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Radiant barrier blocks 97% of radiant heat transfer to help keep your home or building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It will also act as a vapor barrier when the seams are taped, keeping moisture from passing through it.
Energy Shield offers several types of radiant barriers with both pure aluminum foil and highly reflective metalized coating.
For more information on our products, visit our products page.
Radiant Barrier is unlike mass insulation which only slows down or resists heat transfer. Unlike traditional insulation, Radiant barrier is a unique insulation solution in that it reflects rather than absorbs heat. Heat never stays in one place; it is constantly moving from a warmer to a colder space. This happens through conduction (heat flowing directly through the wall, ceiling, or roof), convection (warm air rising as it heats up and expands) or radiation (heat rays radiating from a warm space to a cooler space, such as when your furnace or coffee mug gives off heat).
Regular forms of insulation only slow radiant heat loss – they cannot stop it. With its unique reflective properties, Radiant Barrier stops the vast majority of radiant heat loss in its tracks, keeping your space cool or warm at a reduced cost.
The “R” value of Radiant Barrier depends on the number and size of airspaces around it and the direction of heat flow. Unlike traditional insulations, radiant barriers typically have minimal to no R-value since they’re engineered to inhibit radiant heat transfer rather than impede conduction and convection.
While some companies may advertise high R-values for their radiant barriers, these figures often include the entire system, including dead airspace and building materials. However, because Radiant Barrier is usually installed on top of existing mass insulation, its R-value isn’t a significant concern. Instead, its ability to reflect heat is crucial for energy savings.
To meet building code requirements for a specific R-value, pairing radiant barriers with traditional insulation is necessary.
A radiant barrier can effectively re-direct heat back towards its source. Therefore, in the summer, you want the heat re-directed away from your home, but in the winter, you want the heat in your home to remain there. This provides more efficient temperature control year-round.
During hot summer months, Energy Shield Radiant Barriers block 97% of the sun’s radiant heat from entering your structure. Radiant heat accounts for 93% of downward heat transfer into a home.
During cold winter months, Energy Shield Radiant Barriers keep heat from escaping your building by reflecting heat back inside, which reduces dependency on your heating system to maintain optimal indoor temperatures. Radiant heat accounts for 50-75% of upward heat transfer from your home to the outdoors.
An Energy Shield Radiant Barrier will work with mass insulation, such as fiberglass and cellulose to increase your building’s overall resistance to heat transfer.
Radiant barriers have undergone rigorous testing at institutions like the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cape Canaveral, encompassing small-scale laboratory experiments and full-scale building models. These tests consistently demonstrate the substantial resistance to heat transfer provided by radiant barriers. Similarly, research conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge Laboratories in Tennessee and the University of Mississippi corroborates the findings of the Florida Solar Energy Center, further solidifying the efficacy of radiant barriers.
Additionally, Northeastern Illinois University conducted winter tests in residential and commercial structures, employing infrared thermography to capture evidence of significant resistance to heat transfer compared to regular insulation. These collective studies underline the effectiveness of radiant barriers in enhancing thermal insulation and energy efficiency.
Finally, it is accepted by the Department of Energy that installing radiant barrier in the attic will reduce heat gain through the ceiling by up to 42%. This reduced heat load can result in savings of up to 17% on cooling utility bills, with some homes getting up to 30% or more.
In comparison, ordinary building materials typically only reflect around 10% of radiant heat under similar conditions. This stark contrast underscores the significant advantages of using radiant barrier insulation to enhance energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings.
Both solid radiant barrier and perforated radiant barrier share the same construction, featuring the same thickness and a tear-resistant polyethylene core. The distinguishing factor between the two lies in our various ES® Perforated RFID Radiant Barrier products, which includes tiny pinholes punched throughout the roll. This perforation allows moisture to pass through at a molecular level, making it suitable for attic applications.
For installations in warm climates or during the summer, the optimal method involves stapling the product directly to the bottom of rafters or trusses. Conversely, in cold climates or winter applications, laying the radiant barrier directly on top of the attic floor is recommended. For regions with fluctuating climates, achieving maximum efficiency involves stapling the barrier to the rafters and laying it on the floor simultaneously. It’s crucial to note that with ES® Perforated RFID Radiant Barrier, the use of tape should be avoided, as it may hinder moisture from passing through as intended.
The foil surface on foil-faced fiberglass insulation makes direct contact with the attic floor, which increases the level of conduction. Conversely, Radiant Barrier utilizes an airspace, which effectively reduces heat transfer.
FSEC (Florida Star Energy Center) has measured the temperature of roof shingles above radiant barriers. The peak temperatures in hot weather were only 2-10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the temperature of the same shingles without an attic radiant barrier. Given that shingle temperature at that time is in the range of 160-190 degrees, this increase is negligible and does not accelerate shingle degradation. All of the research on this issue concludes that the small increase in shingle temperature, resulting from installation of a radiant barrier, will not reduce shingle life nor alter, or void, the shingle manufacturer’s warranty.
Other research conducted by RIMA (Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association) also demonstrates that only minimal heat gain was observed on rooftops equipped with radiant barriers, confirming their negligible impact on shingle temperatures.
Many manufacturers (including Owens Corning, Certain Teed, GAF, IKO and Atlas) have confirmed that their respective warranties would not be affected by the application of an attic radiant barrier.
The heat energy that the metal receives comes directly from the sun. No new energy is being created. Radiant barriers reflect this already existing solar energy that metal absorbs back towards its source.
