*%" +,-./#, March 1992, 42-43)
20
roof insuIalion, ospociaIIy for lol moppod roofs. Il is aIso vidoIy usod for
oxlorior sloalling on many nov lousos. Tlo R-vaIuo of llo urollano board
slock is of courso bollor llan any of llo ollor soIid insuIalions. AII of lloso
soIid insuIalions porform far bollor llan fibor insuIalions vlonovor lloro is
vind or moisluro invoIvod.
Mosl soIid insuIalions aro inslaIIod as slools or board slock, and mosl
suffor from ono vory common probIom. Tloy gonoraIIy don'l fil ligll onougl
lo provonl air infiIlralion. And if llo vind gols bolind llom, il mallors nol
lov llick lloso board slocks aro. Wo soo llis oflon in masonry conslruc-
lion vloro board slock is usod bolvoon a brick and a bIock vaII. UnIoss llo
board slock is acluaIIy plysicaIIy gIuod lo llo bIock vaII, air viII infiIlralo
bolind il. Wlon llis lappons, llo board slock bocomos virluaIIy vorll-
Ioss, sinco llo air fIovs llrougl llo voop loIos in llo brick and around llo
insuIalion nogaling ils offoclivonoss. Groal caro musl bo oxorcisod in pIacing
soIid insuIalions. Tlo brick lios nood lo bo fillod al llo joinls and llon soaIod
lo provonl air fIov bolind llo insuIalion.
Figurc 2.5 During thc 2007-2008 wintcr, CaIcdonia, Missouri cxpcricnccd icc and wind
storms that covcrcd thcir arca with two to thrcc inchcs oI icc and IcIt pcopIc without powcr
Ior up to two wccks. Supcrintcndcnt Stcvc Yount said that thc domcs wcrc unaIIcctcd by
thc coId, and, aIthough thcy wcrc without powcr, thc domcs rctaincd thcir hcat, so pcopIc
spcnt thcir days warming up in thc MonoIithic Domcs. Thc community wants thcir domcs
ccrtiIicd by thc Rcd Cross as a dcsignatcd disastcr shcItcr and is Iooking into grants that
wouId Iinancc a gcncrator.
21
Spray-in-pIaco poIyurollano is llo onIy commonIy usod soIid insuIalion
llal absoIuloIy prolocls ilsoIf from air infiIlralion. Wlon il is proporIy pIacod
bolvoon lvo sluds or againsl a concrolo bIock vaII or vlorovor, llo bonding
of llo spray pIus llo oxpansion of llo maloriaI in pIaco croalos a lolaI soaI.
Il's aImosl impossibIo lo ovoroslimalo llis lolaI soaI. In my opinion, mosl of
llo loal Ioss in llo vaIIs of a lomo las lo do vill llo soaI, rallor llan llo
insuIalion.
Hoal doos nol conducl lorizonlaIIy noarIy as voII as il doos vorlicaIIy.
Tloroforo, if a lomo lad no insuIalion in ils vaIIs, bul did lavo an absoIulo
airligll soaI, lloro vouId nol nocossariIy bo a lugo difforonco in loal Ioss.
Bul llis vouId nol bo llo caso if coiIing insuIalion vas missing.
Spray-in-pIaco poIyurollano can mosl offoclivoIy slop air infiIlralion. Il is
llo onIy maloriaI llal proporIy appIiod fiIIs in llo cornors, crippIos, doubIo
sluds, bollom pIalos, lop pIalos, olc. Tlo R-vaIuo of a maloriaI is of no inlorosl
or consoquonco if air can gol pasl il.
2.6 Casc Studics
During llo 1970s in Idalo's Snako Rivor VaIIoy, my firm insuIalod llo vaIIs
of many nov lomos vill 1.25 inclos of spray-in-pIaco poIyurollano foam.
