5 MOST COMMON THERMAL INSULATION MATERIALS

There are plenty of cheap and common insulation materials available on the market today. Many of these have
been around for quite some time. Each of these insulation materials have their own ups and downs. As a result,
when deciding which insulation material you should use, you should be sure to be aware of which material
would work the best in your situation. We have considered differences like R-value, price, environmental
impact, flammability, sound insulation and other factors below. Here are the 5 most common types of insulation
materials:
Insulation Material R-Value / Environmentally Flammable Notes
Inch Friendly?
Fiberglass R-3.1 Yes No Does not absorb water
Mineral Wool R-3.1 Yes No Does not melt or support combustion
Cellulose R-3.7 Yes Yes Contains the highest amount of recycled
content
Polyurethane Foam R-6.3 No Yes Makes a great sound insulator
Polystyrene (EPS) R-4 No Yes Difficult to use around imperfections

1. Fiberglass

Fiberglass is the most common insulation used in modern times. Because of how it is made, by effectively
weaving fine strands of glass into an insulation material, fiberglass is able to minimize heat transfer. The main
downside of fiberglass is the danger of handling it. Since fiberglass is made out of finely woven silicon, glass
powder and tiny shards of glass are formed. These can cause damage to the eyes, lungs, and even skin if the
proper safety equipment isn’t worn. Nevertheless, when the proper safety equipment is used, fiberglass
installation can be performed without incident.
Fiberglass is an excellent non-flammable insulation material, with R-values ranging from R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch.
If you are seeking a cheap insulation this is definitely the way to go, though installing it requires safety
precautions. Be sure to use eye protection, masks, and gloves when handling this product.

2. Mineral Wool

Mineral wool actually refers to several different types of insulation. First, it may refer to glass wool which is
fiberglass manufactured from recycled glass. Second, it may refer to rock wool which is a type of insulation
made from basalt. Finally, it may refer to slag wool which is produced from the slag from steel mills. The
majority of mineral wool in the United States is actually slag wool.
Mineral wool can be purchased in batts or as a loose material. Most mineral wool does not have additives to
make it fire resistant, making it poor for use in situation where extreme heat is present. However, it is not
combustible. When used in conjunction with other, more fire resistant forms of insulation, mineral wool can
definitely be an effective way of insulating large areas. Mineral wool has an R-value ranging from R-2.8 to R-3.5.
3. Cellulose

Cellulose insulation is perhaps one of the most eco-friendly forms of insulation. Cellulose is made from recycled
cardboard, paper, and other similar materials and comes in loose form. Cellulose has an R-value between R-3.1
and R-3.7. Some recent studies on cellulose have shown that it might be an excellent product for use in
minimizing fire damage. Because of the compactness of the material, cellulose contains next to no oxygen within
it. Without oxygen within the material, this helps to minimize the amount of damage that a fire can cause.
So not only is cellulose perhaps one of the most eco-friendly forms of insulation, but it is also one of the most
fire resistant forms of insulation. However, there are certain downsides to this material as well, such as the
allergies that some people may have to newspaper dust. Also, finding individuals skilled in using this type of
insulation is relatively hard compared to, say, fiberglass. Still, cellulose is a cheap and effective means of
insulating.

4. Polyurethane Foam

While not the most abundant of insulations, polyurethane foams are an excellent form of insulation. Nowadays,
polyurethane foams use non-chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas for use as a blowing agent. This helps to decrease the
amount of damage to the ozone layer. They are relatively light, weighing approximately two pounds per cubic
foot (2 lb/ft^3). They have an R-value of approximately R-6.3 per inch of thickness. There are also low density
foams that can be sprayed into areas that have no insulation. These types of polyurethane insulation tend to
have approximately R-3.6 rating per inch of thickness. Another advantage of this type of insulation is that it is
fire resistant.

5. Polystyrene

Polystyrene(Styrofoam) is a waterproof thermoplastic foam which is an excellent sound and temperature

insulation material. It comes in two types, expanded (EPS) and extruded (XEPS) also known as Styrofoam. The
two types differ in performance ratings and cost. The more costly XEPS has a R-value of R-5.5 while EPS is R-4.
Polystyrene insulation has a uniquely smooth surface which no other type of insulation possesses.
Typically the foam is created or cut into blocks, ideal for wall insulation. The foam is flammable and needs to be
coated in a fireproofing chemical called Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). HBCD has been brought under fire
recently for health and environmental risks associated with its use.
Other Common Insulation Materials
Although the items listed above are the most common insulation materials, they are not the only ones
used. Recently, materials like aerogel (used by NASA for the construction of heat resistant tiles, capable of
withstanding heat up to approximately 2000 degrees Fahrenheit with little or no heat transfer), have become
affordable and available. One in particular is Pyrogel XT. Pyrogel is one of the most efficient industrial
insulations in the world. Its required thicknesses are 50% – 80% less than other insulation materials. Although a
little more expensive than some of the other insulation materials, Pyrogel is being used more and more for
specific applications.

