Find Out Which Radiant Barrier Passes New ASTM Guidelines
When it comes to radiant barrier insulation, you have good, and then you have better.
While both will provide you with the exceptional ability to reflect heat back into the surface area it originated there are other safety considerations that prompted the industry to increase the efficiency at which the product performs in the case of fire.
By old standards the product was efficient when the installation method included the use of chicken wire.
As with any material, it was discovered that a chemical reaction with the chicken wire allowed the test to result in a favorable manner.
However, discussion arose within the ASTM which pointed out that normal installation of a radiant barrier did not include the use of chicken wire.
So who is ASTM anyhow and what do they know? ASTM International was originally known as the American Society for Testing and Material.
It is a global leader whose standards are used to improve the quality of a product as well as enhance the safety.
Through the collaboration of chemists, scientists, and other industry experts, products are tested to uniform standards.
Through their seal of approval, a consumer can be certain that their radiant barrier choice has passed a rigorous battery of tests.
Once it was determined that a radiant barrier which passed the initial ASTM E84 fire test should be tested under a more real-world installation scenario, the results were different.
As a result, a new mixed metal was created, metalized aluminum.
Under the new testing conditions, using radiant barrier that was not installed using chicken wire, the improved material was rated to improve safety in regards to the spread of fire and smoke.
If you are considering a radiant barrier that is Class 1/Class A but rated under the initial E84 fire test, then you are getting a "good" insulation option.
However, remember that it was tested using chicken wire in the insulation.
If you are considering a radiant barrier that is Class 1/Class A and rated with the new ASTM E84-2009 testing method, then you are getting the better and most recent standards.
While both will provide you with the exceptional ability to reflect heat back into the surface area it originated there are other safety considerations that prompted the industry to increase the efficiency at which the product performs in the case of fire.
By old standards the product was efficient when the installation method included the use of chicken wire.
As with any material, it was discovered that a chemical reaction with the chicken wire allowed the test to result in a favorable manner.
However, discussion arose within the ASTM which pointed out that normal installation of a radiant barrier did not include the use of chicken wire.
So who is ASTM anyhow and what do they know? ASTM International was originally known as the American Society for Testing and Material.
It is a global leader whose standards are used to improve the quality of a product as well as enhance the safety.
Through the collaboration of chemists, scientists, and other industry experts, products are tested to uniform standards.
Through their seal of approval, a consumer can be certain that their radiant barrier choice has passed a rigorous battery of tests.
Once it was determined that a radiant barrier which passed the initial ASTM E84 fire test should be tested under a more real-world installation scenario, the results were different.
As a result, a new mixed metal was created, metalized aluminum.
Under the new testing conditions, using radiant barrier that was not installed using chicken wire, the improved material was rated to improve safety in regards to the spread of fire and smoke.
If you are considering a radiant barrier that is Class 1/Class A but rated under the initial E84 fire test, then you are getting a "good" insulation option.
However, remember that it was tested using chicken wire in the insulation.
If you are considering a radiant barrier that is Class 1/Class A and rated with the new ASTM E84-2009 testing method, then you are getting the better and most recent standards.
