R value is the standard by which all insulation products are typically measured in the US. In the metric system, the equivalent is RSI. Everyone involved in the construction industry relies on R values because there’s no other standardized way to measure insulation performance.
Link to my Patreon page: / belinda_carr
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:28 What is R value?
1:19 ASTM C518 R-value test
2:10 Artificial lab environments
2:50 Air movement
3:39 Steady-state differences
4:00 Effect of water
4:14 Installation issues
4:38 Vapor drive thermal drift
4:52 Thermal mass
5:24 Thermal briges
5:52 Conclusion
EDIT: At 4:29 I meant to say R3.5 not R35. I was tired. Age is catching up.
R-value is the measure of how well a barrier, typically insulation, can resist the conductive flow of heat. It is measured by multiplying the temperature difference between 2 sides of a barrier, the area of the sample and how long the measurement took place, divided by how much heat is lost through the sample. In a multi-layered wall, the total R value is the sum of the R values of individual layers.
The American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM created a C518 Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus. This test establishes the R value of different materials. A sample is placed between a cold plate and a hot plate in a container that’s set at 75F or 24C with no surrounding air movement and no moisture. The test measures the transfer of heat by conduction, convection and radiation.
R values are determined in artificial lab environments, which are nothing like the real-world. The test prioritizes resistance to conductive flow of heat. Most homes are not air-tight, so in winter, the stack effect will cause convective loops through the home as warm air under pressure rises and escapes through the top, requiring an equal amount of cold replacement air to enter at the bottom. In summer, the exterior of a home absorbs UV rays from the sun and transfers it indoors through radiation.
Also, since most homes are not completely sealed off, there are holes in the exterior siding that allow air to be sucked inside. Air movement within walls, in attics and around insulation completely changes the R value. I’ll link a study in the description which showed that a home with R12 foam insulated walls used half as much energy as an identical home with R20 fiber insulated walls.
www.cufca.ca/docs/R-Value%20F...
Another issue is that the R value test does not start until the materials reach “steady states”. This occurs when a material becomes thermally saturated so that for every single unit of heat entering on one side of the materials, a single unit of heat exits the opposite side. Fiberglass insulation reaches steady state within a few hours, but foam insulation can take about a day. Foam has a much greater ability to collect and store heat but this isn’t taken into account in the testing process.
R value numbers do not consider the effect that water has on them. If fiber insulation isn’t fluffed up enough and is squashed into wall cavities, it will not perform the same as it did in the lab. For example, an inch of fiberglass is supposed to have an R3.5 value, but if it’s squashed to .5”, the R value is lowered. The resistance to vapor drive is also ignored in the R value test. Thermal drift is the gradual loss of R value over time when a material slumps due to age or gravity, or loses trapped air.
Thermal mass refers to a structure’s ability to slowly absorb ambient heat, then store and radiate the heat. It can help regulate indoor temperatures and lead to energy savings. This is not considered in the test, so people have resorted to using an “equivalent” R value. Finally, a thermal bridge is a component of a wall, like wood or metal studs and windows, that has a much higher conductivity than the materials around it, like insulation. Thermal bridging can result in a 15% drop in overall thermal performance. Just because you use R30 batt in a stud framed wall, doesn’t mean that you get an R30 performance. 20% of that wall is made of wood that extends from the interior to the exterior which has an R value of only 5 or 6.
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#rvalue #constructionscience #mythbusting #construction #architecture #design
FANTASTIC VIDEO! Well said. This is going to be required watching for all my young builders. (but old guys like me need a refresher too!)
Love seeing my favorite KZhead creators on each others videos. Doing a re-insulation in New Braunfels, wish me luck!
Matt, in Florida we have a lot of homes along the coast that have the first story made of masonary block wall and the upper floors stick frame. I'm preparing to build one like that. Addressing Belinda's point about the insulation value of R22 masonary block wall versus stick frame with Rockwool or spray foam insulation, I would love to see a video from you that shows how you would insulate a build like that, including the sealing of the envelope where the block meets the stick frame. I've seen your videos on sealing at the foundation, but not any where the "join" is up at the second floor.
@@jaxphotobuff9252Did you ever get any further charity on this question?
Just jumped down the Belinda Carr rabbit hole, her videos are very informative and much appreciated
I’m back. Again. The algorithm loves her.
@@xiaoka ...yes Al Gorithm sent me here too. I posted a video asking for advice ....KZhead sent me here.
Add me to the list. She just keeps popping up no matter what I'm looking into!
