Radiant Barrier | Energy Efficiency

The agricultural industry has recently been dealing with a natural phenomenon known as the “Black Globe Effect” – a condition that affects livestock when they absorb too much solar heat. The Black Globe Effect has a pronounced stress factor relating to the cost efficiency (or inefficiency) of weight gain in meat producing animals and birds.

Studies show this can result in lower body weight, decreased milk production and increased mortality rates to livestock housed in an unprotected environment.

Whether an animal is outdoors or indoors, in temperatures exceeding 78ºF, it absorbs a greater amount of radiant energy from the sun. Although the animal may be confined to a building, the “black globe effect” on the animal is the same as if it were 10 to 20ºF higher than the air temperature.

Tests have shown that the way to stop the Black Globe Effect is through proper insulation. Fi-Foil’s RBI Shield™ Radiant Barrier – a low-cost reflective bubble insulation designed for use in agricultural applications – blocks over 97% of solar radiation and contains additives that reduce flammability.

Using a product like Fi-Foil’s RBI Shield™ Radiant Barrier in the agricultural industry, an increase of as much as 10% in milk production has been noted by dairy farmers. They have also seen a conception rate improvement of nearly 24%. Broiler house feed conversions went from averages of 2.3 to 2.8 lbs. of feed per lb. per bird to a much-improved 1.99 feed conversion. Death losses from heat have been greatly reduced. In winter, indoor heat is reflected back into the living space to produce greater comfort and energy savings.

Fi-Foil’s RBI Shield™ Radiant Barrier for agricultural applications was designed to reduce thermal radiation, increase comfort and improve overall energy-efficiency. It also offers easy installation for both new and existing/retrofit buildings. Not even the company could have forseen that it would someday help save livestock and the industry from a new and deadly plague.

At Fi-Foil, we began designing our reflective insulation products and radiant barriers for residential homes, commercial buildings and agricultural applications more than 20 years ago. And more than 20 years ago, we were committed to the principles of sustainable construction.

Our products – including radiant barriers for residential homes, radiant barriers for commercial buildings and radiant barriers for agricultural applications – are designed to be energy-efficient, so we started out thinking in terms of energy conservation, life-cycle performance, and minimal landfill impact. Our radiant barrier and reflective insulation products are Energy Star® compliant and meet or exceed various performance and code criteria established by national, regional and local governing bodies.

The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) was developed and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a national non-profit organization formed in 1993 to promote environmental responsibility within the building construction industry. Fi-Foil’s radiant barriers for residential homes can contribute LEED credits for “Energy, Materials & Resources” to residential building projects, confirming our commitment to you, the industry and our world. And by using Fi-Foil radiant barriers for residential homes, you can earn up to 17 LEED points.

To find more about out Fi-Foil’s commitment to the future of Sustainable/Green building, and how the company’s radiant barriers can contribute project credits, contact Fi-Foil at 1-800-448-3401.

Along with comfort and convenience, today’s homeowners are looking for a way to save money. Offering them an opportunity to lower their energy bills and feel more at-ease within their homes will, in turn, prove to be a benefit to builders.

That’s the purpose of Fi-Foil’s attic radiant barriers…and it’s why our solutions reflect on you.

The attic is the perfect place for Fi-Foil’s radiant barrier systems: First, because the roof is the surface most exposed to solar radiation, and second, because most of the solar gain absorbed by the roof is transmitted down to the attic floor by radiation. Since the attic airspace separates the hot roof surface from the ceiling, no heat will move down by conduction, and the heat will not convect down from the hot roof to the ceiling because heated air rises. If you place an attic radiant barrier in the airspace between the hot roof deck and the cooler attic floor, you can eliminate almost all radiant heat transfer.

1. Solar radiation causes roof temperatures to reach 160˚F to 190˚F.
2. Heat is conducted through roofing materials and radiated to the ceiling below.
3. Attic temperatures climb to superheated levels, typically 140˚F in the summer.
4. Ceiling insulation R-values are rated at 75˚F and 50% relative humidity. As temperatures and humidity levels increase, R-values diminish. Radiant heat transfers into air conditioning ducts increasing energy costs. Attic structure and contents saturate and continue to transfer heat even after the sun has set.
5. Comfort is compromised – A/C run time increases and, in peak loads, cannot maintain internal temperature set points.
6. Air quality is compromised – hot humid air is drawn through leaks in the duct system.

