Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions P2000 insulation

does anyone have practicle experience with this product. it is a rigid expanded polystyrene with a reflective coatinng. one inch thick is equivalent to R-27! this would appear to be perfect for timber frame application. thank you

Mike
Sounds very interesting. Is there a website with more info? I also would be interested to hear from anyone who has used this product.
Ron

if you google p2000 insulation you will get bunches of info

no connecton with company, but here is their website http://www.p2insulation.com/

Hey Y'all:

From the website and a conversation with a local distributor, this stuff looks great. I'm thinking about roof application: the distributor says no need for strapping but do need soffit and ridge vent. I'm thinking 1x strapping perp. to purlins would be advisable anyway.

Any thoughts? Does this stuff seem to good to be true?

more research indicates that really good roof ventilation is essential, as radiance gain can be huge. distributor suggests 2x4 strapping.

If it sounds too good, then watch out; it probably is. There is no practical way, scientifically, to get R-27 per 1 inch with EPS plus alumimum surfaces. EPS gets R-3.5 per inch. Reflective surfaces will provide a R 6-7 WITH a 3/4" airspace. But there are two issues with this statement; 1) foil in contact with a surface will conduct cold right through it-just like alumimum spacers in insulated windows. You need to create that airspace so that radiant heat can reflect back. 2) Reflection of radiant heat is only one of three components of R-values. The others are convection and conduction. Insulation has to address all three. The best insulation is a vacuum. If air molecules can't freely move about and bump into one another, than they can't transfer heat.

i have verified the independent testing source. this is a summary:
P2000 Insulation System complies with the applicable requirements of the Standard for CAN/ULC - S701-01 (Standard for Thermal Insulation Type 1 molded/expanded Polystyrene Rigid Boards and Pipe Covering.) ULCS-701 ASTM Internal.
Conforms to N.B.C. 1995 Article 9.25.2.2 (including April 2002 Revision and Errata.)
A calculation of the R factor has been made to different temperature gradients within the required range. Values show that the P2000 5/8" Bronze Insulation System is comparable to the 6" Fibreglass Insulation and that the P2000 1" Bronze Insulation is comparable to the 12" Fibreglass Insulation. (REPORT No. 3077745)