@@mariagdesjardin1000 There is a guy in the UK...I'll have to get back to you with his name. He does a great job of explaining moisture and problems with insulation. Rather than being focused on one product, he is talking about the Insulate England movement who are gluing themselves to streets. (...this whole insulation business is a heated debate). (Yup..I did that on purpose) His video finally hit home with me. He basically said that we breath hot moisture and that moisture will "seek" out and find a cold surface. Now I add that to Balinda Carr's videos...couple them with a radiant barrier video...throw in that Joe guy..and it is beginning to make sense. Beginning only means I'm back to chasing the rabbit.
@@Dancing_Alone_wRentals Wow, stickier and stickier. Now THAT's a rabbit hole!
Straight to what I wanted to hear. No gimmicks, or clickbait. Liked and subscribed.
Very true. Wish she used her real name.
I agree ... She gives a some very good points to think about
@@AdiGV She has to keep the creepers at bay somehow, lol.
Great info
yep! I don't always agree with her conclusions but she gives enough information that I can draw accurate conclusions with the information available. it is refreshing to see information presented in a way that has no agenda in itself. X may be a poor process for Y but it could be a good idea for Z and if the information is focused entirely on Y you may never be able to apply the information on Z
Air movement is a big problem, Holmes helped me recognize that. So a few years ago my SO and I took apart the walls of the small sun room at her house, mainly to switch from panelling to drywall. With the walls open we saw lots of evidence of air leaks within the wall. So I put silicone sealant at all the joins between the siding and the studs, all for sides in each cavity, then put back the oribinal fiberglass insulation. Holy smokes, what a difference that made! I don't have empirical data, but now that room is quite easy to heat in winter and cool in summer. That's been a big lesson for me, and like TheBuildShow talks about all the time, stop air movement from inside to outside, or outside to inside, this makes a massive difference. So your point about spray foam is on-point! But if joins are sealed fiberglass, rockwool, etc. will perform far better than they do now. Several years ago the Washington Post had a story about a house built for energy efficiency, and every join, even between suds and plates, were first given a bead of silicone, so all air penetration was stopped. Air leaks steal energy!
Great advice & info.
The biggest issue with this is building codes recognizing the difference. Blower door tests, and other things are only now working the way into building codes. Building performance is a system made up of parts and understanding the sum of the parts is as important as understanding the how one part compared to another in a test
Right, a house is a complicated product....manufactured outdoors.
@@mk1stfun fact not all homes are built outside? Check out some awesome prefabrication homes assembled onsite (like IKEA) or some homes made top to bottom in factory's.
It would be great if code did that. Especially for new construction. Even when it is code things get missed.
I haven’t been on the industry too long but I believe there’s been a big push in the last few years to move towards performance based. That being said, it’s a lot easier to test if things like an air barrier works rather than if insulation is working 100%
@@davidprins9401 code does this. Issue is the enforcement is lacking on all fronts. Many of the "professionals" who are hired realize that failing folks is the fastest path to an empty wallet. Integrity is the hardest thing to find and the most valuable for anyone who cares...
I have to say you have a sincere, direct, non-hyperbolic style that is very refreshing on youtube
This has to be one of the most though out and accurate assessments of r value and energy ratings in general I’ve ever heard or seen and I’ve been a carpenter and general contractor most of my life. It’s just explained so well
Problem is... it's full of errors and it's misleading.
@@timhofstetter5654 It'd be nice to know what you're referring to.
@@OneWildTurkey I'd have to go through nearly seven minutes of it, point by point. Just don't hang your hat on it. You'll understand why later. You COULD read my other comments about this video, though; they'd give you a running start.
Your channel is so good! Each topic is condensed into a concise, technical, yet digestible presentation. The information is dense - no fluff. Please keep it up!
I’m sure this channel is going to take off. Every video is so informative
Thank you! Now, if I could only figure out the mysterious YT algorithm...
@@BelindaCarr Apparently, using polls in the community section is a huge boost.
@@BelindaCarr okay, you're going to have to excuse my crazy writing to work around the amount of blocks that YT have put in place to prevent me from telling you about a certain video.....
@@BelindaCarr Search for the video:
@@BelindaCarr KZhead Community Glitch
I’m here to say I’ve noticed you’ve been uploading more frequently and some of your recent videos have been more personal and ever since I’m subscribed your subscriber count has grown 10-fold. I just wanted to remind you’re doing great and that I love your constructive arguments. Thank you for the work you’re doing!
Thanks a lot for your support!
I just happened to trip over your videos today and have been excited by you researching and answering soooo many of the questions that I've had about so many of these building construction/DYI issues that get all of this positive press hype while never revealing the downsides. Thank you so much Belinda, I've subscribed and wait for your next critical and comparison analyses, we definitely need you to help us make those logical decisions in creating a home worth living in and the scrutiny truly necessary for a more sustainable future for mankind!
