Minimum R Value For Wall Insulation

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Minimum r value for wall insulation.

While wall insulation is limited by the width of the studs different materials provide higher or lower r values. R value is a standard unit of measurement for determining among many things how effective your insulation will be. The international code council icc is a non profit organization dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design build and compliance process. For example if you have a type of insulation that has an r value of r 5 per inch of thickness you will need a depth of 6 inches of this insulation installed in your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3.

Insulation level are specified by r value. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. Thickness density and type of materials are some factors that contribute to. Recommended home insulation r values.

Fiberglass batts for standard 2 4 walls are now available in low medium and high density products that range from r 11 to r 15. Specific insulation requirements of section c402 2 thermal requirements of either. This will determine the r values required for different parts of your home. The r refers to absolute thermal resistance.

The international codes i codes are the widely accepted comprehensive set of model codes used in the us and abroad to help ensure the engineering of safe sustainable affordable and resilient structures. Or component performance alternative of section c402 1 5 roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance fenestration in building envelope. Higher r value numbers mean that the insulating material resists the cold or heat from the outside better. It should be noted that these are minimum values only and that upgrading your insulation to a higher material r value can provide a better level of the resistance to heat in your home.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different 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.

The whole construction is measured taking into account additions to the r value like the inherent r value of things like brick walls as well as subtractions caused by windows or any other. R value based method of section c402 1 3 u c and f factor based method of section c402 1 4. The values in this table can also be used as a guide when installing insulation into alterations and additions or retrofitting existing homes with no insulation.