The Solution - Silver Shield™ Attic Radiant Barrier

1. Reduces radiant heat transfer up to 97%. Treats the problem at its source - the roof.
2. A/C savings up to 12%. Significantly reduces attic temperatures up to 30°F.
3. Increases insulation and air conditioning duct efficiency.
4. Lowers temperatures and improves comfort in areas that are not typically air conditioned, such as garages and lanais.
5. Qualifies for Florida Energy Code Credits.
6. Energy Star Rating helps to qualify for energy efficient mortgages.

Despite the fact that they have been proven to be one of the most effective forms of insulation, the old adage, “you get what you pay for,” applies to radiant barriers.

Because of the popularity of radiant barriers, many builders, architects, insulations contractors and homeowners are turning to the product for residential insulation. But not all radiant barriers are alike. While some radiant barriers may seem to offer the same benefits at a cheap price, “cheap” is sometimes just what it sounds like.

This is particularly true of deck-applied radiant barrier, the lowest-rated radiant barriers on the market today. Manufactured with easily damaged materials and applied with glue, deck-applied radiant barriers can not be factory-repaired; so on-the-job repairs will always show. The “fall-down” – wood that includes foil on the underside and must be thrown away – is wasted material. Unnecessary costs include wood that cannot be flipped on hip roofs. This and the “fall-down” can account for as much as 20% waste. What’s more, you’re restricted to a specific type of wood with deck-applied radiant barriers.

In contrast, Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield® radiant barriers – the highest performing radiant barrier application – offers a 117% BARRIER PERFORMANCE as compared to standard deck-applied radiant barrier applications. Whereas standard deck-applied radiant barriers offer one layer of protection with one airspace, Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield® radiant barrier has two layers of protection with three airspaces to enhance protection. And each layer of Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield® radiant barrier reduces radiant heat transfer up to 97%.

Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield® radiant barrier also qualifies for Florida Energy Code and California Title 24 Energy Code Credits, and its Energy Star Partner Rating helps homeowners qualify for energy-efficient mortgages.

So why do deck-applied radiant barriers seem so cheap? Because they are Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield® radiant barrier is the real cost-effective solution – the radiant barrier that increases customer satisfaction, energy-efficiency and builder profitability all at the same time.

Builders, architects, insulation contractors and homeowners have a variety of choices when it comes to residential insulation. While some of those choices may, on the surface, seem to offer the same benefits, when one looks deeper, the true value becomes clear.

Many builders have turned to low-density spray foam insulation systems because of a perceived difference in cost and profit margin. The truth is that radiant barriers – specifically Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield^® High-Performance Attic Radiant Barrier – significantly improves the quality of a home and, with a standard mark-up, is far more profitable.

Under Florida’s Building Code, foam insulation is required to be covered with drywall – it cannot be left exposed. Not so with radiant barriers. The code also requires a 1-perm or less vapor retarder over the foam to the exterior of the roof deck for asphalt shingles. The vapor retarder will get punctured when the shingles are installed. With Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield^® High-Performance Attic Radiant Barrier, that problem is obviated by the fact that field and inside support personnel, along with insulation contractors, are readily available to service your needs on a local level. With foam insulation, you must rely on licensed dealers and distributors to service your needs.

As for the cost issue, Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield^® High-Performance Attic Radiant Barrier plus R-30 Fiberglass Batt Insulation equals about $1.25 per square foot when installed; while low-density .05 lb. spray foam insulation runs approximately $2.00-$2.50 for R-19 value. What’s more, homes will achieve 12% for vented attic Radiant Barrier system versus standard R-19 insulation. And peak demand reductions are 16% — 3x more effective than adding more insulation. With spray foam, energy savings is only 9% compared to standard R-19 insulation on ceilings as tested by the Florida Solar Energy Center Flexible Roofing Facility in 2000, with a peak demand reduction of just 5%.

As a result, homeowners will enjoy a far better return on investment with Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield ^® High-Performance Attic Radiant Barrier plus R-30 fiberglass batt insulation versus spray foam with standard R-19 insulation.

For saving energy and improving comfort, Fi-Foil’s Silver Shield^®