Such kind, polite, and thoughtful videos!! I love the content and delivery. You have the diplomatic gift to criticize a product/procedure and then provide next steps for improvement.
Great video, very informative. Very important point re wind hitting the walls of the house and impact on insulative performance. We recently swapped out fiberglass in walls and ceiling with open cell spray foam in a room with three exterior walls...huge difference in comfort and draft reduction. Might be similar to R13, but the sealing qualities of spray foam really made a difference.
I like that you use the word performance and take us to a different level of expectation for savings of energy. There is also a relatively new product in the stud feature and it is insulated studs that more or less eliminate the thermal transfer of a standard wall. The studs have a foam core component to achieve this.
I have just discovered Belinda Carr presentations... Clear, concise, facinating, engaging and hghly informative. Thank you
Just found your channel and I am so very impressed! We are in the process of having a Class B RV built (supply chain issues notwithstanding!), and have had to research, amongst other things, toilets, batteries, building systems, and insulation/R-value. You hit everything it took me months to figure out! Wish I had found your channel sooner! Be seeing you!
Hard to imagine a test that can take into account all of the properties an insulation can affect. People need to educate themselves about which insulation will do a better job for the situation they have. Thank you for the help with the education!
And thank you! For being a voice of reason and intelligence. I think Belinda does a great job trying to parse complex questions in layman's terms.
@Nooneinparticular987 _If_ you have shingles on a cathedral roof.... Certainly we should be using open cell in a situation like that. But if you're making the added investment, you should probably make the whole roof system more long term than shingles, by using metal pans or a monolithic membrane like TPO. We incorporate things like strain gauges and electron monitoring in public works. It's kind of crazy we don't have an OBD suite for our housing that goes beyond measuring temperature and energy consumption.
She pointed out how insulation values are basically meaningless for the consumer and even builder.
@Nooneinparticular987 And this is an example of exactly how screwed the building codes are here. A) Unfortunately we are gluttonous here and there is very little old growth or quality lumber left. Red cedar roof shingles curl and split like potato chips even when properly installed over skip sheathing*. Codes dictate vapor retardant house wraps, where you must tape all seams even when properly 'shingled', but then you go put a zillion holes in it when applying shingle siding. Spun bonded olefin (Tyvek) saponifies in the presence of turpenes and tannic acid. Houses with cedar siding rot the OSB right out from under the paper because the soap created destroys bulk water's surface tension and it goes right inside. I _never_ saw this with asphalt felt paper, even on houses 100 years old. But I can't use it by code any more... I mentioned above that housing stock should be turned over. 99.9% of us don't live in castles. And probably less than 1% of American homes have any architectural relevance. Yet, here in New Cannan I see homes by the Harvard Five slated for demolition simply because of the nice lot, and people with money want modern features. This nations oldest buildings (Spanish Colonial, in St Augustine, FL) are probably best forgotten as a symbol of genocide.
@Nooneinparticular987 yes a building system needs to be forgiving and at least fool resistant .
I’m very appreciative of this video!! I own a duct cleaning business in Virginia, and we commonly refer spray foam insulation to our clients that have HVAC systems located in attics and crawl spaces. Your video answered so many questions I had about the performance of insulation under realistic non-lab conditions - particularly in our humid Southeastern US climate!! Ill be sure to save and share your video with all of my future clients that I recommend spray foam insulation for in their homes!
Please do not recommend spray foam unless the roof structure is in prefect condition. As soon as the roof needs replacing (which due to its weather and the insulations lack of) which will be before the spray, it will cost upwards of 1000s more to reace because of then spray. The roofs can be patch or areas replaced but once its sprayed its a case of rip the whole thing up or get used to the leaks. This must be thought of before recommending spray
Have watched 2 of your videos now. Your approaches to problems are both insightful and surprizingly comprehensive. Very impressive young woman you are Belinda. God bless
Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate you explaining what r-value is, how it is tested, and the shortcomings of this system.
This is great. Sad, but informative ;-) Sooo many places for air to escape and/or cold to come in in older homes!!!
You are building an amazing channel. This is so necessary. I was just looking up this info on polyiso foam board.
Thank you!
This video was so helpful, the breakdown was thorough without being overcomplicated. I am doing research and I have no construction background or training so these videos like these are extremely helpful without being too lengthy.
Thank you so much for your educational and thorough research on these important subjects. It is so helpful and practical to all of us. ❤ I am so happy I found your channel. Thank you for doing this necessary work and sharing it with us. Lots of gratitude to you dear Belinda
Belinda just busted the Fiber-Glass ceiling
I like when she was testing sheep-wool insulation batts and commented how it left hairs everywhere -- as she brushed wool hairs from the front of.her sweater with a frown. Real life, man.
