Sunday, December 14, 2014

Radiant Barrier Paint Must Be Selected With Great Care

Radiant Barrier Paint Must Be Selected With Great Care

By Lucia Weeks


Different jobs require different coatings. The term "radiant barrier paint" is commonly used to refer to low-emittance paints used to reduce heat loss in buildings. Most heat loss occurs where a large surface area is open to the air, where it will usually cool quickly. Low-emittance coatings or interior radiation control paints improve the thermal qualities of the surface by reducing radiant heat transfer.

Under exacting testing provisions, demonstrations have revealed that structures built out of steel sheeting and insulated with fiberglass evince reduced heat loss when radiant barrier coatings were retrofitted. Scans using IR (or infra-red) imagery furthermore corroborate the truth of decreased heat loss in frame houses with loft spaces without ventilation when coated with barrier paints. Thermometer examinations of attics in these structures further established that the roof space temperature was decreased after applying a thermal barrier, substantiating the claim that after painting, not as much warmth was escaping through ceilings. Condensation is not likely to build up as the break linking the roof to the barrier coating will almost certainly never get to the dew phase.

In the ecologically-aware modern social climate, cutting down on heat loss and the subsequent energy cost-cutting measures are a dual blessing. Dwindling energy assets alongside ever-increasing power prices make every potential saving extremely desirable. Resources with excessive conductivity need remedial restrictions on energy wastage.

New leisure centres and sports complexes are examples of modern buildings with high energy usage. The heat needs to be kept inside as much as possible in winter months, whilst summer heat needs to be kept out too. Ice rinks need to stay frozen and saunas steamy.

The worst culprits for heat transference - gains and losses - in man-made constructions are radiant heat waves. The best value-for-money answer to this situation can be reflective insulation. Lighting requirements are also reduced by up to 40% by radiant barriers.

Out-dated bulk laggings consisting of fiberglass materials or loose-filled cellulose can be replaced and improved on by reflective insulation materials (RIMs). The R-value (or thermal resistance) is quantifiable in reflective insulation systems (RIS). These capabilities prove the value of a reflective insulation in lessening the heat misplaced through air-ducts, sub-floor spaces, ceilings and walls.

Technical documentation built up over nearly 100 years of research attest to the properties of reflective technology in reducing modern energy demands in buildings. Low-emittance surfaces are key to diminished energy costs. Proper installation by qualified professionals abiding by published standards and manufacturers' guidelines is essential to achieve the desired R-values. This also applies to providing the necessary thermal resistance ratings and water vapour resistance values.

Low mass, simplicity of management and finer light supply are further pluses in favor of this sort of paint on top of its proven accomplishment in reducing fuel bills for commercial premises and residential dwellings. Disappointingly, none of the coatings presently available achieve the standards laid down by ASTMI (The American Society of Testing and Materials International) to qualify as this type of coatings. Many firms use speech marks around the designation in the branding of their different paint products.




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