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* Helping to $ave the Earth's Resources and Protecting the Environment * tm
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Energy $aving
&
Environmentally Friendly Products

Test performed by mrfoil, Energy $aver$ of America.

The ENTIRE PURPOSE of insulation is to STOP / PREVENT
unwanted heat from entering or leaving a structure.

The purpose of this demonstration and test is to show that insulation R Values alone DO NOT ADEQUATELY measure the thermal performance ( heat stopping ability ) and Energy $aving properties of most insulation products. 

The more heat that your insulation keeps inside during winter
and outside in summer  =
More Comfort and Lower Energy bills

Keeping cool and / or warm is simply a matter of
 " HEAT CONTAINMENT " 

That is
 Keeping the HEAT OUTSIDE in the summer
and
Keeping the HEAT INSIDE in the winter.
(Keeping = Containing)

THE NEED FOR  R - VALUE

Should we rely solely on R-Value to insulate our Homes and Business?

 The short and CORRECT answer is NO!

The reason is simple. R- Value does not consider all the heat transfer methods as described. R-Value falls very short of accurately predicting the Energy Efficiency of Walls, Ceiling, Floor and Attic assemblies. Radiant Barriers and Reflective Insulation are rated in Systems R- Values. This takes into consideration all the components within the Wall / Ceiling / Floor/ Attic assembly, including the air spaces within and adjoining.

Think about it, doesn't it make good sense that if the heat cannot come inside in the summer, your A/C will not have to work as hard and as long to keep you cool and comfortable, and doesn't it also make good sense that if the heat doesn't escape outside in the winter, your heater / furnace will not have to work as long and as hard to keep you warm and cozy in the winter ? Of course it does, and this also means much lower heating and cooling cost all year long.

Demo unit is used as trade show demo - utilizes 5 - 250 watt IR clear lamps
that are appox 6 - 7 inches from top surface of boxes

Measured temperatures at tops of boxes exceeded 300 0 F * at 1 hr.
* These test temperatures are far above the normal temperatures your home, office or metal building would normally be subjected to during a 24 hour period. We use these elevated temperatures to prove a point, "if our BTUFOIL tm Reflective Insulation and BTUBUSTERS tm Radiant Barriers can perform this well and stop this much heat transfer, then certainly your home, office or metal building will have FAR SUPERIOR heat transfer / thermal protection ( insulation ) with our BTUFOIL tm  Reflective Insulation & BTUBUSTERS tm Radiant Barrier products, than without."

This heat stopping ability of our products equals much lower heating and cooling bills all year long. Our products are an extremely smart choice for $aving Energy, and $aving money.
BOXES # 1 THROUGH # 3 MEASURES 12" W X 12"L X 9"D

BOXES # 4 & # 5 MEASURES 12"W X 12"L X 6" D

ALL BOXES ARE AT SAME LEVEL FROM HEAT SOURCE

NOTE TO TEMP RISE COMPARISON IN BOX 1 VS BOX 2 - UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THIS INDICATES THAT THE BTUFOIL tm INSULATION ALONE IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING HEAT GAIN / TRANSFER THAN 9 " ( R-30 ) OF FIBERGLASS INSULATION

NOTE TO TEMP RISE COMPARISON IN BOX 2 VS BOX 3 - UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THIS INDICATES THAT THE BTUBUSTERS RADIANT BARRIER IS SHIELDING THE F/G "CEILING INSULATION " FROM THE HEAT GAIN / TRANSFER - THEREBY KEEPING THE HEAT FROM ATTACKING THE " HVAC " DUCT WORK AND THE CEILING INSULATION. THIS RESULTS IN LESS HEAT GAIN INTO THE CONDITIONED AREAS.

NOTE TO TEMP RISE COMPARISON IN BOX 4 VS BOX 5 - UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THIS INDICATES THAT THE BTUFOIL INSULATION IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING HEAT GAIN / TRANSFER THAN 6 " ( R-19 ) OF FIBERGLASS INSULATION IN METAL ROOF APPLICATIONS

To request a free copy of this test in .xls format click here and tell us you want a copy of " DEMO-TEST "

Measured temperatures at tops of boxes exceeded 300 0 F * at 1 hr.

