Home

Products
Low-e Ceilings
Ice Arenas
About EI
Contact Us

download owners manual

 
 

 


 
   
   
   
 
 

Astro-Foil

ASTRO-FOIL - reflective insulation consists of two layers of aluminum foil laminated to the outside of two layers of heavy-duty polyethylene air bubble cushioning. These bubbles form trapped air spaces between the foil surfaces to give the structure excellent "R" values. Because ASTRO-FOIL is also impervious to moisture and air currents, it is an ideal convection and vapor barrier. ASTRO-FOIL's surfaces reflect heath in both directions to keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Reflective insulation has many applications. It can be used as the primary insulation in every type of building and in all climates. Commercial structures like post-frame and pre-engineered metal buildings that are used for light industrial, warehousing, and animal and poultry confinement can take advantage of ASTRO-FOIL's excellent thermal properties. Ice rinks and other buildings that install ASTRO-FOIL exposed to the inside of the building, get the added benefit of better light with fewer fixtures, along with shorter compressor running time in order to reduce energy consumption and help save you money. Manufacturers of recreational vehicles, conversion vans, as well as stand-alone products like auto and aircraft window sun shields extensively use ASTRO-FOIL.

     

ASTRO-FOIL is truly a special insulating material with important benefits for hot summer temperatures. That's because ASTRO-FOIL reflects up to 97% of the radiant heat rays that strike its surface. Combine this unique ability to keep the effects of the hot sun from penetrating buildings with ASTRO-FOIL's impermeability to moisture and wind infiltration and you have the perfect solution to insulation problems in many applications.

Now you have a choice when it comes to the selection of an insulating material. Thanks to NASA and their quest for insulation that would reflect heat rather than absorb it like mass insulation, they developed Reflective Insulation. Today, there is ASTRO-FOIL Reflective Insulation, the product of tomorrow that's available today.

Used mostly in walls, floors, and ceilings of all types of buildings and specially suited for post-frame and pre-engineered metal buildings. Works well in all climates, but especially suited for hot, humid regions. Fits many automotive and other applications where high performance in small spaces is required.
     

Excellent for Arena applications where it can substantially reduce energy costs by lowering the refrigeration load. Available in a variety of constructions, including: Foil/Bubble/Foil;Foil/Bubble;PET/Foil/Bubble/Bubble/Foil; PET/Foil/Bubble/Bubble/Foil/PET; Foil/White Bubble; PET/Foil/White Bubble/White Bubble. Available in standard widths of 2", 12", 16", 24", 36", 48" and 72". Custom widths are also available up to 96" wide. Standard lengths are 10', 25', 50', 100', and 125'. Custom lengths are available up to 250'.
Note: These Findings are confirmed by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Evaluation Report No. 11978, issued on May 15th, 1989

 

Installation Procedures

Material must be installed with a minimum of ¾" of air space on both sides in order to achieve maximum thermal performance. Since Astro-Foil is a "system" insulation, R-values will vary according to the specific application. The R-value stated above represents an installation in an enclosed cavity formed by standard 2" x 4" wood framing members, encapsulated by plywood.

 

Maintenance Procedures

There are no specific requirements for maintenance. Before installation, Astro-Foil should be stored in a clean, dry environment. It should never be stored on bare concrete.

 

Cost and Availability

Quantity and freight affect cost. Standard structures and roll sizes are available for immediate shipment throughout the US and Canada. Allow 4 weeks for special order delivery.

 

Manufacturer Services

Warranty covers workmanship and quality for the life of the building application. Assistance in application techniques and installation guides are available.

 

R-Values UP, Down, Horizontal

Because we are in the insulation business we are always asked, "What's the R-value of ASTRO-FOIL ?" That's because everyone has been thought that R-values alone determine the thermal performance of the insulation-right? WRONG1

R-values by definition measure the insulation's ability to resist heat loss by CONDUCTION. Heat moves within a room or building primarily by RADIATION of heat energy waves. Like the warmth one feels from heat waves produced by a wood stove. All the objects in an enclosed structure give off (emit) radiant heat waves, exchanging them with the other objects and wall/ceiling surfaces. The walls and ceilings will absorb the radiant heat waves, converting them to conductive heat that can then pass through the wall system to the cooler outside environment. The job of mass insulation is to slow down that heat transfer by resisting its flow. It is the rate of this heat transfer through the mass insulation that is a measure of the R-value of the material.

BUT, THERE IS A BETTER WAY! What if that heat could be reflected before it had a chance to be absorbed? It is in the nature of the pure, (99.9%) aluminum surfaces of ASTRO-FOIL to reflect 97% of the radiant heat waves that strikes its surface. By reflecting the radiant heat waves, the foil surface remains relatively cool, leaving very little heat to be absorbed and conducted through the surface to the cooler outside of the building. Therefore the R-value of the materials behind the ASTRO-FOIL becomes relatively unimportant.

SO WHY DO WE PUBLISH R-VALUES? Because R-values remain the only industry standard for measuring thermal performance of insulation products, and the Federal Trade Commission requires that we publish the tested results for residential applications. All reflective insulations require air spaces in order to work. Our test model for ASTRO-FOIL is an enclosed cavity formed by standard 2" x 4" framing lumber.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE UP, DOWN, HORIZONTAL QUESTION! As air within the test cavity is heated, convection takes place, and depending on the direction of the heat flow being tested will have an affect on the R-value. HORIZONTAL heat flow through a wall will result in nominal convection loss. UPWARD heat flow, as through the ceiling in the winter is in the same primary direction as convection, so the R-value is significantly reduced. In DOWNWARD heat flow applications, such as through the floor to a crawl space in the winter, or through the roof in the summer convection is not a factor, resulting in maximum R-values.

 

So What is R-value of ASTRO-FOIL?

Since ASTRO-FOIL must be installed with an air space in order for it to reflect heat, we state its R-value in terms of its installed "system", which includes the R-value of those surrounding air spaces. All reflective insulations have different R-values depending on the direction of the heat flow because the effects of convection in the air spaces vary with the direction of the heat flow. Therefore, ASTRO-FOIL's R-value is expressed as follows: But always remember; because ASTRO-FOIL reflects heat first, its thermal performance is not fully measured by its R-values. In many applications, ASTRO-FOIL can substantially out-perform mass type insulation products of comparable R-value.

   
 
 
Home Products Low-e Ceilings Ice Arenas About EI Contact Us

Copyright (c) 2006 Company Name Inc. All rights reserved.