Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Benefits Of Using Fiberglass Insulation

By Alex D White


After it came to the market in 1938, fiber glass insulation has been preferred in most residential and commercial constructions as the predominant insulation material. The insulation provides for less costly utilities, energy efficient and comfortable effect on buildings. With this and several other attributes, fiber glass insulation has become a leading insulation material in several green building projects.

The main uses of fiber glass building insulation is primarily for acoustical and thermal purposes in attics, wall cavities, and other vital open places in buildings. One key advantage is value. The cost of installing it is much lower than that of many other varieties and is the most cost effective option for thermal resistance when compared to spray or cellulose foam systems.

These insulations make structures thermally efficient by improving their ability to support the right temperature for enclosed spaces, whether cooled or heated. This thermal performance reduces the utility costs for proprietors, saves nonrenewable fuel sources and provides greater comfort for the dwellers. They are however, more efficient when they are used alongside properly sized air conditioning equipment.

In addition, they provide versatility when it comes to design. You are able to install larger sizes in certain areas of a structure to enhance the general thermal performance and compensate for the spaces with lower thermal values like doorways and home windows. Additionally, it enables for any wider selection of R-values by providing the consumer more choices for national and provincial energy code needs.

The products are built with predesigned R-values that range between R-8 to R-40. If you have loose fill fiber glass, you can incorporate pneumatic devices that can meet around any R-Value specification. The good news is that you can install them over the already installed batt insulation when you are doing renovation projects to add up to the overall R-value.

Because it does not settle and is inert, when you install it properly, it can maintain the R-Value for a very long time. The rolls and butts must be installed by using the maximum designed thickness always, in order to get the stated R-value. Sometimes the fiber glass insulation can lose its R-value, but if you allow it to regain the original thickness, you can restore its full R-value.

The insulation does not have the ability to hold or absorb water. If it gets wet before, during or after installation, it is important to inspect all sides to check if it has been contaminated. If it has not, you should dry it thoroughly to regain its full R-value. Once you have inspected, and fully dried the surrounding of the area to be insulated, you can then install it and it will regain the initial R value.

The insulation is noncombustible because it is made from recycled glass and sand. As such, it is not necessary to add any chemical treatments for fire retardant purposes. It is important to note that many building codes recognize that fiberglass insulation has the ability to stop fire in steel and wood framed wall assemblies.




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