TEMPERATURE READINGS AFTER TIME PERIOD AS SPECIFIED UNDER E.S.A. DEMO UNIT
AMBIENT AIR TEMP IN ROOM 64.4 2/9/2004 7:15 AM









Simulated Ceiling, Wall, Underfloor Heat Transfer 



BTUFOIL tm REFLECTIVE INSULATION
3/16"  FOIL / BUBBLE / FOIL INSULATION ON TOP OF 9" AIR SPACE

BOX 1 BEGIN TEMP 1 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-1 2 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-2 %TR/1HR %TR/2HR
UNIT TYPE RFI / RBI RFI / RBI RFI / RBI RFI / RBI RFI / RBI
 
3 1/2"
62.4 73.3 10.9 79.6 17.2 17.47% 27.56%
5 1/2"
62.8 72.4 9.6 78.7 15.9 15.29% 25.32%
9 " 62.2 69.7 7.5 76.3 14.1 12.06% 22.67%
AVG TEMP 62.5 71.8 9.3 78.2 15.7 14.94% 25.19%








R-30 - 9 " FIBERGLASS INSULATION INSERTED INTO 9 " BOX      
BOX 2 BEGIN TEMP 1 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-1 2 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-2 %TR/1HR %TR/2HR
UNIT TYPE F / G F / G F / G F / G F / G
 
3 1/2" 63.8 227.7 163.9 232.0 168.2 256.90% 263.64%
5 1/2" 63.9 151.9 88.0 163.0 99.1 137.72% 155.09%
9 " 63.1 79.5 16.4 87.2 24.1 25.99% 38.19%
AVG TEMP 63.6 153.0 89.4 160.7 97.1 140.62% 152.73%








Simulated Roof / Attic application




BTUBUSTERS tm RADIANT BARRIER ON ANGLE / TOP OF 9" - R-30 - F/G INSULATION
IN BOX

BOX 3 BEGIN TEMP 1 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-1 2 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-2 %TR/1HR %TR/2HR
UNIT TYPE N T-F / G N T-F / G N T-F / G N T-F / G N T-F / G
 
3 1/2" 62.7 70.8 8.1 74.3 11.6 12.92% 18.50%
5 1/2" 62.9 69.2 6.3 73.1 10.2 10.02% 16.22%
9 " 63.3 66.7 3.4 70.6 7.3 5.37% 11.53%
AVG TEMP 63.0 68.9 5.9 72.7 9.7 9.42% 15.40%








Simulated Metal Roof Application, Residential / Commercial / Industrial


METAL ROOF PANEL RESTING ON TOP OF BTUFOIL INSULATION / BOX + 6" AIR SPACE

BOX 4 BEGIN TEMP 1 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-1 2 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-2 %TR/1HR %TR/2HR
UNIT TYPE M R P RFI/RBI M R P RFI/RBI M R P RFI/RBI M R P RFI/RBI M R P RFI/RBI
 
3 1/2" 62.9 81.4 18.5 88.2 25.3 29.41% 40.22%
5 1/2" 62.9 77.7 14.8 86.2 23.3 23.53% 37.04%
AVG TEMP 62.9 79.6 16.7 87.2 24.3 26.47% 38.63%








METAL ROOF PANEL RESTING ON TOP OF BOX + 6" of  R-19 - FIBERGLASS INSULATION

BOX 5 BEGIN TEMP 1 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-1 2 HR TEMP TEMP RISE-2 %TR/1HR %TR/2HR
UNIT TYPE M R P F / G M R P F / G M R P F / G M R P F / G M R P F / G
 
3 1/2" 63.1 118.0 54.9 123.9 60.8 87.00% 96.35%
5 1/2" 63.1 82.5 19.4 89.3 26.2 30.74% 41.52%
AVG TEMP 63.1 100.3 37.2 106.6 43.5 58.87% 68.94%

Excerpts below from Basic Principals of Insulation

Authorities agree that 65% to 80% of all energy that goes from the warm side to the cold side of a wall assembly, summer and winter, is radiant heat; depending upon the direction of the heat flow (because of the varying role convection plays in the transfer of heat across buildings spaces). Of the remainder of the heat transfer, convection is responsible for 15% to 28%, and conduction ( What R Value indicates / resistance to conductive heat flow  ) is responsible for only between 5% and 7% (see document "Physics of foil".).