HAHAHAHAHAH
It's nearly impossible to have a rating system that covers all situations. But the U.S. could do *far* better than we have. More realistic testing, more comprehensive numbers, pushing the manufacturers of 'legacy' products to innovate. Building lags behind because of inertia in the industry, and how codes are written and implemented. This is a big nation with every climate/geology available. Yet people want a "universal building code" Great! Let's keep sticking absurd conditions on an already complex and convoluted mess. That's got to be better than common sense or personal responsibility, right?
@@ricoludovici2825 If only I had left the camera running when I choked and threw up after recording that video cause I couldn't breathe. Real life! :P
fiber glass is cheap. For good reasons. you get what you pay for
I installed spray foam for years and argued with so many customers about R-value. Salesman would sell 3 inches of closed cell foam in a 3.5" exterior wall. It would clearly say on the paperwork 3"+/-. Some people would complain about some spots only being 2 or 2.5 while other spots were over filled and trimmed not understanding that 2 inches of closed cell is sufficient and far superior than fiberglass for a 2x4 exterior wall. Another job was sold for 7 in of closed cell in a 2x8 framed roof to meet the R49 code which is extreme overkill when spray foam is over 95% efficient at 3 inches. Anything more is a waste. Some people just don't get it. The building codes need to be updated to reflect this. Not all insulations should be in the same category
You will get different results from different people. I'm fussy and would do it myself and try for 2 to 3 inches, more in the edges. That stuff will make a house sturdy and strong spreading the lode evenly through the structure. We have preform concrete with 2 inches of foam inside and out. I'm sure the concrete is 6 and 8 inches. Its the difference between your roof coming off so easily.
@Anna Enjoy paying higher energy costs then. Problems can happen with any insulation type and more times than not often do with standard fiberglass batting. Improper installation is the norm anymore. All it takes is a small air gap where the batting isn't tight to the stud and there goes your R value. Why do you think they build freezers and fridges with foam insulation and not fiberglass or wool? Its far superior.
@@battlebob7241 ... the key here is they do foam NOW but years ago it was fiberglass for almost everything. Some of that is air infiltration but it originally started out as a quicker / cleaner manufacturing process with less waste.
@@battlebob7241 it maybe an incredibly effective material, but it is still an environmental disaster to use
@Anna Watch the video (3:25 time) instead of just coming here to comment. She states that houses using foam use half the energy to heat and cool. Don’t go for the lowball quote from ‘Clem’s Insulatin’ Company’ and you shouldn’t have any problems.
I just wanted to tell you I really like your videos. This is a great channel. Your presentation is always very well done. Thank you for the information you share.
TOP Quality info and presentation, one again. One of the best channels on KZhead on any topic.
Hey Belinda can you talk more about insulation and ways to build for a hot climate like texas etc.. there is almost non-information about this topic anywhere, and nowadays it seems like summer months are being more unpleasant to people than winter. oh and I so wanna see those KZheadr who always talk about R-value face right now
Love this! I hate the R-Value system. I have had huge arguments with insulators re this exact topic. Thanks for articulating the issues so well!
You share so much information. Thank you. Lots of food for thought. And I like how you give non-bias comparison. You’re not selling anything, which I like
A great explanation and very well presented thank you. Has helped me to make some decisions on moving forward with home improvements
This was such a helpful video. Insulation R Values have been so confusing to me. I will be able to use this to help explain to clients why choosing hempcrete is going to make such a huge difference in their energy efficiency.
Hempcrete really needs to be expressed as whole wall value. It has the ability to really stop air infiltration, has some thermal mass and lots of air pockets. So really hit has the best of many different types of insulation. Till more places get access at a decent price it just does not make much sense in the USA at this point. Exterior continuous insulation that is sealed at this point seem to make the most sense for me and seems that codes are pushing it to get to their required amounts.
@@stevepailet8258 Steve you are correct. It acts as a whole wall system and not just a filler if you will. I have struggled to understand how to compare it to other materials and this video just further pointed out to me that just stating an r value does not really describe a materials efficiency in keeping a home warm or cool. The thermal mass of course plays a role. Yes the price is high and probably unattainable for many at this time for the US but trust me there are a group of people working very hard including myself to make it an affordable option here. I'm impressed in your knowledge.
@@kmcroes Since I run a little blog about alternative materials for buildings with 20,000 folks I try to keep up and actually do a massive amount of research
@@stevepailet8258 no way! That's really great to hear. What's the blog. I can try and keep you updated on any new breakthroughs.
