Slide 1
Slow the transfer
Thermal insulation reduces the rate of heat flow. It does not create heat or permanently prevent two environments from exchanging energy.
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A well-insulated container eventually approaches its surroundings if no other process maintains a difference. Its advantage is a longer timescale and reduced heating or cooling demand during use.
Slide 2
Trap gas without encouraging circulation
Many insulation materials hold pockets of gas that conduct heat poorly. Their structure limits large-scale convection within those spaces.
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Compressing fibrous insulation can change its thickness and trapped-air structure. Performance should therefore be assessed in the installed condition, rather than assuming a product label applies regardless of installation.
Slide 3
Resistance needs a defined assembly
Thermal resistance expresses opposition to heat flow under stated conditions. A wall’s overall performance includes layers and paths beyond its insulation alone.
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Metal fasteners or framing can create thermal bridges around a resistant layer. Heat preferentially follows those easier paths, so adding more insulation between bridges can yield less benefit than expected.
Slide 4
Air leakage is another route
Warm or cool air moving through gaps carries energy with it. Insulation and air sealing address different parts of a building’s thermal behaviour.
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A highly insulated cavity can still perform poorly if air bypasses it. Moisture transported by air can also condense in colder regions, linking thermal detailing with durability.
Slide 5
Match the material to the setting
Moisture, temperature, compression and fire requirements affect insulation choice. No single material is ideal for every location.
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Reflective barriers chiefly address radiation and usually need an adjacent air space to perform as intended. Their function differs from simply adding thickness to a low-conductivity solid layer.
Sources
- Building Envelope: Heat Flow
US Department of Energy
- Types of Insulation
US Department of Energy