No. Radiant barrier actually boosts the effectiveness of your current insulation and is simple to install alongside it.
No matter which way you install it, radiant barrier works the same. If you choose a white/foil finish, and prefer the look of the white side, face it towards you while installing, but both sides work equally well.
Reflective insulation, such as our Reflective Bubble & Reflective Foam, combines innovative materials for optimal performance.
ES® Reflective Bubble features polyethylene bubbles that create a “thermal break” on both sides, minimizing condensation and frost formation, especially in areas with significant temperature variations. Bubble Foil Reflective Insulation is available in:
ES® Radiantshield Reflective Foam core integrates insulation, radiant barrier, vapor barrier, and air barrier properties in a single product. This versatility ensures superior performance, effectively addressing heat, cold, condensation, and airflow concerns.
Our radiant barrier and reflective insulation is manufactured in North America and is shipped from our headquarters in Fort Worth, TX, our Midwest warehouse in Ohio or our East Coast warehouse in North Carolina.
Installing ES® Perforated RFID Radiant Barrier products in your home’s attic is the best way to reduce the workload of your HVAC system by nearly eliminating the radiant heat transfer in your attic space. You can also use reflective insulation to wrap duct work and reduce energy loss as heated and cooled air is moved from your HVAC unit to your home’s vents.
A radiant barrier effectively redirects heat, which is useful year-round. In summer, it deflects heat away from your home, while in winter, it keeps heat inside. This helps control temperatures efficiently.
In summer, ES® Radiant Barriers block 97% of the sun’s radiant heat, which makes up 93% of heat transfer into your home. In winter, they reflect heat back indoors, reducing reliance on heating systems. Radiant heat accounts for 50-75% of heat transfer out of your home.
ES® Radiant Barriers, when used with mass insulation like fiberglass or cellulose, boost your building’s overall resistance to heat transfer.
It’s a widespread belief that thicker insulation is always better, but that’s not necessarily the case. While mass insulation like fiberglass or cellulose may have a higher R-Value due to density, they’re not as effective at blocking radiant heat transfer. Unlike mass insulation, which primarily resists conductive and convective heat transfer, radiant heat is efficiently blocked through reflection.
This means that a thinner reflective material, like a radiant barrier, can often outperform thicker non-reflective insulation with a higher R-Value when it comes to blocking radiant heat transfer. For optimal thermal performance, it’s important to consider both R-Value and the ability to block radiant heat.
For more detailed information on how radiant barriers work, feel free to check out our How Does a Radiant Barrier Work page.
Yes, ES® Reflective Insulation indeed offers a practical solution to condensation issues in various structures like basements or metal buildings. By creating a thermal break with an air space, it inhibits the interaction between warm, moist indoor air and cold air on the surface. Proper installation, including sealing the seams with tape, ensures that condensation doesn’t form on the surface of the reflective insulation. This method helps maintain a more comfortable and stable environment while also protecting the structure from potential moisture-related damage.
There’s a significant distinction between standard household aluminum foil, like Reynolds Wrap, and a reflective foil radiant barrier like ES® Radiant Barrier Foil.
Standard aluminum foil found in households is a thin sheet of aluminum mixed with other alloys. It tends to oxidize over time and lacks tear-resistance.
On the other hand, Energy Shield USA radiant barrier foil is designed with a multi-layer structure and reinforced with a woven scrim, providing excellent tear and tensile strength. It contains a higher aluminum content, enhancing reflectivity, and is coated for durability and corrosion resistance.
A1 – Aluminum foil exposed in a vertical position since 1929 to the dust and fumes in the Heat Measurements Laboratory, M.I.T. Samples of this foil have been removed from time to time and the emissivity determined. Over a period of 10 years no appreciable change in emissivity was found. American Society of Heating and
Air Conditioning Engineers’ Journal Section, Jan. 1940, Professor Wilkes, M.I.T.
A2 – Thin layers of dust readily visible to the eye do not cause very serious lowering in the reflective power. The appearance of the surface is not a reliable guide as to its reflectivity for radiant heat, and foil which appears dark or discolored may have lost little in insulating value if the surface film is thin.
The National Bureau of Standards, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Letter Circular – 535
A1 – Hundreds of samples of aluminum foil have been stored in the laboratory for various periods of time up to 10 years with no visible signs of deterioration.
American Society of Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers’ Journal Section
A2 – Aluminum is highly resistant to the effect of corrosion. Aluminum is constantly being used where it is exposed to weather, salt spray and other conditions, which would adversely affect most metals.
The United States Rubber Co. Booklet, Serving You Through Science, Page 5
A1 SUMMER – A radiant barrier system can stop 97 percent of the thermal radiation across an attic space. If it is not stopped, that radiant energy would be absorbed by the ceiling insulation and eventually be transferred to the living space below.
The Solar Collector, Quarterly Newsletter of the Florida Solar Energy Center
The heat storage capacity of reflective insulation is low. As a result, it does not store heat during summer days, only to pass it on down into the rooms of the house from the attic at night when coolness is most apt to be desired from the point of view of sleeping comfort.
Progressive Architecture, Nov. 1949, Page 76
A2 WINTER – Reflective foil retrofitted to fiberglass insulated buildings is demonstrably effective in reducing heat loss. Installation of foil in uninsulated buildings would show even more pronounced reduction in heat loss.
Effects Of Reflective Foil On Heat Loss in Attic Floors and Metal Building Installations, Northeastern Illinois University, Prof. Charles Shabica, May 20, 1986
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