Knowledge Topics

• Spray Foam
• Hybrid - BIBs
• Ignition Barrier
• Attic Vacuum
• Open vs Closed Foam
• R-value vs Air Seal
• Fiberglass Batts
• Radiant Barrier

FTC’s R-value Rule

According to the Federal Trade Commission, R-value is a number given to a material to represent its ability to resist heat flow. For instance 3.5” of Fiberglass batts has been rated R-13, also 3.5” of Open Cell is rated at R-13. The problem is that these test performed in a laboratory do not reflect what is taking place in and around our homes and other buildings, leakage.

To illustrate, on a hot summer day, take a Styrofoam Beach Cooler which is rated R-2 and full of drinks and ice; if you leave the lid securely in place you will still have ice and cold drinks tomorrow, but if, however, you leave the lid cracked, the ice will be gone very quickly and your drinks won't be cold for long.  The Cooler will still be rated R-2, but if you don’t have an air seal, heat will move freely in and out.

Why doesn't the FTC consider leakage in R-Values?

Because they don't know how!

To quote Angus E. Crane, Executive Vice President, General Counsel of Manufacturers North American Insulation Association, "The FTC declined to incorporate air infiltration or air leakage into the R-value Rule because air leakage could not be uniformly measured in a reliable and consistent manner so as to make it a reliable tool for consumers.  In addition, environmental factors made the measurement of air infiltration unpredictable and therefore unreliable..."

In other words, if you can't measure it, ignore it. We think it is time to update the R-Value rule.

R-Value vs Air Seal

The problem with fiberglass insulation is leakage, often from the day of installation. If not installed perfectly, fiberglass batts do not prevent leakage, and over time, they settle and begin to disintegrate resulting in more leakage. If the person building your house were paying your utility bills, they would NOT be using fiberglass batts but would spray your house full of foam insulation.

To illustrate what is taking place in our homes. You have set your thermostat on the wall and it just stopped running. A little time goes by and it starts again because all the cooling (or heating) you had just paid for had already leaked out. Keeping the temperature from leaking out is our goal. A house with leaks is our enemy. The areas of the house sprayed with spray foam insulation have the leaks sealed.