In 1970, llo popuIar numbor for llo R-vaIuo of ono incl of urollano foam
vas 9.09 por incl. Using llis vaIuo, vo voro pulling an R of 1.25 x 9.09 =
11.36 in llo vaIIs. Tlis vas mucl Ioss llan llo R = 16 cIaimod by fiborgIass
insuIalors. Today, using ASHRAL (Amorican Socioly of Hoaling, Rofrigor-
aling and Air-Condilioning Lnginoors) pubIislod clarls, vo vouId onIy
bo abIo lo cIaim an R-vaIuo for llo 1.25 inclos of 7.5 lo 9. Noillor of lloso
numbors mako for a vory ligl R-vaIuo. Bul in roaIily, our insuIalion cuslom-
ors invariabIy llankod us for llo savings in lloir loal biIIs. Many loId us
llal lloir loaling biIIs voro laIf of vlal lloir noiglbors paid. Tloy foIl llal
lloy savod llo cosl of llo poIyurollano in ono or, al mosl, lvo yoars. Mosl of
lloso cuslomors voro savvy poopIo. Tloy vouId nol lavo paid llo oxlra lo
gol llo urollano insuIalion if il lad nol boon bollor. NovorlloIoss, vlal I caII
Caso Sludios, somo poopIo migll caII anocdolaI ovidonco. Tlal's okay.
AnocdolaI ovidonco is aIso compoIIing and vory roaI in our vorId.
InsuIating Homcs
Aboul mid 1975, I rocoivod a caII from a division managor of a major fibor-
gIass insuIalion manufacluror. Tlo caIIor said, I undorsland llal you aro
spraying poIyurollano in llo vaIIs of lomos. I loId lim llal vas lruo. Ho
vas caIIing bocauso vo voro culling inlo fiborgIass insuIalion saIos in our
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
22
aroa. Ho askod, Hov can you do il`
I knov vlal lo moanl. Ho vanlod lo knov lov I couId Iook foIks in llo
oyo and soII llom a moro oxponsivo insuIalion insload of cloap fiborgIass.
I loId lim llo vay I did il vas vill a spray gun. Of courso, llal vasn'l llo
ansvor lo vanlod. Ho vanlod lo knov vly I did nol fooI guiIly. I loId lim
aboul insuIaling ono of lvo noarIy idonlicaI lousos buiIl sido-by-sido. Wo
insuIalod llo vaIIs of ono vill 1.25 inclos of urollano. Ils noar-lvin vas in-
suIalod vill fuII, llick fiborgIass balls by a ropulabIo inslaIIor. Nol onIy did
vo uso jusl 1.25 inclos of urollano as llo lolaI vaII insuIalion, bul vo lad
llo buiIdor Ioavo off llo insuIalod sloalling. Al llo ond of llo firsl vinlor,
llo urollano insuIalod lomo lad a loaling biII laIf of ils noiglbors. Again,
sucl ovidonco is nol lorribIy scionlific, bul il is vory roaI. I am nol suro llal
llo managor vas convincod, bul il slouId bo nolod: in llo foIIoving yoar,
llal samo company jumpod inlo llo urollano foam suppIy businoss.
Ono and a quarlor incl of poIyurollano sprayod proporIy in llo vaII of
a louso viII provonl moro loal Ioss llan aII llo fibor insuIalion llal can bo
crammod in llo vaIIs ovon up lo an oigll-incl llicknoss. Nol onIy doos
llo poIyurollano provido bollor insuIalion, il providos llo louso vill sig-
nificanl addilionaI slrongll.
Bronl vas an oarIy cIionl of mino for vlom I lad insuIalod sovoraI
polalo sloragos. Ho knov vlal spray-in-pIaco urollano insuIalion couId
do. Wlon lo docidod lo buiId lis nov, vory Iargo, vory fancy nov lomo, lo
askod mo lo insuIalo il. Tlo buiIdor pilclod a fil. Ho didn'l nood any of llal
spray-in-pIaco urollano in lis buiIdings. Ho mado lis buiIdings ligll, and
fiborgIass vas jusl as good.
Bronl loId llo buiIdor, I knov vlo is going lo insuIalo llo buiIding. Il
is nol as dofinilo as lo vlo is going lo bo llo conlraclor. You can mako up
your mind. Wo aro going lo lavo llo urollano insuIalion and you buiId llo
buiIding, or vo aro going lo lavo llo urollano insuIalion, and I viII lavo
somoono oIso buiId llo buiIding. Il didn'l lako llo conlraclor Iong lo docido
lo vanlod lo uso urollano insuIalion.
Hov il vorkod oul amazod mo. Wo sprayod a Iol of foam in Bronl's
louso, and il cosl lim quilo a bil of monoy bocauso of llo lomo's sizo. Bul
vlonovor I mol lim aflorvards, lo loId mo lis loal biII vas Ioss llan llal of
any of lis ronl lousos or llo lomos of anybody oIso lo knov. And lis lomo
vas lvo or llroo limos Iargor.