@@kmcroes Everything considered we are in need to work with the concept of thermal mass and the concept of thermal fly wheel. The other half of the discussion really revolves around conservation of energy. Leaky buildings do zero to conserve the energy that was used to get the structure to that which is comfortable to its inhabitants. Emphasis on comfortable. IFC builds along with poured concrete or rammed earth or hempcrete all use the thermal fly wheel effect but also do a great job of air sealing to conserve the energy. To me one can spend a great deal on a house but a poor envelope which I actually call encapsulation of the interior is exactly where real $$$ should be used in buildings. The interesting balancing act is to try to keep those costs down to a low roar.
Up here in Wisconsin builders almost always use blown fiberglass in the attics - mainly because it's cheaper. When it gets really cold (as it is today) air moving in/out of the soffits can get down into these fluffy fibers, seriously degrading it's effectiveness. Plus it's so light that it doesn't "fit" around the trusses/pipes/framing etc, leaving big voids underneath - easily seen with an infra red camera. I always advise clients to choose cellulose as it performs much better when you really need it to.
I also highly recommend blown in cellulose for lids.
This is one of the best videos and explanations I've ever seen on KZhead. Awesome Amazing Spectacular Job!
Extremely useful and straightforward. This helped me in deciding what to do for my home currently under construction. Thank you!
Excellent presentation as usual. Plane to use spray foam insulation in new build home.
I always tell people that this is true about everything, "There's a pro and con to everything. Nothing is ABSOLUTELY perfect. You decide which one is the better of two evils . So many builders talk like what they say is 100% Gold.
Bidal, sorry, but you're wrong. Elected politicians in DC have told us the wind and solar are perfect. No defects. No tradeoffs, no pro and cons. Just pure perfection.
Well, if you exclude doing nothing, you can have a thing that is better than another one in all relevant properties, in which case it is pretty unambiguous which one is the better one.
I agree, in construction where I once was... people talk exactly like you say... like they know everything and what they say is gold and anything else used is dog crap. This is why I work for myself and only work with people who are not a-holes. I got out of it because the market here is crap
Thank you for another educational video! Appreciate listening to someone who is well educated on a subject AND is not trying to sell a particular product.
Im always really impressed by your videos. You always have very nuanced and in depth information. I actually learn new concepts/knowledge. So much out there is just basic nonsense. Your channel is top 1%! Keep it up!
It’s definitely time for real world insulation values. I remember visiting fortress Louisberg in Nova Scotia Canada. The stone walls were 3 feet thick in many places. Apparently it was fairly warm in winter and cool in summer due to the thermal mass. Lots of fireplaces for heat and cooking. Also ICF builds seem to use less energy than predicted possibly due to better seal and thermal mass. Foil covered foam also seems to be more efficient too, the claim being reflected heat both directions.
SInce I understand most of the words you are speaking, I always feel super smart after watching! Then a shiny thumbnail distracts me and I click the video of a cat watching another cat watching birds LOL 😍 your channel!
Love this channel. Great content. Keep up the good work. When you do your spray foam series can you quantify structural benefits from closed cell in wood construction? Risinger often mentions it but provides no numbers.
Thank you Belinda, very informative.
Good video. Thank you for that excellent explanation. Is there a particular spray foam you would recommend for domestic use, in terms of open cell/ closed cell, toxic propellant gases, fire resistance, Grenfell towers, etc.
Pretty much every standardized evaluation method we have is based on perfect conditions and can't take into account all the variables.
Yes, you have to set all variables equal in order to compare products. No one is trying to scam the consumer, most of these agencies are governmental or totally independent from he manufacturers.
What a great channel. I logged in just to comment like and subscribe because Belinda didn't ask me to (until the very end) but instead went straight to the point. Wow.
Your videos are just packed with great, useful information presented in a clear, easy to understand method. Thank you! We are considering mineral wool for our ceiling after your comparison video with pink fiberglass. But the additional benefits of spray foam have us reconsidering even work the additional costs involved.
I work in heat pumps and would love your video series on our stuff. A lot of the field vs lab testing has very similar issues. I have heard many manufacturers say ‘oh well, you know....’
How do you expect the lab to replicate field conditions, when every field is different? the rating system must set a standard for all the variables, so when two different labs, persons, countries, etc try to rate a piece of equipment, they come up with a result that we can use and compare. Otherwise, each manufacturer will set the best conditions that fits its design.
@@alneg6234 fair point, yet field and lab values are so divergent as to be meaningless. The answer seems to be to live with mainly pointless tests and never mention it. Mean while no one talks about why buildings don't actually perform or builders don't innovate. There are deep and fundamental problems in the entire sector.
