December 2004
In the past months, E&W has been actively attempting to inform local and statewide parties of the abuse and misapplication of reflective insulation products for concrete under-slab applications.
RIMA, the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association has a technical paper available on the subject at www.rima.net.
Home Energy Magazine has a recent article regarding a Canadian study using bubble-type reflective insulation.
The facts are available and if we don't work to stop the improper use of these products which currently claim extreme R-values for little cost and thickness, we could find ourselves in a situation where we are recommending the condemnation and replacement of concrete slabs. Not a pretty situation for anyone to consider.
These products have a place in the world of insulation; they just have to be properly specified and applied on a project-by-project basis.
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