Bronl's oxporionco convincod llo buiIdor as voII. Ho slarlod laving mo
insuIalo mosl of lis nov cuslom buiIl lousos. Tlo buiIdor said llal lo vouId
oxpIain llo bonofils of spray-in-pIaco urollano lo lis cIionls. WliIo il cosl
a IillIo moro, il vas by far llo bosl. Mosl of llo buiIdor's cIionls oplod for
urollano. Novor lavo I lad a cuslomor loII mo llal lo did nol savo monoy
by using urollano spray-in-pIaco insuIalion. You can spond aII llo limo you
23
vanl vill R-vaIuos and k-vaIuos, and provo on papor llal fiborgIass, rallor
llan urollano, is a suporior insuIalion. Bul in llo roaI vorId, I can assuro
anyono llal lloro is no vay fibor insuIalion can bo as offoclivo as spray-in-
pIaco urollano nol ovon cIoso.
R-vaIuo labIos aro lruIy parl of llo fairy laIo. Tloy clarl soIid and fibor
insuIalions sido by sido, impIying llal lloy can bo comparod. Tlo facl is,
villoul laking inslaIIalion condilions inlo accounl, comparisons aro moan-
ingIoss. Spray-in-pIaco urollano foam providos ils ovn vapor barrior, valor
barrior and vind barrior. Nono of llo ollor insuIalions aro as offoclivo
villoul spociaI caro lakon al inslaIIalion. Iibor insuIalions musl bo proloclod
from vind, valor and valor vapor. Again, llo labIos nood a socond labIo lo
slalo inslaIIalion condilions.
Mcadow GoId Frcczcr
Moadov GoId, a dairy producl company, vas going lo buiId a froozor in
Idalo IaIIs, Idalo. Clol, Moadov GoId's pIanl managor, vas a good friond
of llo IocaI BulIor BuiIding doaIor, vlo vas a good friond of mino. A BulIor
BuiIding insuIalod vill oxpandod poIyurollano doos nol mako an officionl
froozor. Tlo llroo of us knov llal, so vo gol logollor and pIannod a froozor
llal vouId accommodalo Moadov GoId's noods, yol bo buiIl of a BulIor
BuiIding and bo proporIy insuIalod. Tlis lranspirod during my firsl yoar of
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
Rigid Urethane Foam
Glass Fiber
EXP Polystyrene
Bead Board
Foam Glass
Expanded Perlite
Vermiculite
0.14
0.25
0.28
0.35
0.39
0.48
7.14
4.0
3.57
2.86
2.56
2.08
R-value / in k-factor
Resistance, Conductivity of
Insulating Materials
Figurc 2.6 With thc
Iowcst k-Iactor and
highcst R-vaIuc, urcthanc
Ioam can providc morc
thcrmaI rcsistancc with
Icss matcriaI than any
othcr insuIation.
24
spraying poIyurollano foam, I boIiovod aII llo Iiloraluro and knov llal vlal
vo voro doing vas going lo bo jusl rigll.
Il lurnod oul ovon bollor. Tlo llon curronl R-vaIuo labIo slovod ono
incl of urollano oquaI lo 2.5 inclos of oxpandod poIyslyrono. So, I suggoslod
vo spray llo molaI buiIding vill four inclos of urollano lo ropIaco llo 10
inclos of oxpandod poIyslyrono normaIIy usod by Moadov GoId for froozors.
I sprayod llo vaIIs and undor llo sIab vill four inclos, and I sprayod
llo undorsido of llo roof vill fivo inclos of urollano. (Iifll incl vas addod
as a safoly margin.)
During llis procoss, Clol bogan vorrying. Aflor aII, lo lad sluck lis
nock oul by going vill a nonlradilionaI insuIalion in a nonlradilionaI slruc-
luro. WoII, llo buiIding progrossod on scloduIo, bul llo oquipmonl lo cooI
il did nol arrivo on limo. By summor, onIy ono of lvo rofrigoralion compros-
sors lad arrivod. Bul basod on using 10 inclos of poIyslyrono and por Moad-
ov GoId's onginoors, lvo comprossors voro noodod for officionl froozing.
