Building & Construction Practice Test: Thermal Insulation — Flashcards

Thermal insulation materials can help save energy, reduce noise, prevent fires, and make buildings last longer.

When choosing thermal insulation materials, you can consider things like:
R-value: The material's thermal resistance
Air keeping: The material's ability to keep air out
Moisture fighting: The material's ability to fight moisture 

Here are some types of thermal insulation materials:
Polyurethane foam: A synthetic polymer that's widely used as insulation material.
Fiberglass batt insulation: A thermal and acoustical insulation product that's easy to install and can be used in any construction type and climate zone.
Cellulose: An excellent acoustic insulator that can also be used as a thermal insulator.
Insulation boards: Typically made of rigid foam insulation, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), or polyisocyanurate (ISO).
Aerogel: The best thermal insulator available, but it's much more expensive than fiberglass and is brittle, making it more difficult to install.
Insulation blankets: Manufactured from thermal insulation and fire proofing materials into a flat, tubular, and custom shapes of known thickness material.
Loose fill insulation: A technique that blocks air leakage and reduces unwanted noise from outside.