Are you looking to improve your building's energy efficiency and make it more environmentally friendly? Then you need to know about R-value. Ensuring your building is insulated with the correct R-value reduces energy requirements and can translate to lower energy bills.
Learn what R-value is, how to determine what R-value you need, and how to win more jobs as a contractor by understanding the building owner's energy efficiency and sustainability needs.
What Is An Insulation R-Value?
The R-value is a rating that indicates the conductive heat flow resistance of insulating materials. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.
Using insulation with adequate R-value for your building helps improve sustainability and lower energy bills. If your facility requires less energy to heat and cool, you can use lower-capacity HVAC units and potentially reduce your overall carbon footprint. Also, adequate insulation helps improve the inhabitants' comfort and well-being, which is especially important for commercial buildings with round-the-clock operations.
Here is a quick summary of essential facts about the R-value metric:
1. R-value represents the resistance to conductive heat flow through the insulating material.
2. R-value can be increased by using thicker insulation, or by adding multiple layers of insulation.
3. If you compress the insulating material, the actual R-value will decrease. Compressing insulation squeezes the air gaps responsible for the high R-value of the material.
4. Thermal bridges also reduce the overall insulation effectiveness. For example, structural elements or plates and fasteners don’t resist heat transfer as strongly as the insulation. So, heat transfer occurs faster through these uninsulated elements.
Heat Transfer and How a Correct R-Value Prevents It
Now, let's explain exactly how the R-value ties into preventing heat transfer through a real-world example — roof insulation.
Heat naturally flows from hot to cold in three ways: radiation, conduction, and convection.
Radiation heat transfer occurs between all physical objects. The hotter object emits infrared waves, which hit the cooler object. This impact speeds up the atoms of the cooler object until it becomes as hot as the first object.
In our example, the sun's rays heat the roof surface through radiation. If the roof is not insulated, the ceiling beneath it will radiate heat into the building's interior. The added heat reduces the comfort level and frequently triggers HVAC heat sensors.
Conduction heat transfer occurs between matter that's physically connected. The hotter object's atoms move faster than the cooler object's. So, when the two come into contact with one another, the hotter object's atoms and cooler object's atoms collide, transferring the speed from the faster moving object to the slower one until they are equally hot (equal atom movement).
For example, a hot metal roof surface heated by the sun's radiant heat will transfer heat conductively to the insulation beneath it and the structural members. However, if the roof uses a high R-value insulation, the conductive heat transfer will be extremely slow, and the ceiling will be significantly cooler. As a result, the ceiling will radiate far less heat into the building interior.
Convection heat transfer is responsible for the heat movement in gasses and liquids like air and water. The hot air or water rises while the cool medium is drawn to the lower level.
Let's now switch seasons in our example. If it's winter and the building interior is heated, the hot air will flow to the ceiling. A poorly insulated roofing system will conduct heat to the roof's surface, radiating it into the outdoors and making your heating bills skyrocket.
To insulate your building correctly, you need to prevent conductive heat transfer with insulation. Insulation materials resist rapid heat transfer — the heat moves slowly through high R-value insulation.
What R-Value Do I Need?
Minimum R-Value requirements for low-slope commercial roofing for both new and existing roofing vary by province and by city, so, you should always consult with your local jurisdiction and contact an Elevate sales representative for help with determining the necessary R-value. According to The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, the R-Value in Canada ranges from R-25 to R-40.
Elevate ISOGARD™ Polyiso Insulation
Elevate ISOGARD™ polyiso insulation is the first product on the market that meets both ASTM C1289 required and recommended thermal performance values, providing the highest R-Value per inch of common insulation systems making it a smart investment for your building.
The Elevate ISOGARD™ formulation performs up to 40% better than competitive ISO products at lower temperatures.
"A thermally efficient building envelope has far-reaching benefits," notes HMC Architects. "Not only does it reduce energy consumption and costs, but it also gives building administrators better control over the temperature in spaces, which increases occupant comfort."
More Versatility For Every Project
The ISOGARD™ family includes six product variations to match your project's unique needs. Contact a local Elevate representative for help selecting the right one for your roof.
- Elevate ISOGARD™ GL: Especially well-suited insulation board for FM approved, and UL classified direct-to-deck applications/assemblies without an additional thermal barrier in most installations.
- Elevate ISOGARD™ CG: Insulation panel with exceptional fire and mold resistance; lightweight and compatible with all roofing systems.
- Elevate ISOGARD™ HD: Provides the highest thermal performance of any ½" cover board on the market; combines impact resistance, mold resistance, and energy savings into one easy-to-install package.
- Elevate ISOGARD™ HD Composite: ISOGARD HD cover board laminated directly to Elevate standard ISOGARD insulation, providing a high-performing insulation board for building owners and time and labour savings for installers due to not having to adhere another layer.
- Elevate ISOGARD™ HG: Insulation panel with HailGard protection; helps protect against accidental punctures, hail, and winds up to 160 KM/H; suitable for EPDM, TPO, modified bitumen, and metal roofing systems.
Elevate Is Here For You
Contact your local Elevate sales representative if you need help identifying the best R-value for your project, province, or climate zone.
We are here to answer your questions and help you find the correct insulation solution for your next project.