Moisture Absorption in Polystyrene Insulation: Effects on In-Service Design R-Values

Publish Date: November 11, 2020

Publisher Credit: The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) Interface

Moisture absorption is a familiar concept. It is easy to understand moisture absorption mechanisms in polystyrene insulation. Unfortunately, some insulation-performance claims can be misleading when based on test results from a few field samples or extrapolations of long-term field performance from small-scale laboratory tests of limited duration and exposure.

Ideally, engineers and specifiers would have access to peer-reviewed data from known scientific institutions to sort through the marketing claims. Sophisticated mathematical modeling is emerging to help predict polystyrene insulation performance in a range of climate conditions, but in the meantime, long-term field research studies are the best resource for reliable information.

Download the PDF to read the full article.

This article originally appeared in the November 2020 issue of IIBEC Interface. IIBEC Interface is the technical journal of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). The institute intends that IIBEC Interface educate and inform, establish common ground for discussion, and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and technical knowledge. Visit IIBEC online at iibec.org to learn more.

Attachment	Size
2020-11-Woestman.pdf	1.79 MB

Recent Press

December 7, 2020

Incentivizing Green Infrastructure - The Floor Area Ratio Bonus

There are a lot of incentives for green roofs in the world today which improve the business case for implementation. Many of those incentives rely on making one-time payments based on the size of the green roof. While...
November 11, 2020

Moisture Absorption in Polystyrene Insulation: Effects on In-Service Design R-Values

Moisture absorption is a familiar concept. It is easy to understand moisture absorption mechanisms in polystyrene insulation. Unfortunately, some insulation-performance claims can be misleading when based on test...

November 26, 2019

Garden Roof Benefits Patients at Pediatric Hospital in Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto, CA. (November 26, 2019) There are many reasons to incorporate a green or living roof into a design, including energy conservation, water management, and financial benefits. For one project in Palo Alto,...
November 11, 2019

Climate change and stormwater management

Climate change and stormwater management

A new color is emerging in the roofing field; after green roofs and white roofs, now here is the blue roof. The dense nature of urban areas, combined with the increased intensity of rain events and...

May 2, 2019

No Chicago H20 Blues

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 2, 2019) Very near Lake Michigan in Chicago, Northwestern Medical Center faced several challenges in bringing a new campus building to life. Designed by Perkins+Will, the project involves...
October 17, 2018

Hydrotech Announces New Fourth Edition Garden Roof Planning Guide

Hydrotech, a recognized leader in the vegetative roofing market, today announced the availability of the Fourth Edition of the company’s widely acclaimed Garden Roof® Planning Guide. For the last five years, updated...

Presse & Couverture médiatique