Insulation

=Insulation Overview=

Insulation is used to prevent heat and moisture transfer. A house contains a number of types of insulation, including insulation for the walls and roof, insulation for thermal bridges, HVAC insulation, vapor barrier, and plumbing insulation. This pages includes all these types. An important term regarding insulation is R-value. The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating power.

HVAC Insulation Plumbing Insulation Thermal Bridge Insulation Vapor Barrier Wall & Roof Insulation

=**HVAC Insulation**= Insulating HVAC systems is necessary in order to ensure that ductwork is efficient, but a balance needs to be found between insulation and ease of service to prevent mold growth.

1. Cotton/Denim Duct Wrap:
Quiet-Duct Wrap is a lightweight, foil faced, fire retardant blanket-type insulation with multiple uses. The Duct-Wrap offers excellent thermal and acoustical performance and carries a Class-A Fire rating. Made from durable natural fibers, Quiet-Duct Wrap contains no fiberglass and does not itch or cause skin irritation. The fibers used to manufacture the Duct-Wrap offer excellent sound absorption properties and every fiber used is individually treated with an EPA registered anti-microbial agent that offers excellent protection from mold, mildew, fungi, and pests as well as fire resistance. The Quiet-Duct Wrap’s pure aluminum barrier reflects unwanted radiant heat and offers excellent protection from air currents, moisture, and vapors. [|Quiet Duct Wrap (Cotton)]

• Reduces heat loss/gain of air ducts • Made from recycled denim fabric diverted from landfill • Cotton is a rapidly renewable resource • Low Voc’s • No irritants • Resists microbial growth
 * Pros**

(Fire Hazard Classification) || Flame Spread 10 (Class 1) Smoke Developed 20 (Class 1) || ASTM E 84 UL 723 || (Less than 1/5 in./min.) || FMVSS 302 || Reinforced Foil ||  || 
 * Physical Properties ||
 * PROPERTIES || PERFORMANCE || TEST METHOD ||
 * Surface Burning Characteristics
 * Zero Surface Burn Rate || Exceeds Standard
 * Facing || 99% Pure Aluminum
 * Foil Emissitivity || .03 || ASTM E 408 ||
 * Foil Reflectivity || 97% || ASTM E 408 ||
 * Tensile Tear Strength || 100 lbs. ||  ||
 * Pad Weight || 3 oz./s.f. ||  ||
 * Acoustical Performance ||
 * Sound Absorption was tested in accordance with ASTM C 423 using a Type A mounting per ASTM E 795. ||
 * Product |||||||||||||| Absorption Coefficients @ Octave Band Frequencies (Hz) ||
 * Quiet-Duct || 125 || 250 || 500 || 1000 || 2000 || 4000 || NRC ||
 * 3/8" pad || .12 || .10 || .23 || .56 || .81 || .89 || .45 ||


 * Thermal Technical Data ||
 * Tested in accordance with ASTM C177 & ASTM C518 ||
 * POSITION || R-VALUE ||
 * UP || 7.85 ||
 * DOWN || 16.39 ||
 * HORIZONTAL || 9.91 ||
 * R-VALUE PER INCH || 3.91 ||
 * The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating power ||
 * The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating power ||
 * The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating power ||

Sides |||| Length |||| Width |||| Thickness |||| SQ. FT/Bundle |||| Weight ||
 * Available Sizes ||
 * Product || Foil
 * ||  || Ft. || (m) || Ft. || (m) || Inch || (mm) || Ft. || (m) || Lbs. || (kg) ||
 * QDW-475 || Single Side || 75 || 22.86 || 4 || 1.2 || 3/8" || 9.5 || 300 || 91 || 65 || 29.5 ||
 * QDW-415 || Single Side || 15 || 4.6 || 4 || 1.2 || 3/8" || 9.5 || 60 || 18 || 16 || 7.3 ||

Sources: [|Building Green] [|Quiet Duct Wrap]

=Plumbing Insulation=

=Thermal Bridges Insulation=

1. Aerogel
Aerogel to mitigate thermal bridges: here http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/staff/papers/79.pdf see also: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/built-nanotech/articles/-/blogs/853627?ns_33_redirect=%252Fweb%252Fbuilt-nanotech%252Farticles%252F-%252Fblogs

=Vapor Barrier= A dampproofing or waterproofing seal is applied to the exterior of the foundation walls that eventually will be below-ground. Vapor barriers are also used to seal cracks when installing windows and doors.

=Wall & Roof Insulation=

1. Ultratouch Insulation

 * Pros**
 * Does not itch or contain chemicals. Very user-friendly!
 * UltraTouch is also a Class-A Building Product and meets the highest ASTM testing standards for fire and smoke ratings, fungi resistance and corrosiveness.
 * 85% post-industrial recycled materials and fiber
 * UltraTouch offers an extremely high Noise Reduction Coefficient to effectively reduce airborne sound transmission including traffic, airplanes, radios, television, and conversation.
 * Really high R-Values!!!
 * Distributor is located in New York: We need to contact them to see if they would like to sponsor insulation.**
 * []**

**2. Recycled Sheep wool insulation**
This idea is based off New Zealand's use of sheep wool in their 2011 Solar Decathlon House (keep in mind, however, they only scored ~78 in comfort zone)


 * Pros**
 * Higher sustainability than other types of synthetic insulation - keeps in line the idea of sustainability in design
 * Not health hazardous -- safe to touch, install, no hazard to skin/eyes - market appeal to a family
 * Breathable -- absorb/release moisture w/o reducing thermal performance - natural systems/biomimicry
 * Higher fire resistance than other types of insulation
 * Natural design to insulate, save energy -- also great for natural regulation of moisture

sources: []:New York based company that also sales Ultratouch Insulation SOME OTHER COMPANIES THAT SELL IN THE US: [] [] Why wool insulation- []
 * Cons**
 * Sheep are not as abundant in Vermont as in New Zealand
 * Raising sheep produces CO2

**3. Polyiso Insulation**
Polyiso is a closed-cell, rigid foam board insulation used primarily on the roofs.They also supply wall insulation.


