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Quick Answer: What Is The R Value Of Styrofoam

STYROFOAM extruded polystyrene insulation is rated at an R-value of 5.0 per inch at 75°F.

What is the R-value of 4 inch Styrofoam?

Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) is the cheapest and least used foam board product on the market. This product typically has an R value of 3.6 to 4.0 per inch of thickness.

What is the R-value of white styrofoam?

Also called Styrofoam insulation, this is the least expensive material. It provides R-values that range from 3.6 to 4.2 per inch.

Is styrofoam a good insulator?

Styrofoam has millions of small air bubbles trapped inside the foam. Since air is a bad conductor of heat Styrofoam efficiently prevents heat transfer. Styrofoam reduces conduction and convection. In this way, it is one of the best existing insulators.

What is the R-value of 2 inch rigid foam?

R-Value Chart for EnerfoilTM Rigid Foam Faced Insulation Thickness (Inches) R-value (in I-P/Imperial) RSI (R-value in Metric) 1.0 6.2 1.08 1.5 9.3 1.62 2.0 12.4 2.16 2.5 15.5 2.7.

What is the R-value of 1 inch Styrofoam?

Resistance to the flow of heat is measured in “R-value”, the higher the R-value, the harder it is for heat to get through. STYROFOAM extruded polystyrene insulation is rated at an R-value of 5.0 per inch at 75°F.

What is the R-value of 6 inch Styrofoam?

One common use of extruded polystyrene foam board is for foundation insulation panels. Polyiso (Polyisocyanurate). This is an even more dense and more expensive foam board insulation. It provides an R-value of 6 per inch of thickness and often comes foil-faced to help reflect radiant heat.

What is the difference between pink and blue foam board?

Brand Names. Both pink and blue foam boards are rigid insulation panels made from extruded polystyrene. The chemical composition, manufacturing process and insulating capability of the two products are similar; the principal difference between them is that they are manufactured by two different companies.

Can you leave foam board insulation exposed?

When exposed outdoors, foam board insulation can see damage from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Tests have shown that these laminated boards can withstand UV ray damage for a reasonably long time. That said, it’s still advisable to cover any foam board insulation exposed to the Sun within 30-60 days at the most.

What is the highest R-value foam board?

Polyisocyanurate: Known as polyiso for short, polyisocyanurate foam has the highest R-value per inch (R-6.5 to R-6.8) of any rigid insulation.

Does Styrofoam keep cold out?

Styrofoam is primarily made of air. This makes it a poor conductor of heat but an excellent insulator. While a Styrofoam cooler does a great job of keeping cold items cool for long periods of time, they don’t cool items that are already warm.

Why is Styrofoam bad?

Yes. Styrene is the building block for Styrofoam, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists styrene as a “probable carcinogen to humans”. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Styrofoam is commonly contaminated with flame-retardant chemicals that can leach into the environment and harm human health.

Is Wood a better insulator than Styrofoam?

The wood blocked at least 10 degrees more heat than styrofoam or silica aerogel, which had been awarded the Guinness World Record for ‘best insulator’. The nanowood, which is white, also effectively reflects sunlight.

Do you need a vapor barrier with rigid foam insulation?

Rigid foam insulation is it’s own vapour barrier in this application, so you don’t need to use the poly. Yes, you can go right over your existing blown in insulation with batt insulation, just make sure you butt the batts up tight against one another so there are no gaps.

What is the R-value of 1 1 2 rigid insulation?

Outstanding Insulating Properties High, stable R-value (5 per inch of product thickness) – more than wood fiber, plywood or 1/2” gypsum board.

Which side of foam board insulation faces out?

If you’re wondering whether to put the foil side of foam insulation board shiny side in or out, consider whether you want to make the space inside warmer or cooler. If you want to make the space warmer, the foil should face inside so it can reflect radiant heat back into the room.

How thick should Styrofoam insulation be?

Now generically speaking, we usually recommend open cell spray foam to be 6- to 10-inches on a roof deck or ceiling and 3-inches in the walls. Closed cell spray foam should be 4- to 5- inches on the ceiling and 2- to 3-inches in the walls.

Is white Styrofoam good for insulation?

Reasons to not insulate with white pebble styrofoam in the basement. Even without a leak, moisture in the concrete walls can be absorbed into the pebble foam. Lower R-value per inch. Pebble foam insulation keeps wood structures wetter for longer, causing mold.

What is the R-value of 3 4 Styrofoam?

STYROFOAM/BLUE BOARD 3/4″ 4’X8′ DOW R-VALUE: 4.0 (SQUARE EDGE)/ P2S FACING | TWPerry.

What is a good R-value?

Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.

Does stacking foam insulation increase R-value?

Multi-Layering of Polyiso Insulation Offers Efficiency Advantages. Polyiso is the insulation of choice for commercial roof applications because its closed cell characteristics create more R-value per inch than any other rigid foam board insulation product.

Is foam board insulation flammable?

As described by a 1989 OSHA technical memorandum: “Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams will, when ignited, burn rapidly and produce intense heat, dense smoke and gases which are irritating, flammable and/or toxic.

What is the pink foam insulation called?

Pink/Blue foam is actually EXTRUDED Polystyrene. This is a closed-cell extruded form of polystyrene that is commonly known by the trade name of “Styrofoam”. Just as most people call a vacuum-cleaner a “Hoover” Extruded Polystyrene is called “Styrofoam”.

Which foam board insulation is best?

Foam board made from polyisocyanurate (polyiso) generally offers the best insulation capacity and 6.5 per inch. Water is the primary “blowing agent,” making it one of the most environmentally-friendly foams used.

What is the R value of pink Styrofoam insulation?

There are generally two types of foam board products available in the market today, pink and blue foam boards. They are both manufactured using polystyrene resin and perform virtually in a similar manner. They have an insulating R value of 5 per inch of thickness.