Radiation is when energy emits from a source and “radiates” elsewhere. Radiative heat transfer is minimized by spray foam insulation. Radiation is also minimized by highly reflective surfaces such as spray foam, but because most insulation occurs internally to walls, this is less a factor than conduction and convection.

R-value does not take into account air movement, or convection. In a landmark study performed by Richard S Duncan and Roger Morrison with the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance and the American Chemistry Council determined that SPF walls exhibit nearly 10 times less air leakage than walls insulated with fiberglass insulation under a simulated 15 MPH wind load.

In summary, spray foam is one of the best performing insulators available today using any and all of the above measurements.

R-value is a test performed under laboratory conditions and measures resistance to heat flow. The testing methods were developed by the American Society of Testing and Materials, and must be performed at a mean temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a temperature differential of 50 degrees, plus or minus 10 degrees. These tests must also be performed on aged material for spray foam products. More information on these testing standards may be found here on the e-CFR website.

What are typical R-values? Here are a few:

Nearly all closed cell spray foam has higher r-values because it traps insulating gases in the foam. These insulating gases conduct less heat than air, which is an integral part of most insulation.

1. Check dampers. A stuck damper can result in much more dramatic temperature imbalances in your building.
2. Check thermostats. A problem here may not necessarily be caused in the area where the problem appears. One misadjusted thermostat may affect areas on the other side of a wall for instance, or may draw too much heating or cooling away from a more sensitive area such as an external office.
3. Examine cubicle and seating arrangements. If a VAV diffuser is blowing directly above someone’s head they’re going to experience dramatic fluctuations. Similarly, cubicles located adjacent to external doors will also experience similar issues.
4. Examine window treatments. Shades or blinds for windows in the summer may be a detriment in the winter.

One of those areas has to do with maintaining a consistent temperature environment. By installing spray foam insulation and roofing you’ll go a long way toward achieving this goal. By establishing a solidly insulated perimeter for your building, you help ensure that the peripheral areas of your structure remain at a much more even temperature and experience fewer wild temperature swings.

These temperature swings are typically caused by the outer areas of the structure transferring heat quickly. Air is a fairly good insulator and so it may take some time before the temperature change reaches the sensor, meaning that the temperature may change substantially near the periphery of the building before it is detected in the inner areas of the building. This means the HVAC system is always playing catch up and the external areas of the building are less comfortable.

Spray foam insulation slows down the heat transfer process, allowing your HVAC system to sense changes before they’ve changed dramatically in the periphery, and thus stay on top of and minimize these fluctuations.

Spray foam provides a continous surface wth no edges, seams or joints that is self adhering, protects from water, and resists high winds, missile damage, and penetration.

Here’s a summary of some of the differences:

The Rocky Mountain Institute is at the forefront of sustainability and energy conservation. They call themselves a “Think and Do Tank”, because they not only research and educate, but they also develop and consult. It is an honor and a great testimonial for Kohls Foam Systems to have been selected to install this new roof.

Here’s some additional information about the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Rocky Mountain Institute official site

Wikipedia – Amory Lovins

Amory Lovins’ New Roof

In 2009 Kohls Foam Systems was selected to replace the the roof on Amory Lovins house, the original headquarters of the Rocky Mountain Institute, with an energy-efficient sprayfoam roof.

Go here to see photos and more information about this unique building.

25% of heat loss in a typical three bedroom home is through an uninsulated roof. If you have a typical attic, your attic insulation is on the floor and the air is allowed to freely flow through your attic space. By simply adding spray foam insulation to the underside of your roof deck and closing up the air flow you can save money and decrease the risk of ice damming at the same time!

35% of typical home heat loss is through uninsulated walls. Many people ask about injecting foam into wall cavities behind dry wall, but this is not a good idea; the expanding foam will actually push your drywall away from your wall. There are some cases where spray foam wall insulation makes huge sense, however. If you have a room with wood paneling, the paneling can be removed, spray foam insulation installed, a fire barrier installed, and the paneling replaced. If you are adding an addition, spray foam insulation will likely make the new room(s) the most energy efficient and comfortable in the house.

In some cases it makes sense to remove the drywall and install spray foam. Many 70’s era or earlier houses with drywall were installed with substandard or no insulation in the walls. In some cases this is obvious; we’ve seen cases where the inside wall ‘sweats’ in the winter and ice forms along the baseboard. Another case can occur when the building structure has been compromised, such as through a leaking roof, and the insulation then degrades. If you have a room that’s particularly cold in the winter or warm in the summer, then it may be experiencing one of these problems, and may be a good candidate for removing the drywall and installing energy efficient spray foam insulation.