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Radant Barrier isused around the World!

Common Questions And Answers about:
RADIANT BARRIER

The Following are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about radiant barrier (RB). We have tried to answer them in the simplest and least technical way.


HOW DOES RB WORK?

Radiant barrier is unlike mass insulation which slows down heat transfer. RB reflects heat. Heat always goes to cold by natural law - the problem is how to keep heat in in the winter, and how to keep it and out in the summer. There are three ways in which heat goes from warm spaces to cold spaces...CONDUCTION is direct heat flow through a solid objects like a wall or ceiling. CONVECTION is heat movement through air, occurring when air is warmed. The warm air expands, becomes less dense, and rises. RADIATION is the movement of heat rays across air spaces from one warm object to another cooler object. The heat from a wood stove or a quartz space heater is radiant heat. ALL OBJECTS AND BODIES GIVE OFF RADIANT HEAT! Even the insulation in your attic gives off radiant heat to the cold attic space in the winter, and to the living space in the summer. Regular insulation won't stop radiant heat loss! Radiant heat must be REFLECTED with radiant barrier.


WHAT IS THE "R" VALUE OF RB?

The "R" value depends on the number and size of the airspaces surrounding the RB and the direction of the heat flow. Since RB is usually installed on the top of the existing mass insulation, its R-value is a moot point. It is RB's ability to reflect radiant heat that makes it such an energy saver.


HOW DOES RB KEEP ME WARMER IN THE WINTER?

Just like wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil keeps a potato warm longer by holding heat in, covering your attic insulation with RB holds the heat in the house. Another analogy would be that RB in the winter works just like a space blanket, which, although very thin and lightweight holds your body heat in. A thin space blanket can keep you warmer than several heavy blankets.


OKAY, RB KEEPS HEAT IN IN THE WINTER,
HOW CAN IT KEEP IT OUT IN THE SUMMER?

Just like a space suit, RB reflects the sun's heat before it can warm up the insulation in your attic. When the insulation stays cooler, your house will stay cooler. It helps to understand how RB will work for you if you think of other things that work in much the same way; ASTRONAUTS SPACE SUITS - keep body heat in, and reflects the sun's heat away; THERMOS BOTTLES - keep hot things hot and cold things cold. They are almost perfect insulators. The tight seal and air space prohibits heat transfer by conduction and convection. The reflective surfaces inhibits radiation heat transfer. If the bottle starts out hot, it stays hot because very little heat is transferred to the cooler outside. If it starts out cold, it stays cold because very little heat is transferred from the warmer outside.


WHAT IF RB GETS DIRTY OR DUSTY? WILL IT STILL WORK?

This very issue is currently being studied by a research institute. Of course, if the surface of RB is completely obscured by a thick layer of dust, it will lose its effectiveness as a reflector. However, in the real world, most attics don't accumulate enough dust to affect RB's ability to save energy costs. Thousands of homes have had RB installed for along as ten years with no significant dust accumulation.


WON'T MY ROOF GET HOTTER WHEN I HAVE RB IN MY ATTIC?

No! RB just changes the direction of the heat, in the summer out, and in the winter in.


DO I HAVE TO TAKE MY OLD INSULATION OUT TO PUT RB IN?

No! RB actually makes your present insulation more effective.


WHERE DO YOU INSTALL RB?

RB can be laid over your present insulation like a blanket or stapled under your rafters or crawl space. Consult us for you best application.


WHAT ABOUT FOIL~FACED FIBERGLASS?
ISN'T IT JUST AS GOOD AS RB?

No! The foil on the fiberglass is in direct contact with the attic floor. Aluminum foil conducts heat when in contact with a surface. The air space facing the foil surface is of primary importance.


WHY COULDN'T I JUST PUT PLAIN KITCHEN FOIL IN MY ATTIC?

You could, and it would work, to an extent. But be very careful because kitchen foil tears easily, and don't forget to put holes about every = inch apart. Kitchen foil is 75% tin and it will conduced heat. Have you ever been it a tin building on a hot day? It gets hot fast!


I ALREADY HAVE PLENTY OF INSULATION
IN MY ATTIC. DO I REALLY NEED RB?

Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic, adding RB could save on your heating and cooling expense, and keep you much more comfortable. Energy savings for heating and cooling can vary from 10% to 40% depending on a number of factors including climate, age of home, building configuration, materials used, family size and lifestyle, etc. Most buildings will benefit from using RB. Your dealer has been trained to evaluate your house or business and advise you of your savings potential.


HAS RB BEEN TESTED BY A QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT LABORATORY
OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY?

The Florida Solar Energy Center at Cape Canaveral has tested radiant barriers in both small scale laboratory and full scale building models. Their results indicate that radiation barriers can provide significant resistance to heat transfer. Other tests conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge Laboratories in Tennessee, and the University of Mississippi support the findings at the Florida Solar Energy Center. Northeastern Illinois University conducted winter tests in residential and commercial structures using infra-red thermograph photography. The photos showed significant resistance to heat transfer over the regular insulation.


WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION?

RB is made of 99.5 pure polished industrial strength aluminum on both sides and separated by an 80 lb. kraft paper scrim. That way it will reflect heat not absorb heat. RB comes in two widths 2 ft or 4 ft. If you have an open attic you would use the 4 ft. It is sold in 500 sq. ft. increments. RB can be drop shipped right to your door.


WHAT IS THE PRICE?

The price is depending on how much you need. For a price list
Click here.
We will not be undersold!

Please include your City and State. We need to know how many sq. ft. you would like. RB is shipped 500 sq. ft. per roll, 2 or 4 ft. wide.


WHERE CAN I GET RB?
Ernie

P.O. Box 181
Atlantic, IA 50022-0181
712-243-4352

E-mail