R factor, can anyone tell me where to find R factors for materials?

[barbwire]

I just got to thinking about useing shredded rubber for insulation in a building. Does anyone know if it has been done? Where is a good web site to look at to see if it has a viable R factor? Any suggestions would be a help. TIA

 

[JPope]

Dependant upon your building; residential, commercial, etc. you might want to check with your insurance company and see what they say? They may want to adjust your rates dependant upon local code requirements, building inspectors, fire chief requirments, etc. , etc. Just thinking of the issues similar to burning tires, rubber, smoke, etc.

When you get outside normal building materials, ratings etc. , it can often have adverse affects on insurability/rates etc. because of fire ratings etc.

 

[Eric_77]

Try these links they don't have info on shredded rubber but may be able to help with the r factor or why not use other than normal insulation.



http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_01.html



http://www.insulation.org/index.cfm

 

[RWhites]

Rubber is rather dense so it's thermal mass is the only real factor that might give the illusion that some "insulative" effect was occuring. you would be better off using blown in fiberglass. By the way the R =1/U U being the conductance factor.

Rich

 

[Sojourner]

The 'R-value' (thermal resistance) is derived from the K-value (thermal conductivity). R-value is the inverse of the K-value. Typically, the K-value is established by the ASTM test C 518. I doubt that anyone has paid for an ASTM certified C 518 lab test of shredded rubber (which can typically run several hundred dollars, like $1,500 - $2,000), but I really don't know. If an intensive web search doesn't turn it up, then I would guess that no one has established the K-value/R-value for shredded rubber, or at least posted on a website if they have done so.



Like the idea well enough to toss two grand on the table???

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

AHHHhh, the sheer magic of a Google web search:



http://esa21.kennesaw.edu/modules/energy/exercise2/4-6.htm

 

[RWhites]

OK I go with the "K", Rich



Nice link Gary. .

 

[barbwire]

I guess that before I tossed a couple grand down for testing purposes, I would spend it on a tried and proven insulation. The shredded rubber that I have seen in the retread shops, is the size of hash brown shreads that you get at the resturants. (at least in this part of the country). I would guess that in time you would expierience some settling, which would call for more applying, and making it more dense, thus reducing it's R value. I am guessing.

Also, I wonder if there would be an issue with spontaneous combustion of shredded rubber. I have never heard of it , but I dunno.

BTW, nice links guys. . Lots more food for thought... .

 

[E7mack96]

even if it does have a high r value, I wouldn't use it in a structure. If you get a fire, poof - its gonna burn to the ground.

 

[Eric_77]

plus heavy