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Tuesday, 18 November
Keynote Address:
Dynamic Thermal Disconnect and Other Novel Technology Opportunities for Future Reflecting Insulation and Radiant Barrier Applications – Jan Kosny, PhD
In this presentation Dr. Kosny will discuss thermal testing results and application examples of several emerging thermal management technologies (including building systems), where materials typically used by the RIMA industry may possibly find new avenues for market introductions. These technologies may also open new partnership opportunities with companies from different industrial sectors.
Regional Updates – Latin American, Europe, Australasia, Korea/Japan, North America, UK, Argentina
The presenters for all the regional updates will report on market trends in each region along with comments on how reflective materials are being used: residential, commercial, agricultural etc. applications. Information on industry challenges and/or industry achievements and in general giving insight to the overall “economic health” of Reflective technology will be shared.
Using AI in Evaluating the Performance of Reflective Insulation– Saleh Alshehri, PhD
Reflective insulations (RIs) are currently being used in building envelope components (walls, roofs, windows, curtain walls and skylight dives). RIs use single- and multi-airspaces with at least one surface having low emittance. As the three modes of heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) occur in the airspace, its thermal performance depends on airspace dimensions and orientations, and temperatures and emittances of all surfaces bounding the airspace as well as heat flow direction through the airspace. The evaluations of airspace thermal performance are presently based on data from the U.S. National Bureau of Standards and represented in the ASHRAE Handbook-Fundamentals and ISO-6946. These evaluations, however, are limited to a few airspace configurations and do not account for all of the parameters that impact thermal performance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied across a wide range of engineering disciplines. By integrating advanced and thoroughly validated 2D and 3D numerical models with state-of-the-art AI technologies, an innovative and user-friendly tool, called “Airspace Reflective Tool, ART” has been developed to determine the R-values of enclosed airspaces for a broad spectrum of applications. Most recently, a web-based version of ART has also been introduced. This tool offers multiple modes of operation, including calculation, design, optimization, and research. Its capabilities will be demonstrated for various applications involving reflective insulation systems.
The Penetration of Radiant Barrier Products in Cold Climate Applications – William Miller, PhD, PE
A radiant barrier (RB) is typically a layer of aluminum foil placed in the attic adjacent an air space to block radiant heat transfer between a heat-radiating surface (such as a hot roof) and a heat-absorbing surface (such as conventional insulation lain on the attic floor). The RB’s primary function is to reduce the radiant heat flow crossing the insulated ceiling of an attic. Benefits of radiant barriers are difficult to quantify because of the effects of climate, attic geometry, the style of attic (sealed or ventilated), duct arrangement, duct insulation and duct leakage and the level and placement of attic insulation. Heat crossing the duct predominates over the heat crossing the attic floor. The US Department of Commerce reports that over half of single-family homes are built with slab foundations. The statistic implies that possibly 56 million homes equipped for comfort conditioning have the air handler and ducts installed in an unconditioned attic. Published literature has confirmed the energy savings and peak-load reduction benefits of radiant barriers in hot climates. However, in predominantly cold climates the radiant barrier is less effective as compared to insulation.
The goal of this work is to assess possible synergistic benefits of radiant barriers coupled to other intelligent heat management schemes that redirect heat transfer away from the conditioned space of a home. Radiant barrier and both isotropic and anisotropic materials were fitted with a water-source collector plate and placed in the cavity of a cathedral attic. The collector plate was plumped to a ground coil used as a source/sink for buffering heat flows crossing the ceiling of a cathedral attic. An attic tool computed the thermal performance of the hybrid system and assessed energy and economic benefit in cold climates. The design eliminates duct losses, it minimizes heat flows crossing the cathedral attic and is cost effective in moderate to cold climates.
PCM Performance Enhanced by a Reflective Air Space– David Yarbrough, PhD, PE
The design of a PCM application includes a need to specify the thermal resistances on both sides of the PCM material. These thermal resistances control the rate of heat absorbance and release as the environmental temperature cycles. In the case of vertical or near vertical heat flow, a reflective insulation in the heat flow path changes resistance when the heat flow direction changes. In effect, this is a thermal switch that can be used to enhance the “chargjng” and “discharging’ of heat from the PCM. A numerical example of this application will be discussed.
Devices for Rapid Calculations of Reflective Inbsulations R-Values – Hamed Saber, PhD
Advanced and extensively validated 2D- and 3D-numerical models were used to assess the energy and moisture performance of building envelope components. This model simultaneously solves the Heat, Air and Moisture (HAM) equations coupled with surface-to-surface and surface-to-ambient radiation equations for various building applications. For building components with reflective insulations and radiant barriers, the model was used to:
- Develop an innovative user-friendly evaluation and design tool called “Airspace Reflective Tool – ART” developed to evaluate enclosed airspaces for different building applications. ART addresses limitations in the currently available methods.
- Steel-Framing Device (SFD) for determining the thermal resistances of steel-framing systems with and without reflective insulations.
- Assess the energy performance of reflective insulations with air intrusion due to infiltration and wind washing for various air-changes per hour for walls, flat-roofs and sloped-roofs, with different heat- flow directions.
- Assess the energy performance of reflective insulations having multiple airspaces with quantitative evaluation of the effect of defects and cross airflow between the airspaces.
- Assess the energy performance of residential attics containing radiant barriers and various heat-flow directions.
The results obtained for case studies of the above items will be discussed.
From ASTM to ISO: Navigating the New Global Standard for Reflective Insulation (ISO 21239)– Pablo Sobrado
For years, the reflective insulation industry, particularly in the Americas, has relied on ASTM C1224 as its guiding specification. Now, a significant evolution is underway. As part of a global sustainability strategy, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is finalizing ISO/DIS 21239, a new, comprehensive standard poised to become the international benchmark for reflective insulation products.
This session, led by an engineer who has been directly involved in the development of both standards, provides a critical roadmap for this transition. We will move beyond a simple overview and conduct a comparative analysis to prepare manufacturers, engineers, architects, and regulators for the changes ahead. Attendees will gain a competitive advantage by understanding not just the “what,” but the “why” behind the new global requirements.
Key topics will include:
- The Strategic Shift: From Regional to Global: A look at the differences in scope and international acceptance between ASTM C1224 and the new ISO 21239, and what this means for market access and global trade.
- Performance Metrics: A Deeper Look at Emissivity and R-Value: While both standards address thermal resistance, ISO 21239 introduces a highly detailed, statistical procedure for determining declared emissivity (ϵD), including mandatory aging and durability factors (Annex D). This is a major evolution from the methods currently used.
- Durability and Testing Protocols: A comparison of durability requirements. ISO 21239 specifies new, rigorous tests for the durability of emissivity, adhesive function after thermal stress, and flexibility of the reflective layers, creating a more robust framework than previous standards.
- Conformity and Quality Control: Understanding the structured approach of ISO 21239 for Evaluation of Conformity, which mandates Initial Type Testing (ITT) and specifies minimum frequencies for Factory Production Control (FPC).
- New Designation and Labeling: How to interpret and use the new ISO designation code (e.g., RI ISO XXXX-T2-WS1-MU1) which provides a clear, standardized summary of product performance on the label.
Development of American National Consensus on Rating and Measuring Carbon in New Homes – Steve Baden
RESNET has adopted an American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard on the rating of the carbon produced in the operation of homes (RESNET HERS Carbon Index®. It is also developing an ANSI Standard for calculating the embedded carbon in residential building materials (ANSI candidate standard 1550 “Embodied Carbon”. This presentation looks at the potential impact of the standards on the US housing market and international implications.