Thermal R-Values of Insulspan SIP Structures

The energy efficiency of insulation is most commonly measured by its R-value. R-value refers to the ability of a given material to resist thermal transfer. The higher the R-value, the more resistant the material is, the less energy you use, and the lower your energy bills.

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Is R-value Consistent Over Time?

When selecting an insulation product, it is important to recognize that there is an individual R-value of the material, such as a roll of fiberglass batt or a SIP panel. Then, there is the R-value of a whole wall or roof once the product is actually installed (effective R-value).

Initial R-values of Insulation

Batt insulation overflowMost manufacturers list the individual R-value of their insulation products. This R-value represents the R-value of that piece at the time of installation under ideal conditions. For instance, if you purchase a roll of R-19 fiberglass insulation, that number refers to the best possible R-value offered by that roll of insulation. However, once the batt is installed, the value starts to go down immediately.

Fiberglass insulation works in tandem with air, so any compression of the batt will reduce its effectiveness. The width of R-19 batt is listed as 6¼-inches. It is recommended for use with a 2″ x 6″ stud wall. However, 2″ x 6″ studs actually come in a nominal size of about 5½-inches. Since the studs have a width that is ¾” smaller than the batt, the installation of the drywall compresses the batt insulation in the wall cavity. This reduces the air in the batt, and subsequently, the R-value.

Jump below to see the initial R-values of Insulspan SIPs.  This will provide a starting point for comparing our thermal resistances.

Installation Makes a Difference

The insulation value can be further diminished by poor installation techniques. Excessive compression of batt, poor mixing of spray foam, and gaps left between studs are common issues. Choosing to use Insulspan EPS panels practically eliminates the chance of diminishing the R-value during installation since the expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation is continuously laminated to both sheets of oriented strand boards (OSB).

Thermal Bridging Affects R-Values

wall effective R-valueWhen we take the construction of the whole wall into account, this is called the “effective R-value.” Let’s look at a section of wall that includes the insulation and the surrounding 2″ x 4″  or 2″ x 6″ studs of traditional stick frame constructed home. Thermal bridges are located anywhere the insulation is interrupted in a wall or roof system. Studs are thermal bridges, and in a stick-framed home, they occur every 16″ or 24″ on center. Thus, the effective R-value of a 2″ x 6″ wall, with all its thermal breaks, is about 15.62, which is less than the standalone R-value of the insulation pocketed between the studs.

Lumber is still used to connect EPS SIP Panels to each other. However, Insulspan manufacturers structural insulated panels in sizes up to 8′ x 24′. As a result, there are far fewer thermal bridges in an Insulspan SIP building than in a conventionally-build stick frame home.

Time Can Affect Effective R-Values Too

Once an EPS SIP structure is complete, the effective R-value will remain constant over time. This is not the case with other insulation products. The R-value of a wall diminishes when batting falls over time due to gravity. Spray foams that use a thermal resistant material as its blowing agent will off-gas that agent, losing much of that added insulating value, within 5 years. Learn more about Effective Thermal Resistance in PIB 209.

Insulspan Thermal R-Values

Insulspan offers two SIP product lines: SIPs with traditional white EPS insulation and SIPs with grey GPS (graphite-enhanced expandable polystyrene) called R-Plus insulation. The following charts showcase the thermal resistance (R-value) of both of these products. Insulspan R-Plus SIP panels offer homeowners and builders all of the benefits of EPS with higher R-values and within a thinner panel. Need more details?  Check out: PIB 202 R-Value & U-Factor EPS SIPs and PIB 220 R-Value & U-Factor GPS SIPs

White EPSGrey GPS (Neopor)
Panel ThicknessThermal R-ValueThermal R-Value
4 1/215.418.3
6 1/2 23.227.7
8 1/430.035.9
10 1/437.845.3
12 1/445.654.7

What is U-Factor?

While the R-value of a material measures the thermal resistance, the U-factor (U-value) measures the rate of thermal transmittance through a material. Thermal transmittance takes heat transfer due to conduction, convection, and radiation into account. For instance, the energy efficiency of a window is commonly listed by U-value because the configuration of a window needs to address all three methods of transmission: conduction of energy through materials such as the glass or casing, convection through any unsealed parts of the window, and radiation (from the sun) through the glazing applied to the windows.

Want to learn how you can reduce energy costs and gain the structural
strength of the Insulspan SIP system for your residential or commercial project?

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