Is Spray Foam Insulation Better Than Other Insulating Materials?

Energy Efficiency

All Insulation Materials Perform Equally Well When Properly Installed

on 7/21/2015

Study Debunks Myth of Superior Insulator

A new study from Building Science Corporation (BSC) demonstrates that all insulation products perform equally well when properly installed and air sealed. The Thermal Metric Summary Report concludes a multi-year collaborative research project that examined the thermal performance of typical walls with air moving through them. The report provides the results of testing designed to examine how walls insulated with different materials perform with air movement at a wide range of temperatures – between 144°F and -18°F.

A preliminary version of the report was released in the fall of 2013 and contained the results of tests on walls insulated with fiber glass batts, cellulose, closed cell spray foam (ccSPF) and foam sheathing, but did not include the results of a test conducted on an open cell spray foam (ocSPF) wall because that first wall had defects including large voids and the thermal performance of the wall was significantly less than expected. A second wall insulated with ocSPF was tested and the results of both the first and second wall are contained in the June 2015 update of the report. In addition to the second ocSPF wall test, this new report also includes the results of testing on walls which were air-sealed and insulated with R-15 fiberglass batts and R-15 dense-pack fiberglass loose-fill (similar to blown-in blanket systems). The air-sealed R-15 fiberglass batt wall performed better than the R-13 ocSPF wall and the R-12 ccSPF wall.

This research project headed by BSC and funded by a group of industry partners, including NAIMA, sought at the onset to develop a new metric for the thermal performance of walls that better accounts for heat flow with air movement at a range of operating temperatures. At this stage of the research project, the industry partners have not proposed a new metric for quantifying the thermal performance of insulation beyond conventional R-value and the report does not include any recommendations for a new metric.

Given the substantial cost advantage that fiber glass delivers to the market, there are a number of key takeaways from this report that argue strongly for choosing fiber glass batts. Among the relevant findings:

• R-value is R-value. When walls are constructed to the same R-value and properly air sealed, all insulation types perform essentially the same.
• Air sealing is required for all insulation types to provide the optimal performance. No insulation product alone provides a sufficient whole-home air sealant.
• During decommissioning of the open cell spray foam wall, the researchers confirmed there were areas where the foam did not adhere to the OSB sheathing, resulting in large voids. These gaps can affect performance.
• Energy losses due to thermal bridging occur with all insulation types and has the same effect on all insulation types.
• The R-15 fiber glass batt wall was among the better-performing assemblies tested and all of the fiber glass walls with air-sealing were among the top performers.
• All of the insulation materials showed temperature-dependent thermal performance (i.e., changes in insulation R-value with changes in mean temperature).

Fiber glass has yet another advantage that merits consideration. Based on a comparison of fiber glass, cellulose and spray foam insulation being installed at a 3.5 inch thickness, a National Association of Home Builders report (Air Infiltration of Wood Framed Walls) determined that at cost per square foot, fiber glass had the lowest installed cost. In an informal survey, an insulation contractor estimated the cost of insulating and air sealing a new 2,300 square foot home in Climate Zone 4 to 2012 International Energy Conservation Code specifications comparing fiber glass batts, cellulose, blown-in fiber glass, open-cell spray foam and closed-cell spray foam. Fiber glass batts showed installed costs lower than the other products. These estimates may vary regionally among contractors.

The results of this research clearly demonstrate that there is no single “best” insulation material and that all insulation materials perform equally well when properly air sealed and installed, debunking the claims that spray foam insulation performs better than other insulation types and provides air sealing for the whole building.

About NAIMA

NAIMA is the association for North American manufacturers of fiber glass, rock wool, and slag wool insulation products. Learn more about the benefits and use of these insulation products in buildings and industry. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact us.

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7/21/2015 - All Insulation Materials Perform Equally Well When Properly Installed
7/5/2015 - Final Thermal Metric Summary Report - June 2015
4/18/2015 - Insulation—Good for People, Pocketbooks and the Planet
1/13/2015 - Jordan Doria Named VP, Market Development of NAIMA
9/24/2014 - Survey Shows Manufacturers Used Over 2 Billion Pounds of Recycled Materials In The Production of Fiber Glass and Slag Wool Insulation