Thanks for making this video! I've had this conversation with clients so many times although I didn't have all of the details that you present here. I've worked on a lot of old homes with fiberglass insulation where cold air can be felt flowing in wherever there's an electrical outlet or other wall penitration. The insulation isn't doing a lot for you if cold air from outside can just flow right through it. Most people think that the r-value is a direct representation of how well whatever insulation they're looking at will stop thermal transfer when installed in their home and it's just not true as you present so clearly here. Do happen to know what the performance difference between fiberglass and denim insulation of the same r-value is? It seems to me that denim is much better at reducing air transfer.
We've got an issue with that in our house right now. Fancy double hung, double paned windows that I need to putty every year. The drafts are not fun and really chill the room they're in.
Another great informative video! I do appreciate these videos, and happy to chip in what I can on Patron.
Next level clear explanations! Most professional videos I've seen.
Time marker 3:30 "an inch of fiberglass is supposed to have an R35 value" Perhaps you intended R3.5?
One inch of fiberglass has an R value of about 3.3. I assumed she had used the metric system when she said 35, but if you divide 35 by 5 you get 7 so that assumption was wrong too. I think she just misspoke the number.
I can confirm ......blue or pink styrofoam insulation can make the warmest of seats in a Yukon outhouse at -50 c
I can confirm that fiberglass batt toilet seat insulation makes the ichiest asses!
@@danielvivian3282 Oh boy! Don't run out of tp and use the insulation!
Lol thats a great testing method
@@lukewarm2075 hahaha....yes , and a proven one at that.....it immediately takes on the temp of your skin and at least makes the inconvenient times a little more bearable in the cold
8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Belinda , thanks for keeping these videos coming ! you make great content videos , I really enjoyed them
Thanks, Leo!
@@BelindaCarr now you got me thinking about home improvement, should I go with a metal garage shed ? Or just build my own with concrete blocks , I feel like if I do it myself will be saving a bit of money and make it with better quality
By far the most informative video I've come across. Thank you
You are pointing out the weakness of the current R value system! Thank you!! We need the "big" picture view of all "truth factors"! It is truly confusing as you have a rating system that is blind to some factors. Along with big business advertising promoting long standing (but profitable) poor products! Atomized air seal along with closed cell spray foam seem to be very promising. But horribly expensive.....there needs to be alot more competition!! just jim
As some one mentioned, there is now an air tightness test. I am sure as time goes on, more test will be used to take into account what mother nature actually does.
Just like anything - even air tightness can become problematic. A friend of mine recently renovated an old country house in Texas. They took it back to the studs, super-insulated it, air tight, etc. It performed great - AC usage was very low. Then the winter came. Every time he tried to have a fire in his fire place it would not stay lit. He had to crack a window to allow air into the room to allow the fire to burn. Modifications to the fire place eventually solved this. My point is that even a good feature like air tightness can create other, unforeseen issues. The more we do - the more we learn.
@@jimnotman6902 absolutely right. I found it fascinating that air tight houses needed calculated conditioned air inlets. A fireplace would truly complicate the issue.
Why would anyone have an open fire going (camp fire) in an air-tight, well insulated home? Seems unneeded and dangerous.
Thanks for providing such an informative and eye-opening analysis.
You are a uniquely wonderful teacher with very informative videos. Thanks.
Agreed theses Tests are truly Flawed. But they're here to a least give people, somewhat of an idea of products and materials and energy values.
True but its kind of the equivalent of telling a color blind person that the sky is blue.
@@theruleoffire your analogy isn't even in the same waters.
@@theruleoffire exactly... @C obviously can’t grasp the concept of something the government told him/her is wrong
I can't disagree that the test may be lacking. However, I also did not hear of a proposed solution to the issue so far. So noting a test has gaps is one thing, but not having a solution to suggest gets us no closer to real answers than the flawed test. So my question to any commenter is, how would you solve the problem of current testing gaps?
@@jeffbeaird747 You must think in black and white and can't comprehend a statement and then make assumptions about @C. Telling a blind person the sky is blue, is a black and white statement, at face value (you are assuming they were always blind and never saw color in the past). A blind person can't see the color of the sky, while we can compare materials based on R value. @C didn't say anything about R value, just about the analogy, from what I saw. R6 foam sheet can be compared to R13 sheet, fiberglass to fiberglass, etc. One product can be compared to another, if you understand the nuances. Belinda said a home with R12 foam uses half the energy of a home with R20 fiberglass. If we had data on R20 foam, then it could be even better compared. A more accurate analogy would have been that it is like asking a person with nearsightedness to read a street sign without their glasses. They can see there is a sign, might see enough to make out a name or know it doesn't match the street they are looking for, but they can't easily identify that street without more work (getting closer). We know a lot about various insulations and can compare them, but we can't easily identify what value they have compared to other types. Gray vs. black and white.
