What Is the Purpose of Insulation in a Building?
Insulation is a building material that provides resistance to heat flow. This is an energy savings measure that limits the need for heating or cooling.
It reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It also improves indoor comfort. It is used to seal cracks and gaps in walls, floors and ceilings.
It Controls Temperature
In addition to reducing heating and cooling costs, insulation helps to maintain indoor temperature and create an environment that is healthier and more comfortable for people to live in. This can be accomplished by preventing drafts that allow cold air to infiltrate the interior and warm air to escape to the outside, and by limiting the penetration of sunlight through windows.
The amount of heat loss through walls, floors, and ceilings depends on the type of insulation used and its corresponding R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation's ability to slow down thermal transfer. In most climates, the best insulation has a low R-value and is made from fiberglass or cellulose.
Installing insulation by Selkirk Energy Solutions can increase the energy efficiency of any building. However, the amount of energy saved depends on how much existing insulation is in place, as well as the physical capacity of a structure to accommodate additional layers of insulation. For example, adding insulation to a home built with stud framing may be difficult due to the limited space in which it can be installed. The use of structural insulated panels (SIPs), on the other hand, can dramatically improve an energy-efficient new-construction building.
While most insulation is direction-neutral, there are some types that work to keep heat out in the summer and in during the winter. This is because these types of insulation often have a reflective component that, in combination with the traditional insulation, prevents the upward flow of radiant heat.
All insulation slows down convective and conductive heat flow, and the amount of time it takes for thermal energy to change temperature is based on the materials and R-values used in the construction. The lower the R-value, the slower the material will slow down heat transfer.
In addition to lowering heating and cooling costs, high R-value insulation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the demand for fossil fuels and other environmentally harmful resources. It also contributes to a sustainable future for the earth by preserving natural resources. It is most effective to incorporate insulation during the construction process, but it can also be added to many older buildings, and even some newer ones, as long as the building is capable of supporting an additional layer of insulation.
It Controls Sound
Insulation isn’t just about thermal energy – it also helps to reduce the transmission of sound. While most insulation materials will do both, some types will lean more toward one than the other. The type of sound insulation that is needed in a building will depend on the amount of noise and the frequency of it, and it can differ from region to region.
In most instances, sound insulation will be integrated into the structure during construction. Most commonly, insulation is supplied in rolls or “blankets” that are installed as a layer between joists and walls, ceilings, and floors. It may be blown or sprayed in place to fill cavities, and it is often covered with foil face sheeting to prevent moisture penetration. Various materials are used for insulation, including fiberglass, cellulose, mineral fibers, plastic fibers, and even recycled cotton. The best insulation material for a particular situation will depend on several factors, including regional climate conditions and building code requirements.
While all types of insulation are effective at reducing thermal energy loss, some are better than others at reducing sound transmission. To limit the transmission of sound, the insulating material must form a barrier that absorbs vibrations. The more dense the material is, the greater its ability to control sound.
The density of a material can be affected by the method in which it is produced, as well as its composition and structure. For instance, acoustic or foam-based insulation will provide much higher levels of sound control than fibrous or paper-based products.
Some insulation materials also offer fire resistance and impact insulation, though the type of insulation required will depend on how the building is designed and used. The most important aspect of any insulation strategy is that it be properly installed and maintained.
Insulation that is not properly installed can cause air leakage and a decrease in the thermal integrity of the building’s shell. Gaps and cracks can allow cold air to infiltrate the building and warm air to escape. Strips of weather stripping and other sealing materials can be used to close gaps around doors, windows and where different construction parts are attached to each other.
It Controls Moisture
Insulation helps prevent the transfer of moisture into and out of a home. This is especially important in cold climates where condensation can lead to mold and mildew, rot and structural damage to wood members and structures. Insulation reduces the flow of moisture between exterior and interior walls and ceilings. This is accomplished through the use of vapor barriers and insulation materials that resist the movement of moisture between the air in the wall cavity and the cool metal or drywall.
The type of insulation required in any given building will depend on the climate, energy costs and design requirements. While most construction materials have inherent insulating properties, the choice of insulation for a particular building will vary depending on the desired R-value (the measure of resistance to thermal flow) and other criteria such as fire and acoustical performance.
Most people are familiar with fiberglass insulation because they have seen it in home improvement stores and new construction homes. Fiberglass is an inexpensive and effective product that can be used in many applications including framed buildings, attics and wall cavities. It can be very effective in reducing summer heat gain, especially if properly installed and combined with an air barrier.
Other types of insulation include rock and slag wool, cellulose and a variety of other natural and synthetic materials. These materials range from bulky fibers to rigid foam boards. Many also have facings like kraft paper, plastic film or aluminum foil that increase their durability and/or performance. Some insulations, such as radiant barriers and reflective insulation systems, utilize highly reflective foils to help reduce cooling costs by reflecting radiant heat back out of living spaces.
One of the best ways to improve the effectiveness of insulation in a home is to install it during construction or major renovations. This allows the insulation to be placed correctly and prevents the need for tearing down existing walls to install new insulation. Incorporating insulation during the initial construction of a house can result in significant savings through lower energy bills and can often pay for itself through energy savings within just a few years.
It Controls Insects
The most basic function of insulation is to regulate temperature, but it also offers many other benefits, including helping to deter pests. In fact, in many homes, replacing old or damaged insulation is one of the best ways to get rid of bugs and other unwanted pests that may have made their home in your attic or walls. Old and damaged insulation is a breeding ground for pests because of its dark, damp and warm conditions. If left untreated, it can be the home of vermin, rodents, termites, cockroaches, silverfish and other insects.
When selecting new insulation, homeowners and builders should consider the type that will offer the most protection from these pests. While fiberglass is still the most common insulation, cellulose is now often being preferred because it is safer and more effective at deterring pests. Cellulose insulation is a blown-in or loose fill insulation that is typically manufactured from recycled materials (85% of most cellulose products are made from recycled newspapers!) It is treated with borate, which not only makes it a great insulator but it is highly insect, rodent and vermin resistant and mold, mildew and fungus resistant.
In addition to being more comfortable, a properly installed cellulose insulation also saves energy in Kitchener. Because it prevents warm air from escaping during the winter and cool air from entering in the summer, this type of insulation can significantly reduce your energy bills.
If you’re building a new home or replacing the insulation in your existing house, a reputable company can help you choose the right type of insulation to suit your needs. The choice you make will be based on factors such as whether your attic has an access door, the size of the space and whether or not you’re going to be adding other features like doors and windows that will affect the amount of insulation required. For older houses, a home energy assessment is an excellent way to determine the most appropriate amount of insulation for your particular property. This is a service that’s available for free and can be very helpful in making your decision.
Insulation is a building material that provides resistance to heat flow. This is an energy savings measure that limits the need for heating or cooling. It reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It also improves indoor comfort. It is used to seal cracks and gaps in walls, floors and ceilings. It Controls Temperature In…