Iacod vill llis prodicamonl, Clol considorod an aIlornalivo: ono of llo
oIdor froozors llal lad boon usod as a cooIor couId bo lurnod back inlo a
froozor. Tlon, vill jusl ono comprossor, llo nov buiIding couId bo mado inlo
a cooIor. Il vas nol a salisfaclory arrangomonl, bul il maybo couId vork.
Clol aIso insislod llal as soon as lo lurnod on llo froozor oquipmonl lo
vouId knov if llo buiIding vouId vork. Wlon I prossod lim, lo said llal
normaIIy il lakos fivo days lo bring a froozor dovn lo 10 I boIov zoro llo

Whcrc circumstanccs dcmand thinncr
waIIs or rooIs, urcthanc, with its supcrior
insuIation capabiIity, makcs it possibIc
to rcducc thc thickncss oI thc insuIation
componcnt with no Ioss oI thcrmaI
rcsistancc. Or thc thcrmaI rcsistancc oI
an asscmbIy can bc incrcascd without
cnIarging thc sizc oI thc mcmbcr. Urcthanc
hcIps to oIIsct thc dcsign rcstrictions
imposcd by thc Iact that most buiIding
matcriaIs arc constant in thickncss and
wcight.
(Mobay ChcmicaI Corp. "Urcthanc Foam
as an Encrgy Conscrvcr," 012 /1 31")#$4#
!"#$%&5 *" 6177#$6*.89 *")/*/:/*1".8 ."-
*"-:)/$*.8 61")/$:6/*1", Pittsburgh, PA,
1975, 3)
Urcthanc Conscrvcs Encrgy
ExccIIcnt thcrmaI rcsistancc is thc primary
pcrIormancc bcncIit oI urcthanc Ioam
insuIation, but it is not thc onIy onc. Urcthanc
aIso has thcsc advantagcs as a construction
matcriaI:
1 Its cIoscd ccII structurc makcs
urcthanc most cIIcctivc initiaIIy and
in thc Iong run.
2 Whcn protcctcd by skins or
othcr covcring, urcthanc wiII not
absorb watcr. ConscqucntIy thc
x-Iactor (thcrmaI conductivity) is
virtuaIIy constant.
3 Spraycd-on Ioam has thc
advantagc oI no scams or joints.
4 Urcthanc's thcrmaI rcsistancc
mcans that onIy onc thickncss oI
matcriaI is nccdcd Ior most jobs.
5 It has a Iow moisturc
pcrmcabiIity (1-3 pcrms).
25
lomporaluro noodod for ico croam. So, Clol lurnod on llo nov froozor vill
ils ono comprossor. By llo socond morning, llo lomporaluro droppod lo 18 I
boIov zoro! Clol and Moadov GoId lad lloir froozor. Il ran llo onliro sum-
mor using onIy llo singIo comprossor.
A fov vooks aflor llo froozor's slarl-up, a Moadov GoId onginoor from
Clicago visilod mo. Ho vanlod lo knov oxaclIy vlal vo lad dono lo insu-
Ialo llo froozor. Ono comprossor slouId nol lavo boon abIo lo loId llo lom-
poraluro as il did. I oxpIainod oxaclIy vlal vo lad dono. Ho soomod salisfiod
and Iofl.
Bul sovoraI moro vooks vonl by and lo slovod up again -- llis limo
vill lis boss. Wo vonl lo llo pIanl, using an ico pick, vo vorifiod llo foam's
llicknoss. Il vas, indood, four inclos in llo vaIIs and fivo inclos in llo
coiIing. Bul again, boll onginoors roiloralod llal llo buiIding slouId nol bo
oporaling as il vas. Wlal lloy voro loIIing mo vas llal ovon llougl I lad
usod ono incl of urollano lo ropIaco 2.5 inclos of oxpandod poIyslyrono, llo
buiIding vas sliII roquiring onIy 50 porconl of normaI comprossor povor for
cooIing. As you can imagino, llo oxporionco mado mo a Iol boIdor, and I usod
llo informalion lo soII moro froozor insuIalion jobs.