And more, the air volume facing the aluminum foil restricts the heat loss by conduction considering that stagnant air is a better insulation on that account than any solid material.

Reflective insulation materials work on a different concept than conventional thermal insulation like foam or mineral wool. In order to understand reflective insulation capabilities, one must be aware that the radiant heat rays of the sun do not become heat until they strike an object such as a home or everything that is in it. Thus, radiant heat rays must be kept out in warm weather; while in the cold weather, warmth must be kept in.

Conventional thermal insulation does not stop those heat rays; but rather, will absorb them and transfer heat. Thus, mineral wool, fiberglass and other thermal insulation will only« resist / slow down » the transfer of heat. ( That's what R Value indicates ) Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barriers, on the other hand,  « STOPS » approximately 70 % of all radiant heat by reflecting up to 97% of the radiant heat rays.What this means is that only 30% of this heat remains, in some cases to be handled by conventional thermal insulation that may be used in conjunction with the reflective insulation products.

R values are commonly used to show the thermal value of insulating material. But it is important to know that R-value is just a measure of heat transfer by conduction and does not apply for other heat transfer ways.

The R-value has no ability to measure the capability of a material to reflect the energy.

Even if reflective insulation materials have a respectable R Value, ( and they do ! ) their first quality is to stop heat transfer through radiation. Those products can stop up to 97% of heat transfer through radiation and provide an excellent temperature control method.

R-value is a measure of resistance to direct conduction of heat, and is a good measure of the effectiveness of mass insulation. The greater the mass, the higher the R-value, therefore the more effective most mass type insulating materials become against CONDUCTION, which is only 5 % - 7 % of the total heat transfer process. See heat transfer .

Properly installed foil insulation, however reflects 97% of the radiant heat to which it is exposed, a factor not matched by common mass insulation nor measured directly by R ­values. In addition, foil insulation also reduces Conducted & Convected heat flow, and is not accected by moisture and humidity.

Therefore, while reflectivity remains constant, this insulation provides a secondary benefit of resistance to conduction (lost of heat through absorption) to varying degrees of effectiveness depending on whether its placement would be affected by Down, Up or Side Heat Flow. That's why this product has three R-values.
Thermal resistance measurements have been made according to the most recent test revisions.  The R-values observed are highly dependent on method of installation.

Typical Thermal Values for Reflective Foil Insulation Products

Heat flow direction

Thermal resistance R value (Hr ft2_F/ Btu)

Horizontal                      R 8.5

Heat flow up                   R 6.6

Heat flow down              R 15.2

R Value measurements in accordance with ASTM C1224 for material installed in a nominal 2" x 4" wood frame wall cavity. Report available.

So, that's why R Value alone is NOT A GOOD MEASUREMENT of a Reflective Insulation or Radiant Barrier's ability to STOP heat transfer, nor does R Value provide an accurate picture of anticipated thermal performance and Energy $aving$ from any type of insulation product.  

Think about it, if R Value was such a good measurement of an insulation's ability to stop heat transfer, then certainly 3 1/2", 5 1/2" &  9 " of Fiberglass Insulation ( Rated at R 11, R 19 & R-30 ) should be able to STOP more heat and have much lower temperatures than our BTUFOIL insulation, ( Rated at R -15.2 ) , BUT IT DOESN'T, just the OPPOSITE is true, the temperature readings are SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN THE BOXES WITH FIBERGLASS INSULATION --- 153 degree HIGHER temp rise in 1 hr,@ 3 1/2"( R 11) --- 78.4 degree HIGHER temp rise in 1 hr,@ 5 1/2"( R 19 ), and --- 8.9 degree HIGHER temp rise in 1 hr,@ 9 " ( R 30 ).

I do not know about you, but I for one have serious doubts about these R Value rating methods. Any rating method that doesn't take into account all the ways heat is transfered, Conduction, Convection and Radiation, cannot be that accurate. Why would you only test for Conduction ( Heat transfer thru solids / liquids) ( 5% - 7 % of the total heat flow ) and leave out the others, Convection ( Air movement )(15 %-20 % thru walls / up to 45 % thru ceilings ) and Radiation (up to 93 % ) ?  More info available here. ( heat transfer methods )

So, my question to you is ; " Why in the world would you spend your money to buy insulation that only " slows the heat down " rather than buying insulation that STOPS THE HEAT ?"


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