6"-cob wall (adobe) has like a 3-day fire wall rating. That is, how long it takes a fire on one side of the wall to have an affect on the opposite side. Also, has an R-value of r-50- which is commercial-grade.
Are you preparing for an apocalypse? What do you need 3 day fire rating for? 1 hour is enough to get out, and get the fireman working.
@@juzoli have you heard of the wildfires..?no need to be that thick- except to support itself as its being constructed. This stuff hardens as it's heated- still wouldnt wanna find out for myself. It's just how well cob works..clay, silt, and straw is abundant. --look at thatch roofs in the rainy english countryside that have lasted for 4-500 yrs, just by replacing the ridge-cap however often. The apocalypse may be a change, but i dont believe it to be the end (:::
@@zachrawlings6523 That’s good for California, but not necessary for most people.
@@juzoli im not in california. I think youre missing the point
@@zachrawlings6523 Then why are you advocating for 3 day fire rating, if it is completely unnecessary for most homeowners?
This is the BEST video I have seen on the topic. Way better than some contractor with a KZhead… I love contractors and I love their videos, but this is very in depth.
Great video. Well thought out and I love that you get to the point. Thank you!
Fahrenheit, square foot and BTU all at once... shoot me already.
Welcome to America! 😄
We have an idea for the tea you're drinking chap
@Kal Halson So, the USSR, China, Japan and India aren't countries??? AFAIK only _one_ country has landed man on the moon, but let's not let facts get in the way of your stupidity.
@Kal Halson Of what? There's nothing pedantic there. There's also no denying the Soviets had a lunar probe land before the USA did.
@Kal Halson Sad to inform you, the Russian made it there first using the metric system. Took a few plane crashes to stop using incompatible gallons!
Expanding foam in an attic has a major downside. Once installed, it's difficult to remove. That is one reason I went with 16-inches of blown-in cellulose in my attic covered by attic foil. If I need to get to the wiring, I can simply kick the cellulose aside. Cellulose also has excellent fire and insect prevention abilities. The one downside is it doesn't like getting wet. Then it reverts to being paper fiber.
Very well said. Rare to find an individual that looks at everything so completely and understands it!!!
Wow that is an amazing explanation! Great stuff!
This is music to "Thebuildshows" ears.
"Oooon the build show" 😀
@@elwinvanwees8516 I think Matt does a good job trying to advance building and promoting fairly innovative products that are generally good quality. I will say, I get an uneasy feeling for some reason with the heavy use of spray foam though. Not sure why. I just wonder if in 30 years we will regret it's use.
@@jimyeats my concern is the burn rate and the toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
@@lesnewsom6000 Yes, that is definitely a well known - and major - downside of spray foam. Stuff is like a torch.
@@jimyeats Yeah, I'm not a fan of it as well. I've heard in some of the southern states like Florida, builders have stopped using it.. because of a fear of offgassing, that and termites seem to like to tunnel through it.
These myths extend into US patents whose standards of evidence are based on prevailing myths in the patent's industry when the patent is granted.
Reminds me of the Thompson submachinegun when it was first created and patented to use the Blish-lock principle (Metals having different coefficients of friction at high pressure than low pressure.) which lead to a brass locking wedge being placed into the gun to delay the gun from opening until at a safe pressure. Years later it turned out that brass locking wedge was an unnecessary piece and was dropped by the time World War 2 came around.
@@peepsbates ..fascinating! Someone should compile a book of nonsense accepted as "fact" from various patent offices. While this will likely never be done, I would buy a copy.
Glad I found this channel. Always interesting content
Thank you for making this easier to comprehend. Very succinctly explained!
Some insulations actually increase in R value the colder it gets, some get worse.
Simplified testing is like the simplistic "climate modeling" that never gets it right.
I'll take "gets it a bit" over "gets it right" every day if the alternative is "make it up without any supporting modeling or analysis"
Excellent job explaining this. I have bookmarked this and will be using and sharing this often.
You explain everything very well. Keep up the good work.
