What is Meant by K-Factor, R-Factor and C-Factor?
K-Factor (Thermal Conductivity Factor) – The measure of heat in Btus that pass through one square foot of a homogeneous substance, 1 inch thick, in an hour, for each degree F temperature difference. The lower the K-value, the higher the insulating value. Textbook definition: The time rate of steady heat flow through a unit area of a homogeneous material induced by a unit temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to that unit area. Insulation materials usually have K-Factors less than one and are reported at what is called Mean Temperature. To determine the mean temperature, measure the surface temperatures on both sides of the insulation, add them together and divide by two. When comparing the insulating value of different types of insulations, it’s important to look at K-Factor and the mean temperature. As mean temperatures rise, so does the K-Factor.
