Reflective Foil Insulation in Tropical Climates Prepared By

Reflective Foil Insulation in Tropical Climates Prepared By Silver Batts Insulation Systems In Association with Sanrok Enterprises

Problem IT’S HOT! But People in the tropics have a laid-back outdoorsy life-style – they don’t like being cooped up in an air-conditioned house. 2

Solution Reflective Insulation can provide significant comfort improvements Without Air Conditioning 3

Thermal Management - Europe/US Structure: Sealed envelope. Access: Air-lock doors. Analysis: Heating and cooling numbers, based on internal/external air temperature difference. “Mechanicals”: Heating/AC, bulk insulation. 4

Thermal Management – Tropical Structure: Partial envelope; high-set floors; high roofs; broad eaves or balconies; well ventilated. Access: Door or open doorway; louvre windows permanently open. Analysis: Total heat load = air temperature + radiation. Cooling devices: Ceiling fans, evaporative coolers. 5

Thermal Management Traditional Tropical Architecture Design principles: ü Roof ventilation dissipates solar heat gain. ü Raised floors assist downward heat loss. ü Light timber construction cools rapidly at night. ü Cross-ventilation adds to thermal comfort. A modern improvement: ü SILVER BATTS reflective insulation eliminates heat gain through roof without storing heat at night. 6

Insulation Engineered for Warm Climates Wave. Core Silver Batts are designed for sub-tropical and tropical climates Equivalent to fibrous insulation between joists. Winter: up to R 6. 7 Summer: up to R 1. 7 Ø Maximum resistance against heat coming in. Ø Minimum resistance against night-time shedding of heat. 7

Why doesn’t fibrous insulation work in warm climates? Fibrous insulation captures air pockets; preventing convection. very effective at keeping heat in; But less effective at keeping heat out. Heat flow down is mostly radiation, which shines through fibrous insulation at high temperatures. 8

In Warm Climates Radiant Heat Matters! Stephan-Boltzmann Law of radiation: w/m 2 = e c t 4 where e = emissivity c = 5. 67 ∙ 10 - 8 t = temperature (Kelvin) Net radiant heat transfer from a fibre-cement roof at 80 degrees Celsius to a 40 degree ceiling is 300 watts per square metre. 9

Thermal Management Subtropical Insulation Professor Richard Aynsley says “use reflective insulation with lower resistance against heat flow up, to facilitate shedding heat at night”. 10

Measuring Temperature in Warm Climates Operative temperature = weighted average of air and mean radiant temperature. For air velocity < 0. 2 m/s, use the simple average of air and mean radiant temperature. Mean radiant temperature = the weighted average of all surrounding surface temperatures. (Note: relative humidity is ignored throughout this discussion. ) 11

Operative Temperature – Equation to ≈ (hrtr + hcta)/(hr + hc) Where to = operative temperature hr = coefficient of radiant heat transfer hc = coefficient of convective heat transfer ta = air temperature tr = mean radiant temperature 12

Measuring Operative Temperature Globe Temperature ≈ Operative Temperature A thermometer enclosed in a black copper globe 150 mm diameter measures radiant and conductive heat load, reasonably closely approximating Operative Temperature. 13

A Rule of Thumb Empirical work by Aynsley et al* indicates that typically o 1 increase in ceiling temperature o ≈ 0. 2 increase in operative temperature. * Aynsley R. , Melbourne W. and Vickery B. (1977), Architectural Aerodynamics, Applied Science, London, p 182. 14

Operative Temperature in an Open Shed On a hot sunny day in summer * – Air temperature 42 o Wind speed <2 m/s Solar irradiation 1, 000 w/m 2 o Roof temperature 90 Operative temperature 51. 4 o * Typical conditions for semi-arid subtropical climate; internal air temperature assumed equal to external. 15

Reflective Foil In an Open Shed For bright aluminium, e (emittance) radiation = e c t 4 Mean radiant heat Operative Temperature = 0. 03 ≈ 0 w/m 2 o 42 Foil under the roof eliminates radiant heat, reduces Operative Temperature by almost 10 o. 16

Operative Temperature in a Hot House On a warm sunny day in summer * – Air temperature 32 o Wind speed <2 m/s Solar irradiation 1, 000 w/m 2 o Ceiling temperature 60 Operative temperature 37. 6 o Eliminating radiant heat in o ceiling can cut operative temperature by 5. 6 17

Foil in a Sealed Buildings or with Ceiling Fans In sealed building, heat Multi-Layer Silver Batts transfer by conduction provide a cost- effective must be addressed. space-saving solution. 18

Single-Layer Reflective Foil Laminate In an open shed, where the air temperature is the same as outside, foil reduces radiant heat, stops condensation. (Fibrous insulation over the foil adds no benefit. ) 19

Multi-Layer Silver Batts in Residential Ceilings (1) Multi-Layer Silver Batts: a highly effective insulation for tropical and sub-tropical climates. Pictured: High. Top Wave. Core Silver Batts. 20

Multi-Layer Silver Batts in Residential Ceilings High-Top Wave. Core Silver Batts Equivalent* R value: Installation over ceiling joists eliminates heat bridge. Heat flow down: R 6. 7 Heat flow up: R 1. 7 * R value of bulk insulation between joists required to 21 achieve equal overall resistance.

Multi-Layer Silver Batts under Steel Roof Multi-Layer Silver Batts are the most effective of insulation against heat flow down in enclosed buildings. Pictured: Sydney warehouse with Wave. Core Silver Batts R 2. 8 summer 22

Multi-Layer Silver Batts under Concrete Multi-Layer Silver Batts are the most effective of insulation against heat flow down in enclosed buildings. Pictured: Sydney office block with Triple Layer Silver Batts. R 2. 4+ summer 23

Multi-Layer Silver Batts in Portable Buildings Multi-Layer Silver Batts are the preferred solution where superior summer performance is required. Pictured: Melbourne portable classroom with Wave. Core Silver Batts. R 3. 9 summer 24

About Silver Batts Insulation Systems • Established 1999. • Division of Amalgamated Metal Industries P/L. • Patents in Australia, NZ, US, Japan, China. • Systems for residential, office, and industrial. • Markets in Australia, Japan, India, NZ. 25

Valued Clients - Australia Pictured: King Street Warf development, Sydney; fitted with Triple Layer Silver Batts. Australian client base includes most major commercial builders: • Multiplex, • Australand, • Baulderstone, • Meriton. 26

Export Clients - Japan In Japan, Silver Batts are marketed in partnership with Matsumoto Kenko. Clients include Mitsui and Panasonic. Pictured: Certificate of “Superior Insulation” from Japanese Ministry of Construction. 27

Silver Batts vs Fibreglass; Features Issue Silver Batts Fibreglass Condensation Non-absorbent; moisture resistant Absorbs water; can lead to damage to structure. Ease of installation Fix to structure Support needed in steel sheds. Seasonality Summer Heat retention Best in summer Best in winter. Allows rapid night Retains heat well cooling at night 28

Silver Batts reflective foil insulation; A solution for HOT climates Silver Batts provide a One-Way Heat Valve Ø prevent heat gain during the day; but Ø allow rapid cooling at night. 29