When designers are deciding which insulation products to specify for a given project, two questions come to mind: ‘What is the R-value?’ and ‘What is the permeance?’ The answer to both these queries is,...
Tag: Insulation
The effect of temperature on insulation performance
(05/28/2015)
On the surface, R-value is a simple thing. In fact, it has become the standard metric of thermal performance precisely because it is easy to explain and understand. Most insulation materials have ‘label R-values’...
Insulating solid masonry for heritage projects
(03/20/2015)
Many buildings with solid or load-bearing masonry walls employ interior insulation retrofit strategies as heritage significance precludes work from the exterior. However, adding insulation on the interior side of these solid walls may result...
The road to energy independence is paved with conservation. In spite of new methods of producing ‘clean’ energy, nothing beats conservation as the most cost-effective solution. This is why recent changes to building codes—such...
Interest in energy-efficient buildings is alive and well in Canada. A majority of building professionals surveyed (56 per cent) report that more than 30 per cent of their current projects are considered by them...
Designing enclosures from the outside in
(11/24/2014)
There are well-established best practices for delivering energy-efficient buildings on the path to net-zero. After site selection and building orientation, perhaps the most important consideration is the building enclosure or envelope. Next, the energy...
The construction industry has witnessed an ongoing trend toward large-dimension material panels over the last 60 to 70 years. A pattern of 1.2 x 2.4-m (4 x 8-ft) sheets of oriented strandboard (OSB) and...
Insulation’s role in controlling noise
(07/09/2014)
Acoustical management is a challenge for both design professionals and building occupants. A certain level of background sound within a building is expected, and generally contributes to a pleasant ambient environment. Unwanted noise can...
Thermal bridging at brick ties
(04/14/2014)
Insulation placed in the exterior air cavity between brick veneer and a backup wall is now common practice; however, accounting for the reduction in thermal performance as a result of thermal bridging at brick...
A focus on green building standards and more stringent code requirements has led to adoption of best practices in construction materials and methods. Among those is specifying more efficient insulation systems, air barriers, and...
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