Experimental study of thermal resistance values (R-values) of low-density mineral-fiber building insulation batts commercially available in 1977

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5524684· OSTI ID:5524684

Tye, R. P.; Desjarlais, A. O.; Yarbrough, D. W.; McElroy, D. L.

This study was initiated in June 1977 to obtain and evaluate full-thickness thermal performance data on mineral fiber, i.e., fiberglass and rock wool, batt-type insulations. The study aimed to obtain full-thickness thermal performance data and to assess other properties of mineral fiber building insulations. The physical property measurements discussed in this report provide a measure of the range of values for density, thickness, and R-value based on a sampling of low-density mineral-fiber building insulation batts purchased in the marketplace in 1977. The experimental data were used to establish mean R-values at nominal (label) thickness of R-11 and R-19 fiberglass batts and R-11 rock wool batts. The full-thickness and sliced testing techniques provided a set of R-values on the purchased samples that were converted to R-values at label thickness by using a particular correlation of apparent thermal conductivity and density. The full thickness results indicate surprisingly large percentages below labeled R-value for these four types of mineral fiber insulation. A statistical analysis of these data based on the assumption of normally distributed properties is included. This yielded estimates of similar magnitude for the population from which the samples were purchased. An urgency for continued sampling and further testing of mineral fiber insulations by many laboratories was identified. The differences between results obtained with the sliced technique and results obtained with full-thickness testing must be thoroughly understood and documented so that adjustment factors for the thickness effect can be accurately established. (LCL)

• Research Organization: Dynatech R/D Co., Cambridge, MA (USA); Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5524684
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7266
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BUILDINGS
DATA
DATA FORMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAPHS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
R FACTORS
TABLES
TESTING
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES