Superior Foam Outperforms Fiberglass

If you settle for fiberglass,
it will do some settling of its own!

Energy loss occurs when unconditioned air from outside or from the attic enters air conditioned living space through exterior walls or the ceiling due to air permeability, settling, and drifting of fiberglass. Energy loss occurs in vaulted ceilings where gaps or voids are created by using fiberglass batts which sag allowing for movement of convective heat. Energy loss occurs by infiltration at the top and bottom plates and between multiple side by side studs on exterior walls. This air infiltration creates a draft which passes easily through the fiberglass batts and escapes through the light switches and wall plugs.

Superior Foam has a higher R-value. The ASTM establishes the R-value of fiberglass batt insulation at 3.20 per inch and SEALection 500^© foam at 3.81 per inch. This means that 4.06 inches of fiberglass batts and 3.41 inches of SEALection 500 foam will perform to the same R-value (in this case, R-13) under lab conditions. However, we don't live under lab conditions, and fiberglass fails to perform at its "stated" R value in the walls and ceilings of a building.

SEALection 500 installed to R-13 will perform comparably to fiberglass insulation installed to something in excess of R-30. Watch the demo online!

Thermal drift, as this phoenomenon is politely called, results partly from the failure of the material to fit all cavities perfectly, thus leaving air pockets which permit convective air movement inside the cavity. Gaps in fiberglass insulation as small as 3% have been found to reduce performance by as much as 35%. When fiberglass is compressed to less than its normal thickness, it again loses R-value because the amount of air trapped in the material is reduced. The greater the compression, the greater the loss of R-value.

Still further drift occurs with fiberglass if it is not fully protected against air infiltration, both from the interior and the exterior. Commonly used R-13 fiberglass batt insulation may well perform at a fraction of its "stated" rating depending on installation, how well it fits the cavity and how well it is protected from air infiltration. Over time, the settling and sagging of fiberglass batts can cause large portions of the thermal envelope to perform at, or very close to, an R-value of zerio.

The performance of SEALection 500^© soft foam insulation does not drift nearly as much. Although the installer plays a very important role in the performance of the home by his preparation of the foam prior to spraying and by his choices as to where and how much SEALection 500 to spray, the foam is much more "user friendly" than fiberglass. As it expands, the material forces its way into every corner and crevice perfectly fitting the cavity regardless of shape, and it creates its own virtually continuous air barrier by adhering to structural components. When properly installed, SEALection 500 provides an extraordinarily well-insulated and air-sealed building envelope. It contains no gasses which will escape, and it will never shrink, settle, sag, slip, or deteriorate, so its incredible performance is permanent!