Radiant Barrier Attic Insulation

One common misconception regarding radiant barrier is that the heat reflecting off the radiant barrier back to the roof has the potential to increase the roof temperature and possibly damage the shingles. Performance testing by Florida Solar Energy Center demonstrated that the increase in temperature at the hottest part of the day was no more than a few degrees F. In fact, this study showed that radiant barrier had the potential to decrease the roof temperature once the sun went down because it prevented heat loss through the roof. RIMA International wrote a technical paper on the subject which included statements collected from large roofing manufacturers, and none said that radiant barrier would in any way affect the warranty of the shingles.

R-Value is a measure of heat absorption (slowing the heat). Radiant Barrier is measured in reflectivity (blocking the heat).

Typically, a modern-day cell phone won’t be affected by radiant barrier. First, our products are not made with copper or tin which block cell signals. Second, Radiant Barrier only covers the roof portion of the house. The signal goes from your phone to the cell tower in a straight line, generally never even going through the Radiant Barrier in the attic.

Just like wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil keeps it warm longer by holding in the heat, covering your attic insulation with Radiant Barrier holds the heat in the house. Another analogy would be that in winter Radiant Barrier works just like a space blanket which, although very thin and lightweight, holds in your body heat. A thin space blanket can keep you warmer than several heavy blankets.

Like a space suit, Radiant Barrier reflects the sun’s heat before it can warm up the insulation in your attic. When the insulation stays cooler, your house will too. Just like a space suit or Thermos bottle, the reflective surface inhibits radiant heat transfer. If the bottle starts out hot, it stays hot because very little heat is transferred to the cooler outside. If it starts out cold, it stays cold because very little heat is transferred from the warmer outside.

For the Apollo program, NASA helped develop a thin aluminum metalized film that reflected 95% of the radiant heat. A metalized film was used to protect spacecraft, equipment, and astronauts from thermal radiation or to retain heat in the extreme temperature fluctuations of space. The aluminum was vacuum-coated to a thin film and applied to the base of the Apollo landing vehicles. It was also used in numerous other NASA projects like the James Webb Space Telescope and Skylab. In the vacuum of space where temperatures can range from 250°F above to 400°F below zero and heat transfer is only by radiation. Radiant barrier is a Space Foundation Certified Space Technology(TM). Radiant barrier was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1996.