Are You Using the Correct Insulation Material for Your Roof?

SOME BITS OF COLONIAL HISTORY

Filipinos have been made to accept glasswool as the correct insulation for roofs. This idea has been handed down over many decades by consultants trained in Europe and the U.S.A. where they have been extensively in use.

In cold countriess the aim of fiberglass insulation is to keep the heat in the house and to keep cold out, especially during the winter. By absorbing heat within their air-filled layer, fiberglass mateials prevent heat loss in a heated room. For this, the glasswool or fibreglass insulation material carries U.L. listing and approval from British standards for its effectiveness-and rightly so. No question.

However, in tropical conditions, the situation is reverse. The goal is to dissipate heat or keep it out so that airconditioned rooms are made cool. Fiberglass insulation is therefore inapplicable.

This approach to insulation in tropical countries has led to the invention in New Zealand of Harvi-foil aluminum heat barrier and insulation.

HOW IS HEAT TRANSFERRED IN YOUR HOUSE?

There are 3 ways: conduction, convection and radiation.

In a typical house, the sun's heat is transferred mostly by radiation. Its invisible infra-red rays penetrate through any object in the house until they get to you in the room and you feel the hear.

On way to prevent the infra-red rays from reaching you is to put a thick material between you and the sun. This thick materials will absorb the heat and hold it before it reaches you. This is the principle of fiberglass insulation.

However, like water in a sponge, fiberglass can only absorb and capture heat only up to a certain degree,after which heat escapes and "drips" like water from a soaked-up sponge. Then, you feel the heat in the room.

If the absorption strategy is not a brilliant idea, is there an alternative to preventing infra-red rays from reaching you.

REFLECTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS THE ANSWER

There are 3 materials that have been discovered to effectively block infra-red rays from any heat source-gold, silver and aluminum. These block heat radiation by reflecting it back to the atmosphere. No absorption, just reflection. But because of supply scarcity, gold and silver have been used more for jewelry and false teeth,not for roof insulation.

This has lead to Harvi-foil adapting aluminum as material for radiant heat barrier and insulation in roofing applications.

HARVI-FOIL, THE SMART CHOICE

Harvi-foil, aims to accomplish one goal:reflect heat out in the atmosphere. With an airgap of at least 3"m Harvi-foil dows this effectively and without any attempt to deceive.

When you buy Harvi-foil, you get most insulation value for every peso you spend. Now think what that will do to reduce your electric bills on air-condition and to keep you cool, relaxed and collected on a hot day.

If you want to know more about harvi-Foil, get in touch with us at Multi-Line, Harvi-Foil's Philippine distributor.