Information from NAIMA's Residential and Commercial Insulation Committee

Fiber glass batt and roll insulation comes in various thicknesses (R-values). Most common R-values are R-11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 22, 25, 30 and 38. Both batts and rolls are available with or without a facing. The facing material is generally applied toward the ‘warm-in-winter’ portion of the home to help resist the movement of moisture vapor to cold surface where it can condense. Fiber glass batts and rolls are most commonly installed in the sidewalls, attics, floors, crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings and basements of homes.

Fiber Glass and Rock and Slag Wool loose-fill insulation

Fiber glass and rock and slag wool loose-fill insulation is designed for ‘open blow’ applications such as attic spaces or closed cavity applications such as those found inside walls or covered attic floors. Loose-fill insulation is available in two forms – either processed from a by-product of manufacturing batts or rolls, or from ‘prime’ fibers produced especially for blowing applications. Both must be applied using a mechanical blowing machine.

Benefits Of Fiber Glass And Rock And Slag Wool Building Insulation

Acoustics

Fiber glass and rock and slag wool insulations are excellent sound absorbers as well as energy savers. When installed in the walls and ceilings, they can reduce the transmission of sound from other rooms or from the outside. Click here for NAIMA's literature on acoustics.

Energy Efficiency

One of the most important building materials in a home is the insulation. Without the insulation, many of the other energy-efficient components won't perform as intended. A well-insulated home, particularly one that is insulated with fiber glass or rock and slag wool insulation, is one of the most cost-effective ways of saving energy and helping to reduce heating and cooling bills. The benefits from insulation far outweigh the cost, with the ratio of energy investment to energy savings having a range of (12 to 1) per year. This ratio means that for every Btu invested in the manufacture of thermal insulation, 12 Btu in energy savings are realized in the first year of service.

Sustainability

Fiber glass and mineral wool insulations help keep a home tight and moisture-free. Coupled with other good building practices, insulation helps a building last longer. To read more on sustainability, click here.

Thermal Comfort

Fiber glass and mineral wool insulations resist the flow of heat. Heat is a form of energy – it always seeks a cooler area – flowing outward in winter and inward in summer. By reducing heat flow, a properly insulated home uses less energy in winter for heating and less in summer for cooling.

Where Should Insulation Be Installed?

Insulation is not just for attics and outside walls. Insulation should also be installed in other areas of your home such as ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls (especially bathrooms), ceilings or floors for extra sound control.

How Much Insulation Should Be Installed?

The amount of insulation in a home varies depending upon where you live. NAIMA has developed recommended levels of insulation for various climate zones. These recommendations are based on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Energy Conservation Code which is the model building code for the United States.

Click here to visit SimplyInsulate.com to learn about what zone your home is in and how much you insulation you need.

What Kind Of Insulation Should You Choose?

Things to consider when choosing an insulation product include ease of application, thermal performance and value. However, you should also consider the overall lifetime performance of an insulation product as well as its related safety aspects prior to purchase and installation. One way to compare insulation products is to do a side by side comparison which reveals important differences between the two products, which you should consider before making a final decision. See Facts #35: An Insulation Comparison (links below) for such a comparison.

Residential and Commercial Insulation Applications

Air Handling

Residential and Commercial Insulation

Metal Building

Commercial and Industrial

Energy Efficiency Codes Coalition

What Kind of Insulation Do Builders Use on Their Own Homes?

Types Of Fiber Glass And Rock And Slag Wool Building Insulation Products

Fiber Glass Batts and Rolls

Fiber Glass and Rock and Slag Wool loose-fill insulation

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