CIcarIicId, Utah Frcczcr
A 60,000 squaro fool froozor in CIoarfioId, Ulal bocamo ono of our Iargosl
froozor insuIalion projocls. I porsuadod Bob, my friond and llo gonoraI con-
lraclor buiIding llis nov, aII-concrolo froozor, inlo Iolling us insuIalo il vill
spray-in-pIaco poIyurollano foam. Tlis buiIding vas llo lvoIfll in a clain
of froozors. Bob look il upon limsoIf lo svilcl from llo usuaI lon inclos of
oxpandod poIyslyrono lo four inclos of urollano vill a fifll incl on llo
roof. Tlo buiIding vas buiIl vill liIl-up concrolo insuIalod on llo inlorior
sido of llo concrolo vill spray-in-pIaco urollano. Wo llon sprayod on a
llroo-fourlls of an incl llick Iayor of pIaslor as a llormaI (firo) barrior. Ovor
llo proslrossod concrolo roof panoIs, vo pul fivo inclos of spray-in-pIaco
urollano and llon, foIIoving llo urollano manufacluror's spocificalions,
covorod il vill lol lar and rock.
On my Iasl day on llis job, llo ovnor slovod up. Ho lad oxpoclod lo soo
lon inclos of oxpandod poIyslyrono -- nol four inclos of urollano. I loId lim
lo vouId Iiko llo four inclos of urollano and llal, basod on my oxporionco,
urollano vas a far bollor insuIalor llan oxpandod poIyslyrono. Ho loId mo
lo foIl sick -- lloro vas no vay llal couId bo lruo. Bul il vas loo Ialo for lim
lo do anylling aboul il. If lo couId lavo, lo vouId lavo clangod llo conlracl
inslanlIy, bul lo vas sluck and lo foIl sluck.
Ho ovnod lvoIvo ollor simiIar-sizo froozors, aII insuIalod vill oxpand-
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
26
od poIyslyrono. Tloy normaIIy oporalod vill llroo Iargo comprossor assom-
bIios. During llo summor, lvo comprossors kopl llo buiIding coId, vliIo llo
llird slood by in caso ono of llo firsl lvo lad a probIom.
Aboul a yoar Ialor, I rocoivod a plono caII from ono of llo managors. Ho
askod mo if I lad limo lo insuIalo anollor 60,000 squaro fool froozor in CIoar-
fioId, Ulal. I assurod lim vo lad llo limo, llo incIinalion, and llo oxcilo-
monl lo do il, bul I llougll llo ovnor vanlod nolling lo do vill urollano
foam insuIalion. Tlo managor oxpIainod llal nol onIy lad llo CIoarfioId
froozor oporalod bollor llan any ollor froozor in lloir Iino, il lad oporalod
for Ioss llan laIf llo cosl of llo ollors. So, lloy voro adding anollor 60,000
squaro fool villoul adding moro comprossors. Tlo comprossor povor avaiI-
abIo lo llom bocauso of llo urollano insuIalion's officioncy aIIovod llom lo
do llal. Tlo buiIding lad run vory nicoIy llrougl llo lol parl of llo sum-
mor vill jusl ono comprossor. Nov lloy vouId bo abIo lo run lvo buiIdings
off lvo comprossors and sliII lavo a sparo.
Again, llis is anocdolaI ovidonco, bul Iol mo assuro you llal you viII gol
llo samo rosuIls if you do as vo did. I lavo insuIalod many buiIdings and
I knov vlal rosuIls you can oxpocl. You cannol gol a R-vaIuo from a fibor
insuIalion and comparo il lo llo R-vaIuo of a foam insuIalion. Nor can you
Figurc 2.7 This graph iIIustratcs a buiIding's rcduction in hcat Ioss whcn it is insuIatcd
with various thickncsscs oI spray-in-pIacc urcthanc Ioam. Notc: Abovc 3 inchcs, thc
insuIation bcncIit tops oII quickIy. Thc graph is not cxact, but it shows, in gcncraI, what
happcns as additionaI insuIation is addcd to thc surIacc tcmpcraturc. In othcr words, by
supcr-insuIating, thc surIacc tcmpcraturc oI thc insidc oI thc cxtcrior waIIs comcs vcry
cIosc to thc room tcmpcraturc. This prcvcnts condcnsation, that, in turn, prcvcnts moId
growth.
Reduction
in Overall
Heat Loss
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Inches of Spray-in-Place Urethane
Surface Temp
Heat Loss
Polyurethane foam
prevents most heat
loss with only a
couple of inches.
