What is Reflective Insulation?
Reflective insulation, usually composed of aluminum, is also known as a radiant barrier. It resembles metallic foil and has a reflective surface. It is very versatile and easy to install. When using reflective insulation, its main objective is to block radiant heat from transferring across open spaces. Reflective insulation lowers energy bills in the summer, especially in the hotter climates. It can also be used in some cases to lower heating bills. Each type of insulation on the market comes with an R-value. The R-value is rated according to a piece of insulation’s thickness and density. The R-value of reflective insulation is measured by how the heat flows in the home. Radiant barriers are similar to all other types of insulation because they lower the amount of heat that enters or exits a home. Other types of insulation trap air inside the insulation, not allowing it to escape. Reflective insulation works to decrease the flow of heat throughout an open airspace. Reflective insulatio
While other types of insulation are made to resist or impede the flow of warm air, reflective insulation reflects back radiant (infra-red) energy from the sun so it does not penetrate the building. It can also reflect back radiant heat inside the house so it does not escape. The concept is simple: each unit of radiant heat energy that is reflected away from your home in summer and each unit reflected back inside during winter means less operation of your air conditioning and heating systems, less wear and tear on your equipment, and less money you pay in utility costs. Reflective insulation is commonly made of either aluminum foil attached to some sort of backing material or two layers of foil with foam or plastic bubbles in between creating an air space to also resist convective heat transfer. The aluminum foil component in reflective insulation will reduce radiant heat transfer by as much as 97%.
While other types of insulation are made to resist or impede the flow of warm air, reflective insulation reflects back radiant (infra-red) energy from the sun so it does not penetrate the building. It can also reflect back radiant heat inside the house so it does not escape. The concept is simple: each unit of radiant heat energy that is reflected away from your home in summer and each unit reflected back inside during winter means less operation of your air conditioning and heating systems, less wear and tear on your equipment, and less money you pay in utility costs. Reflective insulation is commonly made of either aluminum foil attached to some sort of backing material or two layers of foil with foam or plastic bubbles in between creating an airspace to reduce convective heat transfer also. The aluminum foil component in reflective insulation will reduce radiant heat transfer by as much as 97%.
Heat flows from a hot or warm medium to a cold medium in three ways: • By radiation from a warm surface to a cooler surface through air or a vacuum using infra-red heat rays • By conduction through solid or fluid materials resulting from direct contact • By convection, which involves the physical movement of air – warm air rises Heat moves through wall cavities or between roofs and attic floors by a combination of radiation, conduction, and convection with radiation being the dominant method of heat transfer. Research shows that control of radiant heat transfer is the core of heating/cooling climate control. Radiation is accounts for 65-85 percent of all heat transfer through walls, ceilings, attic and floors. Reflective insulation is an effective barrier against radiant heat transfer because it reflects back almost all of the infrared radiation striking its surface and emits very little of the heat conducted through it. Reflective insulation products also incorporate trapped air space
