[Strawbale] Bubble wrap

[answers at healthyheating.com]

In addition to Don's reference, here's a short list of suggested
readings if bubble foil is being considered for under slab applications.

a) Energy Design Update, November 2003
Excerpts from four different bubble foil producers who's claims were
Challenged by EDU, "apologies to anyone confused by the statement",
"This was an oversight on our part", "we realized it was erroneous" ,
"apologize
for the misconstrued quote".

b)Federal Trade Commission, 16 CFR Part 460, Labeling and Advertising of
Home Insulation

c)Federal Trade Commission Advisory Letter & RIMA bulletin, excerpt
,"...in 2004, the Federal Trade Commission distributed letters to
several companies in the reflective insulation and radiant barrier
industries alerting them that they are reviewing marketing materials on
the industry to see whether they comply with the requirements of the
FTC's Rule for Labeling and Advertising of Home Insulation and alerting
them to the penalties for violations of the  rule... the Reflective
Insulation Manufacturers Association says it was in full support of this
action taken by the FTC and began its own efforts to address the problem
non-member companies that were in clear violation were contacted as
well."

d)HPAC Engineering, Moisture, Materials, and Buildings, by Dr, J.F.
Straube

e) Radiant Panel Association Technical Bulletin 220

f)Department of Energy, DOE/CE-0180/with Addendum 1, Insulation Facts

g)Bad Science, By John Siegenthaler, P.E.

h)CSA B214-01, Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems

i)ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2004, Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise
Residential Buildings

j) Field Comparison of Insulations in a Snow Melt System, by Mark
Eatherton

k)CMHC Comparison of Under floor Insulation Systems, 2004, 

l)Underslab Insulation for Radiant Heating, Dr. J. Straube,
C.Schumacher, B.Tech, B.A.Sc. for Beaver Plastics, 2000

rb

-----Original Message-----
From: strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:strawbale-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of
dfugler at cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:17 AM
To: strawbale at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Strawbale] Bubble wrap

Good morning,

Shody mentioned that foil bubblewrap seems to be replacing foam and 
plastic for underslab assemblies. Don't use it if you want real 
insulation. Here is the testing that CMHC did:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/63728.pdf

The foil bubblewrap product had an effective value of about R1 or R2 
compared to a couple of inches of foam at R10-R12. 

It is not suitable for underslab insulation.

Don Fugler
CMHC Policy and Research