Asbestos
Other insulation materials not mentioned are natural fibers such as hemp, sheep’s wool, cotton, and
straw. Polyisocyanurate, similar to polyurethane, is a closed cell thermoset plastic with a high R-value making it
a popular choice as an insulator as well. Some health hazardous materials that were used in the past as
insulation and are now outlawed, unavailable, or uncommonly used are vermiculite, perlite, and urea-
formaldehyde. These materials have reputations for containing formaldehyde or asbestos, which has essentially
removed them from the list of commonly used insulation materials. .
There are many forms of insulation available, each with their own set of properties. Only by researching each
kind thoroughly can you discover which will be the right kind for your particular needs. As a quick overview:
 Aerogel is more expensive, but definitely the best type of insulation.
 Fiberglass is cheap, but requires careful handling.
 Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant.
 Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and effective, but hard to apply.
 Polyurethane is an all around good insulation product, though not particularly eco-friendly.
 Polystyrene is a diverse insulation material, but its safety is debated.

Insulation Ratings: Calculating R Factor, K Factor & C Factor

Insulation terms can be quite confusing to anyone outside the industry. If you’ve ever bought insulation for your
house, you know that insulation with a high R factor is better. But what, exactly, does that mean? Did you know
that the R Factor depends on other factors?
When it comes to buying more specific insulation products, like removable insulation jackets for hot pipes,
understanding the particulars of the three measures of insulation is key. In order to understand the well-known
R factor it’s important to understand the factors upon which it relies, the K factor and C factor.
If you are seeking out the formulas to calculate these factors, check out our R, C & K Factor Formula Conversion
Table that lists all the formulas discussed in this article. For more information, read on!

I Want
K Factor C Factor R Factor
I Have K Factor C=K-factor/in. of thickness R= in. of thickness/K-factor
C Factor K=C-factor in. of thickness R=1/C-factor
R Factor K=in. of thickness / R-factor C-1/R-factor
None of K=BTU-in / hr – ft² – °F C=BTU/(hr · ft ·°F) R=h · ft² ·°F/BTU
the Above
The K Factor of Insulation
What is the K Factor of Insulation?
The K factor of insulation represents the material’s thermal conductivity or ability to conduct heat. Usually,
insulation materials have a K Factor of less than one. The lower the K factor, the better the insulation. The
textbook definition of the K factor is “The time rate of steady heat flow through a unit area of homogeneous
material induced by a unit temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to that unit area.” That’s a
mouthful.
Simplified, the K factor is the measure of heat that passes through one square foot of material that is one inch
thick in an hour.
How Do I Calculate the K Factor of Insulation?
If R factor is unknown, the formula to calculate the K factor of insulation is: K factor = BTU-in / hr – ft2 – °F
or
British Thermal Unit-Inch Per Square Foot Per Hour Per Fahrenheit Degree
If R factor is know, this easier formula can be used to calculate the K factor: K factor = inches of thickness / R
Factor
How is the K Factor of Insulation Reported?
K factors are reported at one or many mean temperatures. The mean temperature is the average of the sum of
the hottest and coldest surface temperatures which the insulation material is exposed to.
Put more simply, the testing apparatus that determines the K factor of an insulation material places a sample of
the material between two plates, hot & cold, and the average of the surface temperatures of those two plates
equals the mean temperature. Here is an example of an insulation material’s K factor report:

via Nomaco Insulation

Notice that as the mean temperature rises, so does the K factor. It’s important to observe the K factor & mean
temperature when comparing insulation.

The C Factor of Insulation

What is the C Factor of Insulation?
The C factor stands for Thermal Conductance Factor. The C factor, like the K factor, is a rate of heat transfer
through a material. The lower the C factor, the better the insulating properties of the material. It is the quantity
of heat that passes through a foot of insulation material.
The C factor is dependent upon the thickness of the insulation. The thicker the insulation is, the lower the C
factor will be and thus the better the material will be at insulating. This is one of the main differences between
the K factor and C factor, because generally the thickness of an insulation material will not affect its K factor.
How Do I Calculate the C Factor of Insulation?
If the K factor is unknown, the formula to calculate the C factor of insulation is: BTU/(hr·ft⋅°F)
or
Btus/hour per square foot per degree F of temperature difference
If the K factor is known, this easier formula can be used: C factor = K factor / inches of thickness

The R Factor
What is the R Factor of Insulation?
The R factor pulls together all of the information of the other factors and makes it easy to judge the
effectiveness of insulating material. The R factor of insulation can be found most easily of the insulation factors
discussed, and it is the most popular indicator of a material’s insulator properties. Generally it is listed on an
insulation material’s label. The R factor stands for thermal resistance. The higher the R factor, better the
insulation.
The textbook definition for R Factor is: the quantity determined by the temperature difference, at steady state,
between two defined surfaces of a material or construction that induces a unit heat flow through a unit area.
Aren’t textbooks supposed to be helpful?
To simplify, the R factor is a variable value that measures the ability of a material to block heat rather than
radiate it. The variable is the C factor, which is dependent upon the thickness of the material. It is the opposition
to the flow of heat energy.
How Do I Calculate the R Factor of Insulation?
There are a few formulas to calculate the R factor of insulation, depending on if your K factor and C factor are
known. If they are unknown, you can use this formula: h·ft²·°F/Btu
or
degrees F times square feet of area times hours of time per Btus of heat flow
If your K factor and C factor are known, you can use these formulas which may be easier to use: R-factor = 1 / C-
factor
or
R-factor = thickness in inches / K-factor
Keep in mind that these factors are specific to the materials being measured. For instance, if you take two pieces
of batting that are rated at R 11 and put them together, you won’t get R 22 coverage. Understanding the ins and
outs of the factors that help describe how effective insulation material is will go a long way to helping make the
buying process easier.