In Wall Insulation

eoffmasonry

How does everyone feel about Insulation inside block? Is it worth the cost to insulate?

CJKarl

Here's what my local guy says.
http://www.westbrookblock.com/produc...ated/index.htm

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concretemasonry

The block in the link show some great values. but most jurisdictions will not accept the the old values in the link to Icon or Korfil. They are generally based on calculated values or interpolation/extrapolation. The calculation methods is the old parallel hear flow the everyong knows does not exist. Most codes and standards will accept the series-parallel method which is close to actual tests.

All of the R-values balony only applies to lab tested samples in the short term under ideal circumstances for lightweight/flimsy construction for advertising purposes. As an example an R-19 batt in a stud wall may only give you R-11 under the best conditions and much lower under normal conditions. - This is ignoring infiltration.

There is not substitute for long term dynamic thermal tesing of walls, but unfortunately the testing is very costing and eliminates the advertised adavantages of the pink stuff.

The only block insulation I have seen that has good honest test information is Enerblok (spelling?). These tests are still the short term tpye, but they are complete. Unfortunately, they do not show the long term benefits if the mass.

You can get some credit for the mass of masonry by using something called that was called the "mass correction factor" that depends on your climate and the wall weight. This is probably way beyond your typical ex-nailbender building official, but it does exist. In all situations, walls with lightweight block get the befits of the mass factors and they always are far superior to normal weight block.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.