Energy Source Builder
Flexible Batt
Batt insulation has an Achilles' heel. In the real world of building construction, it's virtually impossible to get a perfect fit. Voids and compression steal some of the material's insulating value.
Roxul, a Canadian company, recently introduced the Flexibatt. Treated edges compress and spring back allowing much better fit than other batts. Without voids the material should perform as expected.
Flexibatt is made from rock wool, which has two advantages over fiberglass. First, it's much more heat resistant with a melting point around 2,000°F. Second, it blocks sound better. Rockwool's main disadvantage is greater shipping cost, due to its higher density. High density also gives the product a good insulating value. R-values run about 3.6 to 3.8 per inch. That's comparable to high-density fiberglass batts. Roxul currently markets Flexibatt only in Canada. Although they don't offer the flexible feature, several American companies also make rockwool batts.
Contact: Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers
This article appeared in Energy Source Builder #29 October 1993 |