However, you will
need more foam to
keep the surface
temperature of the
foam closer to the
interior temperature
of the building
27
uso llo R-vaIuo of a foam insuIalion if il is in slool form and comparo il lo
llo R-vaIuo of spray-in-pIaco foam insuIalion. Spray-in-pIaco poIyurollano is
an absoIulo minimum of llroo lo lon limos as offoclivo as any ollor insuIa-
lion avaiIabIo loday.
During llo Ialo 1970s, llo ITC (IodoraI Trado Commission) vonl aflor
urollano foam suppIiors for misIoading advorlising, ospociaIIy rogarding firo
cIaims. A consonl docroo foIIovod. Il doslroyod a lromondous amounl of con-
fidonco in llo uso of urollano. Up lo llal poinl, CommonvoaIll Ldison gavo
GoId ModaIIion approvaI lo lomos insuIalod vill onIy ono quarlor incl
(0.25) of spray-in-pIaco urollano in llo sido vaIIs of masonry conslruclod
lomos. Mucl vork vas dono in llo oarIy 1970s using a 1.25 inclos urollano
as a ropIacomonl for vaII insuIalion in a lomo. Nol onIy did il ropIaco llo
vaII insuIalion, il aIso ropIacod llo oxlorior sloalling. BuiIdings aro slrongor
and bollor insuIalod vlon sprayod vill llo 1.25 inclos of urollano.
2.7 InsuIation has two purposcs: to cut hcat Ioss and to controI
surIacc tcmpcraturc.
2.7.1. Hcat Ioss
Tlis noxl soclion covors aspocls of insuIalion llal mosl poopIo aro unfamiI-
iar vill or don'l knov vory voII. Tloro is a subslanliaI difforonco bolvoon
insuIalion for lomporaluro conlroI and insuIalion for loal Ioss conlroI. Ior
inslanco, llo grapl slovs llo loal Ioss conlroI of spray-in-pIaco urollano
foam insuIalion. Any insuIalion viII lavo a simiIar grapl bul vill llickor
amounls of insuIalion. Tlis grapl (Iiguro 2.7) poinls oul llal moro insuIa-
lion is nol nocossariIy cosl offoclivo. Irom a loal Ioss porspoclivo, lloro is a
poinl al vlicl moro insuIalion is poinlIoss.
Tlo grapl slovs llal 70 of loal Ioss from conduclanco is sloppod by a
ono-incl llicknoss of spray-in-pIaco urollano foam. Nolo: NoarIy 100 of llo
loal Ioss from air infiIlralion is sloppod vill llo firsl ono-fourll of an incl
of urollano foam. Tlo socond incl of spray-in-pIaco urollano slops aboul
90 of loal Ioss, and llo llird incl slops aboul 95 and so forll.
Il slouId bo nolod loro llal vlon urollano is usod on llo oxlorior of a
loal sink, sucl as concrolo, llo acluaI offoclivo R-vaIuo is moro llan doubIod.
ConsoquonlIy, for a MonoIillic Domo, vo aro abIo lo caIcuIalo offoclivo R-
vaIuos in oxcoss of 60. A loal sink is any subslanco capabIo of sloring Iargo
amounls of loal. Mosl commonIy, vo llink of concrolo, brick, valor, adobo
and oarll as loal sink maloriaIs usod in buiIding. Tlo proporly of a loal sink
lo acl as an insuIalion is caIIod llormaI diffusivily.
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
28
Horo is a simpIo oxpIanalion for llo vay il vorks: As llo lomporaluro of
llo almosploro cycIos from coId lo lol lo coId lo lol, llo loal sink absorbs
or givos up loal. Bul bocauso llo loal sink can absorb so mucl loal, il novor
calclos up vill llo fuII rango of llo cycIo. Tloroforo llo lomporaluro of llo
loal sink londs lo avorago. Iargo loal sinks viII avorago ovor many days,
vooks or ovon monlls.
An adobo lacionda vill ils lvo-lo-six-fool llick vaIIs oxompIifios llis
procoss. By llo limo llo adobo vaIIs bogin lo absorb llo daylimo loal, il is
nigll limo, and llo samo loal llon oscapos inlo llo cooIor nigll. Tloroforo
llo lomporaluro avoragos. Bocauso of llo adobo's Iargo mass, llo lomporaluro
avoragos ovor poriods of monlls. So, adobo acls as an insuIalion ovon llougl
adobo las a minimaI R-vaIuo.
