Fiberglass Attic Insulation R Value
This calculator is to be used as an estimating tool only.
Fiberglass attic insulation r value. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation. If it s a new building simply reference the energy code map. Insulation level are specified by r value. Warmer climates only require an r 38 or higher or about 12 or more.
R value is a measurement of thermal resistance and measures the ability of heat to transfer from one side of an object to another. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. In fact the loose fill fiberglass lost 35 to 50 of its resistance to heat flow at temperature differences of 70 f to 76 f.
Houses in a cold climate should have a minimum of r 49 in the attic which is equivalent to approximately 16 of fiberglass insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The loose fill fiberglass showed a significant reduction in r value as the attic got colder and the temperature difference got larger. If the attic is already insulated you ll want to check the current r value.
In comparison an inch of blown fiberglass insulation has an r value of 3 1 3 4 and an inch of blown cellulose in an attic has an r value of 3 2 3 7. The loss of r value started at a temperature difference of about 32 f. Achieving greater r values in exterior walls. As a benchmark one inch of solid wood has an r value of 1.
First you ll need to determine your r value. Recommended home insulation r values. Input depth of existing blown in insulation in inches. It can be located on a card left by the previous installer printed on the attic insulation or you can measure it yourself.
Click the button to calculate the approximate r value for this job.