Friday, 12 December 2014

Radiant Barrier Paint Must Be Selected With Great Care

By Lucia Weeks


The lower-emittance coatings employed in the pursuit of lessening the heat wasted by buildings are various. They are generally talked of as radiant barrier paint. Expansive surface areas when open to the elements tend to get cold rapidly leading to the biggest proportion of heat loss. Thermal characteristics of surfaces are enhanced and radiant heat conduction diminished by an interior radiation control coating or low-emittance paint.

Under strict testing specifications, demonstrations have shown that retrofitting a coating to structures made from steel sheets with fibreglass insulation already in place has an effect on heat loss. IR (infra-red) imagery scanning also confirms the fact that a material like this diminishes heat losses from frame houses with unventilated loft spaces. Thermometer analysis in attics of these houses further verified that loft temperatures were reduced after the use of thermal barriers, confirming that less warmth was being conducted through ceilings after painting. Condensation is unlikely to develop as the space between the coating and the roof will in all probability never attain the dew stage.

In today's more environmentally-aware social climate, reducing heat loss and the resultant energy savings are a double blessing. Diminishing energy resources and ever-increasing fuel costs make any possible savings very desirable. High conductivity materials need to be treated to cut energy wastage.

New sport centres and leisure complexes are typical kinds of contemporary buildings with prohibitive energy usage. During the winter, heat has to be held inside as far as possible, whilst during the summer months, heat must also be kept out. A sauna needs to be steaming and an ice rink icy.

Radiant heat waves are the biggest cause of heat transference - loss and gains - in man-made structures. Reflective insulation is the most cost-effective solution to this problem. Radiant barriers also significantly reduce lighting requirements.

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.

Almost a century's worth of accrued technical documentation attests to the ability of reflective technology to reduce current buildings' energy burdens. One crucial element in lowering energy costs can be low-emittance surfaces. Proper fitting by qualified specialists adhering to manufacturers' instructions and published standards is vital to accomplish the required R-values. This is also true for the provision of the essential water vapour resistance ratings and thermal 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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