[Ferro List] Supertherm Insulation

[dl]

Twenty years ago it was R19 EQUVALENT as the Southern Solar Inst. did a run with full spectrum reflective material and measured it as the same as adding 6 in of fiberglass  on a ceiling.
The method of installation makes a big difference - an air gap of 3/8 ths inch adds a factor ( 3 if I remember correctly ) - a spacing of the same cross section of the soffet vents gives solar powered ventalation with a ridge vent. It comes back to placing the radiant barrier where you want to keep the heat, same as the vapor barrier. The sales weasels have a real problem with the tech end of the spectrum.

Thermal mass - chose your flywheel, for the desert a 12 hour delay because of heat storage in thermal mass ought to be the start because it gets chilly when the sun goes down and starts heating when it comes up and the average is only a little above comfortable. With no thermal mass - as a camper - heat or a jacket at sundown and an A/C unit by early morning. North of the temperate zone  I think a 72 hour flywheel to be able to wait out a storm is a good plan. More is better and living in a mine drift approaches excellent but I understand other people want windows.

Insulation, vapor barrier, radiant barrier, thermal mass, air exchange, light,... just a few of the elements of a comfortable place, all interdependent and mostly done as a different part of construction for each.

Cut off air infiltration and provision will need to be made for oxygen to breath - just as an example.

dl  




-----Original Message-----
>From: Christopher Glasspool <chrisglasspool at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Jan 2, 2008 2:26 PM
>To: list at ferrocement.net
>Subject: [Ferro List] Supertherm Insulation
>
>Janoahsh,
>What might be misleading is the term 19 RE (R value enhancement). I think this is thier own term, not a industry standard. I would feel better about the claims of this insulation if they described it as 90% UV reflective, and .05 R value or whatever per coating thickness. Some reflective foil claims give an R value, but that is deceptive as it only applies to heat transfer. What they don't say, and nobody does is that insulation is a manipulation that should be managed for the climate you live in. Taking into account things like the heating and cooling days per year, and the temperature swings between day and night. You might not want much thermal mass in a high desert climate - where the need is to cool quickly once the sun is up, and you may decide not to reflect the suns waves away in a house on the coast of Alas