16 in. x 100 ft. Double Reflective Insulation Roll with Staple Tab Edge

Dear Justin and other Home Depot customers: The new reply from someone in the Reflectix Technical Group is curious. He / she stated: "Respectfully, the responder from Mass. is in error. Reflectix assembly R-values are valid year around. Our products are tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam, in a ASTM C1363 Hot Box." First, Reflectix is NOT tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam insulation. You can see this on the Home Depot website. Fiberglass and foam board are tested as materials, with an R value per inch of thickness -- e.g. R-13 for 3.5" of Owens Corning fiberglass, and R-5 per inch with Foamular foam board. Reflectix is always tested as part of an assembly, e.g. a simulated wall with 2x4 studs, dry wall, an air space and layer of Reflectix. Why? Because the shiny bubble wrap that Reflectix is made from has very little R value -- only R-1. The sealed air gap that you must build / create provides almost all of the claimed R values, not the bubble wrap by itself. Second, the performance of Reflectix and other radiant barriers varies with the temperature -- better in summer and poor in winter. In a cathedral ceiling, for example, Reflectix claims R7 in summer but only R1 in winter in the northern USA. Why? Because cold cannot be 'reflected' and warmer air inside your home does not create much infrared (radiant) energy. Reflectix should provide ASTM test reports that show R-value performance in summer AND winter temperatures for each assembly, and post these reports on their website. I look forward to more detailed information from the Reflectix Technical Group. Mark

Dear Ice and other Home Depot customers: The new reply from someone in the Reflectix Technical Group is curious. He / she stated: "Respectfully, the responder from Mass. is in error. His statement is confusing two applications, radiant barriers and reflective insulations. Radiant barriers are installed in open attics (typically ventilated) and do not require enclosed air spaces. This type of application reduces radiant heat transfer and is not quantified with an R-value. Reflective insulation assemblies are installed in cavities that have enclosed air spaces and provide stated R-value benefits. Reflective insulation is tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam products, and in wall and floor systems, provides a year around R-value benefit." First, commercial metal buildings typically do not have an enclosed and ventilated attic, like a house. So Ice would need to install Reflectix under the metal roof, with a sealed air gap. Second, Reflectix is NOT tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam insulation. You can see this on the Home Depot website. Fiberglass, foam board and other standard insulation products are tested as materials, with an R value per inch of thickness -- e.g. R-13 for 3.5" of Owens Corning fiberglass, and R-5 per inch with Foamular foam board. Reflectix is always tested as part of an assembly, e.g. a simulated wall with 2x4 studs, dry wall, an air space and layer of Reflectix. Why? Because the shiny bubble wrap that Reflectix is made from has very little R value -- only R-1. The sealed air gap that you must build / create provides almost all of the claimed R values, not the bubble wrap by itself. Third, the performance of Reflectix and other radiant barriers varies with the temperature -- better in summer and poor in winter. In a cathedral ceiling, for example, Reflectix claims R7 in summer but only R1 in winter in the northern USA. Why? Because cold cannot be 'reflected' and warmer air inside your home does not create much infrared (radiant) energy. Reflectix should provide ASTM test reports that show R-value performance in summer AND winter temperatures for each assembly, and post these reports on their website. I look forward to more detailed information from the Reflectix Technical Group. Mark

Dear Mike and other Home Depot customers: The new reply from someone in the Reflectix Technical Group is curious. He / she stated: "Respectfully, the responder from Mass. is in error. His statement is confusing two applications, radiant barriers and reflective insulations. Radiant barriers are installed in open attics (typically ventilated) and do not require enclosed air spaces. This type of application reduces radiant heat transfer and is not quantified with an R-value. Reflective insulation assemblies are installed in cavities that have enclosed air spaces and provide stated R-value benefits. Reflective insulation is tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam products, and in wall and floor systems, provides a year around R-value benefit." First, a radiant barrier is the key part of reflective insulation, e.g. the shiny aluminum surface on Reflectix bubble wrap. This is a distinction without a difference. Second, Reflectix is NOT tested in the same manner as fiberglass and foam insulation. You can see this on the Home Depot website. Fiberglass, foam board and other standard insulation products are tested as materials, with an R value per inch of thickness -- e.g. R-13 for 3.5" of Owens Corning fiberglass, and R-5 per inch with Foamular foam board. Reflectix is always tested as part of an assembly, e.g. a simulated wall with 2x4 studs, dry wall, an air space and layer of Reflectix. Why? Because the shiny bubble wrap that Reflectix is made from has very little R value -- only R-1. The sealed air gap that you must build / create provides almost all of the claimed R values, not the bubble wrap by itself. Third, the performance of Reflectix and other radiant barriers varies with the temperature -- better in summer and poor in winter. In a cathedral ceiling, for example, Reflectix claims R7 in summer but only R1 in winter in the northern USA. Why? Because cold cannot be 'reflected' and warmer air inside your home does not create much infrared (radiant) energy. Reflectix should provide ASTM test reports that show R-value performance in summer AND winter temperatures for each assembly, and post these reports on their website. I look forward to more detailed information from the Reflectix Technical Group. Mark

For clarification. The application/question relates to the Double Reflective/Double Bubble product. The application of interest is for a radiant barrier in an attic. This product is not perforated (like the RB4812550) and as a result should maintain an air space between the product and the deck. The 0.25" is a "minimum", 0.75" is AOK and does not affect the performance of a radiant barrier. Radiant barriers block radiant heat transfer and do not require enclosed air spaces. Thank you for your comments.