Those in the freezing alpine areas of australia require insulation with at least an r value of 6.
Roof insulation r value chart australia.
Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different r value.
Here is a chart and map that details this information.
R value measures how well certain building insulation materials can resist heat.
Here s a handy r value table that covers most types of roof coverings building insulation and a few other materials.
Building code of australia bca.
With australia s rising energy prices we recommend choosing the highest r value you can afford.
The r value is a measure of the insulation batt s resistance to heat flow also known as thermal resistance.
By looking at insulation as a long term investment spending a couple of extra hundred dollars on the right insulation now can save you thousands over the life of your home.
Installing foil backed blanket insulation is also a great idea if you are building a flat roof or cathedral ceiling.
What r value do i need.
The greater the r value the greater the resistance to heat transfer and the greater the insulating effect and subsequent energy savings.
The higher the r value the greater the insulation performance.
As discussed earlier in australia the bca has specified the r value requirements for all regions across the country.
Typical recommendations for exterior walls are r 13 to r 23 while r 30 r 38 and r 49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.
For a very good introductory overview article on r value see r values over at the website of.
Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators.
It s recommended that you install foil backed insulation in your roof to an r value of r1 0 or higher.
The insulation must be water resistant and be continuous from the adjacent finished ground level to a depth of 300mm or for at least the full depth of the vertical edge of the concrete slab on ground.
When determining how much insulation you need don t guesstimate calculate.
Insulation in zones 1 and 2 typically require an r value of 3 or 4 while properties in zones 3 to 7 will require an r value of at least 5.
You should of course see the manufacturer provided technical data sheet for the r value of specific products.
R value of various materials.
The insulation must achieve a minimum r value of 1 0 in zones 1 to 7 and a minimum r value of 2 0 in zone 8.
Most insulation manufacturers will first list their insulation s r value for a one inch sample then they ll give you a chart demonstrating the other r values you can achieve if you install a thicker version of their product.
