Tri Co - The Roof Insulation Company - Perth Western Australia

Insulation products come in two main categories – bulk and reflective. Composite bulk and reflective materials are available that combine some features of both types. Examples include reflective foil faced blankets, foil backed batts and foil faced boards.

Bulk Insulation traps air in still layers.Bulk insulation mainly resists the transfer of conducted and convected heat, relying on pockets of trapped air within its structure. Its thermal resistance is essentially the same regardless of the direction of heat flow through it.

Bulk insulation includes materials such as glasswool, wool, cellulose fibre, polyester and polystyrene. All products come with one Material R-value for a given thickness.

Reflective insulation mainly resists radiant heat flow due to its high reflectivity and low emissivity (ability to re-radiate heat). It relies on the presence of an air layer of at least 25mm next to the shiny surface. The thermal resistance of reflective insulation varies with the direction of heat flow through it.

Reflective insulation is usually shiny aluminium foil laminated onto paper or plastic and is available as sheets (sarking), concertina-type batts and multi-cell batts. Together these products are known as reflective foil laminates or RFL. Dust settling on the reflective surface will greatly reduce performance. Face reflective surfaces downwards or keep them vertical. The antiglare surface of single sided foil sarking should always face up.

The Total R-values for reflective insulation are supplied as up and down values. Total values depend on where and how the reflective insulation is installed. Ensure system values provided by the manufacturer relate to your particular installation situation.

Common types of reflective insulation

MATERIAL DESCRIPTION Flat ceilings Pitched roof Cathedral or raked ceilings Timber floors Framed walls

Reflective
Foil
Laminate [RFL]
sarking

Aluminium foil laminated with glasswool reinforcement
Requires a sealed air space of at least 25mm between foil and solid surface to provide full insulation
Useful as a barrier against moisture
Dust build up on foil reduces performance
Available in rolls, often with one side painted with anti-glare paint

Multi-cell
Foil Batts
Batts made from layers of RFL with enclosed air cavities between the layers
Other characteristics identical to RFL sarking
Double or triple cell batts available
25mm air space to be maintained between product and other material

Concertina type
Foil Batts
Concertina-folded foil/ paper laminate
Expandable, and can be adjusted to suit varying gaps
Other characteristics identical to RFL

Common types of bulk insulation

MATERIAL	DESCRIPTION	Cathedral or raked ceilings
Glasswool Batts	Made from melted glass spun into a mat of fine fibres Easy to cut and install, commonly sold in DIY packs as rolls or batts Should not be compressed or moistened Can cause irritation, wear protective clothing during installation
Rockwool Batts	Made from melted volcanic rock spun into a mat of fine fibres Higher R-values than glasswool per unit thickness Good sound absorption properties Other characteristics- see glasswool
Rockwool Loose-fill	Supplied as granules, properties as for Rockwool batts Can be difficult to install in weatherboard walls Treat with water repellent and install evenly Should not be compressed or moistened	*
Polyester	Made from polyester threads spun into a mat, produced in rolls and batts Similar physical properties to fibreglass and rockwool Should not be compressed or moistened Protecive clothing is not required during installation
Wool Batts	Made from spun sheep’s wool, treated against vermin and rot Available with polyester blend to reduce settling and compression Check the quality and fire resistance of the product
Wool Loose-fill	Properties as for wool batts, but quality and density can vary andaffect the R-value	*
Cellulose Fibre Loose-fill	Made from pulverised recycled paper Borax and boracic acid are added as fire retardant and to deter vermin Usually pumped into ceiling, must be a consistent density and thickness Should not be compressed or exposed to moisture Some settling may occur, decreasing performance	*
Extruded polystyrene [styrofoam]	Rigid boards that retain air but exclude water High R-value per unit thickness, suitable where space is limited Easy to cut and install and can be rendered Greater structural strength and moisture resistance than EPS
Expanded polystyrene [EPS]	Semi-rigid boards of polystyrene beads Easy to cut and install and can be rendered Available as pre-clad panels

*Consult manufacturers for maximum roof slope to which loose fill insulation can be installed

Composite insulation combines the benefits of bulk and reflective insulation


MATERIAL	DESCRIPTION	Flat ceilings Pitched roof	Cathedral or raked ceilings	Timber floors	Suspended slabs	Slab edges	Full masonry walls	Framed walls
Glasswool or Rockwool Batts and blankets with RFL	Reflective foil is bonded to one side of the batt Characteristics as for batts, plus: Higher ‘down’ R-values due to foil Increased moisture resistance due to foil
Expanded polystyrene with foil	Expanded polystyrene boards sandwiched between reflective foil Characteristics as for EPS, plus: higher ‘down’ R-values due to foil

TRI-CO Energy Group Pty Ltd
Unit 2 / 11 Egham Road
Burswood 6100
Western Australia

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