There are definitely a few problems with the issues you raise. You bring up, more than once, that sprayfoam creates an air tight seal, and say that other insulators do not. This is true, but is a pretty deceptive way to present information. Other insulations get vapour barriers installed, drywall prevents air movement, as does the sheathing on a house, the house wrap, etc. Moving one part of the system, from batt+poly to sprayfoam, doesn't negate there being *a system* - and it's why, when considering sprayfoam, the type of cell has to be considered too. All that, though, is moot, because you're conflating how the wall system (with air and vapour barrier) works, with r-value. R-value has nothing to do with most of the points you try to bring up against it. Whether or not the insulation has a built in vapour barrier has no effect on the r-value, if you are comparing that *system* against one where a vapour barrier is installed as well. You like to say how rigid foam blocks air better, but it's actually *worse*, especially in any application other than 100% continuous. If you tried to put rigid foam between studs, you'll never get a seal. What you do, at the end especially, is compare more elements of a system, against fewer elements of a system. And that's just misleading. And then I had to go read that "study" you linked to... page 5 they "tested" 6 inches of loose fill attic at -18f. Who, anywhere, insulates to only 6" in an attic, especially anywhere that gets down to -27c or lower? All their 'sources' are anecdotal. This is not "a study", this is an 11 page rant, and a particularly poor one. Attic convection loops? Because you didn't build the system properly with venting, maybe. But you have way worse problems if you do that.
I love your videos. Very educational, informative and reflective.
Wow - super informative! Thank you for the great information.
Thank you so much for this explanation video many of us didn't know many standards and regulatory, and industrial terms and basics, It's been a great video for me, thank you.
Please, if you could just make a video about everything, thank you! I sincerely want to let you know that your intelligent dissection of any topic is super appreciated! I have learned so much from you in a concise no fluff format. Great job and I hope your channel takes off even more!
I've long suspected this, thank you for sharing!
Love the discussion, I have always thought there was something missing in the R value calculation. Certain products do have a higher ability to resist the flow of heat, yet don’t have a higher R value than those products the don’t resist the flow as well. I have studied the Passive House method of insulating and creating an air tight method of home building, yet allowing for breathability outwards and resisting moisture permiablity inwards. Fascinating stuff
Another very informative video, thank you!
Absolutely fantastic video, strait to the point... I Am vary glad that you are doing this work, and I think your conclusions are spot on. Thank you.
Information that I never knew on how insulation tests are done. Brilliant. Thanks.
One of the best videos I have ever seen on this topic. Liked and subscribed
Love this channel. Your information is spot on, keep the videos coming. On an other channel, one that is strictly about spray foam insulation they talked about the misnomers of R value. It was a recap of everything you just stated here. They also talked about a new testing standard, a Real World Value. One that takes into consideration things like weather, how the insulation was installed, air gaps and voids and opening in the structure, no building is completely sealed off from the environment. And the effect moisture and settling has on insulation. One of the first things about the real world test, is fiber type insulation is lower than its rating even before it is installed. The worst of the fiber type is blown insulation, compaction is the biggest problem. But even if fiberglass insulation is installed currently say an R20, it’s real world rating is something more like R17 before it’s even installed. What the study found over a set of averages it can be as low as R8 do to errors in structure and how it was installed. Blown in insulation on horizontal surfaces likes attics, do even worse. And with in 3 years do to settling, can lose half of there original R value. Contrast that with spray foam, what you had at installation is what you will get. Provide it was installed by a trained professional, spray foam is not a DIY product. Also in the way the thermal dynamics works in spray foam, the R value is actually much higher than the R value tests reflect. And there is one thing about spray foam not mentioned here, but spray foam can improve the rigidity of a structure, making walls stronger. From what I’m finding the only problem with spray foam is installation cost. But over the useful lifetime of the structure spray foam is much cheaper, you can recoup the costs of installation within a couple years in energy savings alone. Good video, keep them coming.
Really great information explained simply so that it much easier to understand! Thank you!
Thanks, Belinda I am studying for a contractors license and your videos are very helpful.
Thanks Belinda . you are my 'go to ' from now on . What belinda doesn't know isn't worth knowing x
You parents must be proud! You are an amazing source of knowledge and you explain very well. You are priceless, thank you for your dedication 🙏
You're awesome!! Great info and perspective ♥️
You clearly described in a mere seven minutes what I've been confused about for the past thirty years! lol Great job and thank you!
very good analysis Belinda... thank you
Excellent video! I don’t normally comment on videos, but I really like your presentation and analysis
Ms. Carr with another episode of construction deep thoughts. On point as always.
Your videos are great! Keep at it. Thanks.
I woke up to go pee,, decided to watch one of your videos, and have just watched 6 of your videos from 3am to 5am, instead of sleeping. Your videos are that great. I just changed my camper insulation that was happening next week, all thanks to you. I have liked all of your videos and subscribed. Thank you Miss. You
From an engineering point of view, this is a fantastic anf well prepared video. Excellent work.