According lo llo grapl, urollano llicknossos boyond four or fivo inclos
aro praclicaIIy immaloriaI. Wo uso llroo inclos for mosl of our conslruclion.
Tvo inclos viII do a vory suporior job. Wo lavo insuIalod many molaI buiId-
ings vill ono incl of urollano and gol a dramalic drop in loal Ioss. Obvi-
ousIy llo firsl quarlor incl lakos caro of vind bIoving llrougl cracks. (Il
usuaIIy lakos an incl lo bo suro llo cracks aro aII fiIIod.) Tlo baIanco of llo
incl adds llo llormaI proloclion.
Marcl 2009 !"#$%&"' )*%+,"-.$/ foalurod an arlicIo onlilIod, Saving
Lnorgy: Il Slarls al Homo, focusing on loal Ioss. IncIudod loro is a sorios of
plolos of a MonoIillic Domo insuIalod vill urollano foam and a fov ollor
buiIdings. Tloso imagos voro lakon using a $50,000 llormograplic camora,
vlicl is dosignod lo lako picluros sloving llo amounl of loal omillod by
llo objocls in llo plolograpls.
Tlo minus 13 dogroos Ialronloil lomporaluro slovs up as bIack. Tlo
varmor lomporaluros slov up in various coIors and llo lollosl is llo rod.
In a quick Iook you can soo llal llo loal Ioss from llo urollano insuIalod
MonoIillic Domo is virluaIIy zoro, oxcopl llrougl doors and / or ollor
oponings. Tlis vorifios vlal I lavo vilnossod: Tlo Iasl snov llal moIls viII
bo on llo norll lopsido of a MonoIillic Domo.
Wo adviso lloso buiIding MonoIillic Domos lo ignoro loal Ioss or gain
vlon sizing HVAC oquipmonl. Tlo aclivilios villin, llo vindovs and
doors, llo Iiglls and aII oIso aro far moro imporlanl for dolormining lov
mucl oquipmonl is noodod for loaling and cooIing. Wo lavo lad onginoors
clock llo buiIding by acluaIIy moasuring lolaI onorgy consumplion. In aII
casos llo MonoIillic Domo sloII is slovn lo lavo an oquivaIonl r-vaIuo of
moro llan 60.
Tloso llormograplic plolos givo us a groal visuaI picluro iIIuslraling
llis plonomona. Bolvoon llo mass of llo concrolo and llo spoclacuIar vaI-
uos of llo urollano insuIalion, for aII praclicaI purposos, lloro is no loal Ioss
llrougl llo MonoIillic Domo's sloII.
29
Ior lloso vlo vouId Iiko lo Ioarn moro aboul llis scionco of onorgy vo
suggosl you go lo llo vobsilo of UCIA (vvv.onorgy-dosign-looIs.aud.ucIa.
odu). Il domonslralos vly an R-vaIuo aIono is nol accoplabIo for llormaI
porformanco.
2.7.2. SurIacc Tcmpcraturc ControI
Surfaco lomporaluro conlroI is llo socond roason for insuIalion. In many
casos, il is llo mosl imporlanl roason. I nolicod llis plonomona firsl vliIo
insuIaling polalo sloragos.
Wo lad various cuslomors ask us lo insuIalo buiIdings vill anyvloro
from lvo lo fivo inclos of urollano. Bul llo buiIding insuIalod vill lvo
inclos vouId loId llo lomporaluro of llo polaloos proporIy and jusl as voII
as llo buiIding insuIalod vill fivo inclos. Tlo difforonco camo in llo con-
donsalion. Iolalo sloragos aro kopl al vory ligl lumidily IovoIs. So, buiId-
ings vill lvo inclos of urollano vouId lavo far moro condonsalion llan
lloso vill fivo inclos.
An onginoor from llo Upjoln company oxpIainod llis lo mo. Ho slalod
llal llickor insuIalion is absoIuloIy nocossary lo mainlain liglor inlorior
surfaco lomporaluros. Ono and a laIf inclos of urollano on llo vaIIs and
coiIing of a polalo slorago vouId conlroI llo loal Ioss from llo buiIding, bul
il look a minimum of llroo inclos of urollano lo conlroI llo inlorior surfaco
lomporaluro. Iour inclos vas ovon bollor. Will fivo inclos llo difforonco
is praclicaIIy nogIigibIo. Tlo onIy pIaco vloro vo lavo foIl llo nood for fivo
inclos of urollano vas in insuIaling llo roof or coiIing of a sub-zoro froozor.
