The Advantages Of Fiberglass Insulation

By Alex D White


Since fiberglass insulation was introduced in 1938, most residential and commercial constructions have adopted its use as the predominant insulation material. It has the ability bring an energy efficient, less costly utilities and comfortable effect on buildings. It is these and many other features that have made it a leading insulation material in most green building projects.

This insulation material is used mostly for acoustical and thermal purposes in attics, wall cavities, and other vital open places in buildings. As such, it has the advantage of value. It costs less installing it compared to other brands, and is preferred because it is the most cost effective option when it comes to thermal resistance, as opposed to spray or cellulose foam systems.

They have the ability to retain the right temperature for enclosed spaces, be they cooled or heated, and as such make the buildings more thermally efficient. With this thermal performance, this insulation lowers the utility costs for owners, allows for greater comfort for the occupants and saves nonrenewable fuel sources. Their effectiveness can be enhanced when used with appropriately sized cooling and heating equipment.

In addition, they offer flexibility in terms of design. You can install greater amounts in some parts of a building to improve the overall thermal performance and make up for the spaces with lower thermal values like doors and windows. It also allows for a wider range of R-values by giving the user more options for national and provincial energy code requirements.

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.

Since fiberglass does not settle and is inert, whenever you do the installation correctly, it may keep up with the R-Value for a very long time. The butts should be installed using the maximum designed thickness always, to obtain the mentioned R-value. Sometimes the fiberglass insulation can lose its R-value, but when you let it restore the initial thickness, you are able to 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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