 * Pros**
 * Highest R-value per inch of thickness
 * Moisture resistant, water repellent panel
 * Resistant to solvents used in construction adhesives
 * Excellent dimensional stability
 * Superior performance in fire tests – polyiso meets the strict standard of both FM Class Approvals 1 UL 1256/ULC S126
 * Service temperature range from -75 F (-60 C) to +225 F (+107 C) to reflect Canadian and US material standards
 * Long Term R-value (only roof insulation with third party certification)
 * Recycled content
 * Zero ozone depletion potential
 * Virtually no global warming potential
 * Nationwide availability

 []

**4. Hemp Insulation**
According to the standard ASTM/C-518, hemp insulation has 3.5" = R-13 5.5" = R-20


 * Pros**
 * Permeable, it allows regulating the flows of vapour resulting from internal and outside differences of temperature. So, the internal climate of your rooms and their rate of relative humidity are optimized.
 * Flexible and compressible


 * Cons**
 * permeable - water can get in and out



Source(s): http://www.memvegetal.com/pdf/fich_chanvre_en.pdf

5. Recycled denim insulation
Bondedlogic At least 80% post consumer waste from denim insulation. No VOCs. R values ranging from 8-30 depending on the thickness (according to the spec sheet). Made in Arizona/Texas. Spec sheet and material safety data attached in next column. http://www.bondedlogic.com/pdf/denim-insulation/ultratouch-denim-spec-sheet.pdf http://www.bondedlogic.com/pdf/denim-insulation/UltraTouchMSDS.pdf

6. Recycled Plastic
EnGuard 15% post consumer plastic, 35% pre consumer plastic. R 13, 19, or 21 options available. No formaldehyde, carcinogens, or VOCs enguardinsulation.com/downloads/download.cfm?f=EnGuard-Certification

7. Blown Cellulose
Polar Bear 80% post consumer was cellulose (from newspapers). Based in Fulton, NY http://www.polarbearfoam.com/blown_insulation.asp

**8. Mycelium insulation**
Ecovative Rigid board insulation that is still in development. Based in Green Island, NY
 * Pros**
 * Grown on agricultural byproducts, no petrochemical inputs, no spores or allergen concerns,
 * Class 1 fire rating without toxic fire retardants.
 * Fewer thermal bridges.

http://www.ecovativedesign.com/applications/building-products-greensulate/

__Insulation Overview__

Insulation is used to prevent heat and moisture transfer. A house contains a number of types of insulation, including insulation for the walls and roof, insulation for thermal bridges, HVAC insulation, vapor barrier, and plumbing insulation. The purpose of insulation is to trap air and prevent air from moving or thermal bridging.

__R-value__ - is the measurement of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. R-value test for only conduction, does not create circumstances that would cause convection; convection in the air within the insulation. In 1985 an engineer from a Tennessee Laboratory created a test that would prove the mathematical model of the R-value for fiberglass. From 1990 to 1991 the same engineer was hired by DOE to conduct a research on the characteristics of air permeability in several insulations.

__Thermal Bridging__ – heat transfer where a penetration of the insulation layer by a highly conductive or non-insulating material takes place in the separation between the interior and exterior environments. Air at different temperatures across a distance will naturally try to cool or heat to the same temperature. Insulations possess an air-permeability characteristic and trap air.

__Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)__ – are emitted as gases from certain solids of liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short-and-long-term effects on the human health. Some examples are paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, building materials and furnishing, etc.

__Overall Insulation Types:__ Wall (Interior/Exterior) Insulation

__Important facts about insulation__

· Blown-form of insulation is recommended in order to maximize insulation R-value. · Choose products as benign as possible; choose products with larger form particles. · Organic insulations (biodegradable insulations) will decompose inside the lungs, if inhaled. · Spray foams and closed cell polyurethane have no ventilation techniques to remove air particles, does not want to be inhaled in, installers use constant air suppliers during insulation. Ventilation is key! · Boric acid is the best for fire retardant.

· Insulation Guide (ON THE RESEARCH WEBSITE) __www.middleburyresearch.wikispaces.com__

· __Contacts for Insulation__

o Donald R. Young; CEO & Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Aerogel, Inc Phone:(508) 691-1160 Fax (508)691-1140 __dyoung@aerogel.com__

o Steve Harasim; Building and Construction Applications Specialist __sharasim@AEROGEL.COM__

o John B. Unger Murphy; Murphy’s ZERO Energy Building, Murphy’s CELL-TECH LLC 439 Cliff St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 Ofc. Ph: (802) 748-5800 Fx: (802) 748-5808 Cell: (802) 274-4352