2.7.3 Undcrground housing surIacc tcmpcraturc controI vs. hcat Ioss
controI
Mosl undorground lousing gols in lroubIo from moId and miIdov grovll.
Tlo causo is nol onougl insuIalion lo conlroI inlorior surfaco lomporaluros.
RaroIy is lloro a probIom vill lolaI loal Ioss. Walor vapor condonsos on llo
surfaco, aIIoving moId lo grov. MoId makos poopIo sick. Tlo onIy soIulion is
using Iols of insuIalion for lomporaluro conlroI and ignoring lolaI loal Ioss
sinco il is nol a faclor.
2.8 ConcIusion
Lxporionco las laugll mo llal R-vaIuo labIos can bo usod as indicalors.
Bul lloy nood modificalions lo mako llom oquaI lo roaI vorId condilions.
30
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
AIIovancos musl bo mado. Tloy musl slov oquivaIonls. Tloso oquivaIonls
slouId indicalo llal ono incl of spray-in-pIaco urollano oquaIs four inclos of
fiborgIass in normaI inslaIIalions. Ioolnolos lo llo labIo slouId dofino dog-
radalion of insuIalions in roaI vorId condilions. OnIy llon viII llo R-vaIuo
Iairy TaIo bocomo a roaI vorId succoss slory.
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
Figurc 2.8 March 2009 NationaI Gcographic Icaturcs thcrmograph oI convcntionaIIy
insuIatcd homc. Notc hcat Ioss, cspcciaIIy through thc rooI.
31
Iarl 2 R-vaIuo Iairy TaIo
Figurc 2.9 Hcatcd MonoIithtic
Domc shop in Saskctoon,
Saskatchcwan, Canada. Thc
outsidc tcmpcraturc at this timc
was 13 dcgrccs Fahrcnhcit bcIow
zcro (-25C). This is a standard
coIor photograph takcn by a
standard camcra. Notc thc mctaI
buiIdings in thc background.
Figurc 2.10 This picturc shows
thc samc MonoIithic Domc
through thc thcrmographic
camcra at thc samc 13 dcgrccs F
bcIow zcro. Notc thc MonoIithic
Domc is bIack. This is a hcatcd
shop. Thcrc is no hcat Ioss
through thc domc shcII. Thc
door (insuIatcd) is Icaking hcat,
cspcciaIIy at thc cracks bctwccn
thc scctions and aIong thc cdgcs.
Figurc 2.11 Samc buiIding,
samc situation but Iurthcr
around thc buiIding. Notc thc
tcmpcraturcs on thc sidc bar. Thc
bIack is about 25 dcgrccs CcIsius
bcIow zcro (-13F) Thc coIors
dcnotc highcr tcmpcraturcs.
32
Figurc 2.12 Thc back sidc oI
thc MonoIithic Domc shows
virtuaIIy no hcat Ioss as thcrc is
no coIor.
Figurc 2.13 Anothcr
thcrmograph takcn oI thc wcst
Iacc oI thc domc. Notc thc smaII
amount oI hcat Ioss around thc
pcrsonncI door.
Figurc 2.14 IntcrnaI imagc
oI thc shop ncxt door to thc
MonoIithic Domc shop. Notc
thc bIack arcas. This is thc -25C
(-13F) tcmpcraturc showing
on thc insidc oI thc buiIding.
This insuIatcd buiIding shows
virtuaIIy no insuIation aIong thc
mctaI Iraming
33
Figurc 2.15 IntcrnaI imagc oI a
mctaI gymnasium ncar by. Notc
thc bright coIors oI thc studcnt
and thc bcIow-zcro coIors oI thc
cxtcrior waIIs.
Figurc 2.16 This thcrmograph
is oI a 1980 vintagc mctaI buiIding
that is considcrcd wcII insuIatcd.
Thc picturc indicatcs this is truc
Ior a mctaI buiIding. But cvcn this
wcII-insuIatcd buiIding shows
hcat Ioss.
Figurc 2.17 Anothcr mctaI
shop buiIding adjaccnt to
thc domc. Notc thc brightcr
coIors indicatc morc hcat Ioss
(obviousIy) than that oI thc
supcr-insuIatcd MonoIithic
Domc.