A F I A : Testing & Standards

AFIA: Aluminium Foil Insulation Association Inc.

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TESTING & STANDARDS

The Aluminium Foil Insulation Association (AFIA) also represents industry and its members on Australian Standards working committee, BD58, ‘Thermal Performance and Insulation of Dwellings’ for building infrastructure, and the Australian Building Codes Board committee, ITAC, (Insulation Technical Advisory Committee). ITAC was formed by the ABCB as a committee to advise and facilitate in the development of Australian Building Codes, National Energy Efficiency Measures in relation to residential and commercial building fabric thermal performance measures, which contribute to the reduction of Australia’s greenhouse gases emissions.

The Following list details the Standards relevant to the manufacture and sale of reflective aluminium foil insulation products in Australia and New Zealand. All AFIA members must in accordance with the Association’s charter, comply with the Standards relevant to their products.

AS/NZS:4859.1-2002 "Materials for the thermal insulation of buildings. Part 1: General criteria and technical provisions"
AS/NZS:4200.1-1994 "Pliable building membranes and underlays"

For Details In relation to the testing of products to the above Standards, and AFIA endorsement, please contact the AFIA information desk or phone AFIA on (03) 9553 2123.

STANDARD GUIDELINES AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE THERMAL RESISTANCE OF REFLECTIVE INSULATION MATERIALS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH AS/NZS 4859.1:2002

AFIA Conformance Assumptions for Reflective Insulation Materials [Posted March 2005]

HEAT TRANSMISSION THROUGH BUILDING STRUCTURRE ELEMENTS AND AIR SPACES RESISTANCE VALUES

Heat transfer across an air space is the result of the combined effects of conduction, convection and radiation. The thermal resistance of an air space is also dependant on the position or orientation of the air space and the direction of the heat flow, ie: up, down or horizontal.

Since still air is an insulator, the thermal resistance of the air space will be dominated by the level of both convection and radiation. Other effects that influence the thermal resistance of an air space are the emittance values of the bounding surfaces of the air space, the mean indoor and outdoor temperatures and the temperature difference across the air space itself.

The tables below are;

Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspaces

Width of Airspace: 13mm
Width of Airspace: 20mm
Width of Airspace: 40mm
Width of Airspace: 90mm

Thermal Resistance of Air Films
Thermal Resistance of Pitched Roof Spaces

Thermal Resistance of Pitched Roof Spaces
		Resistance (m².K/W)
Roof space type	Direction of heat flow	High emittance surface	Low emittance surface
Ventilated	Up (winter)	nil	0.34
Ventilated	Down (summer)	0.46	1.36
Non-ventilated	Up (winter)	0.18	0.56
Non-ventilated	Down (summer)	0.28	1.09



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	TESTING & STANDARDS The Aluminium Foil Insulation Association (AFIA) also represents industry and its members on Australian Standards working committee, BD58, ‘Thermal Performance and Insulation of Dwellings’ for building infrastructure, and the Australian Building Codes Board committee, ITAC, (Insulation Technical Advisory Committee). ITAC was formed by the ABCB as a committee to advise and facilitate in the development of Australian Building Codes, National Energy Efficiency Measures in relation to residential and commercial building fabric thermal performance measures, which contribute to the reduction of Australia’s greenhouse gases emissions. The Following list details the Standards relevant to the manufacture and sale of reflective aluminium foil insulation products in Australia and New Zealand. All AFIA members must in accordance with the Association’s charter, comply with the Standards relevant to their products. AS/NZS:4859.1-2002 "Materials for the thermal insulation of buildings. Part 1: General criteria and technical provisions" AS/NZS:4200.1-1994 "Pliable building membranes and underlays" For Details In relation to the testing of products to the above Standards, and AFIA endorsement, please contact the AFIA information desk or phone AFIA on (03) 9553 2123. STANDARD GUIDELINES AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE THERMAL RESISTANCE OF REFLECTIVE INSULATION MATERIALS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH AS/NZS 4859.1:2002 AFIA Conformance Assumptions for Reflective Insulation Materials [Posted March 2005] HEAT TRANSMISSION THROUGH BUILDING STRUCTURRE ELEMENTS AND AIR SPACES RESISTANCE VALUES Heat transfer across an air space is the result of the combined effects of conduction, convection and radiation. The thermal resistance of an air space is also dependant on the position or orientation of the air space and the direction of the heat flow, ie: up, down or horizontal. Since still air is an insulator, the thermal resistance of the air space will be dominated by the level of both convection and radiation. Other effects that influence the thermal resistance of an air space are the emittance values of the bounding surfaces of the air space, the mean indoor and outdoor temperatures and the temperature difference across the air space itself. The tables below are; Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspaces Width of Airspace: 13mm Width of Airspace: 20mm Width of Airspace: 40mm Width of Airspace: 90mm Thermal Resistance of Air Films Thermal Resistance of Pitched Roof Spaces

Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspace m².K/W
			Width of Airspace 13mm
			Facing Surfaces and Emissivities
Orientation of Airspace & Direction of Heatflow	Airspace Temperature Difference	Mean Temp	foil x 2	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	no foil
	dT K	deg C	0.03/0.03	0.03/0.9	0.05/0.9	0.1/0.9	0.2/0.9	0.9/0.9
Horiz - up	3 deg	23	0.4361	0.4202	0.4004	0.3586	0.29760	0.142
	5 deg	23	0.3960	0.3828	0.3664	0.3311	0.2784	0.1375
	7 deg	23	0.3628	0.3517	0.3378	0.3075	0.2615	0.1332
45° - up	3 deg	23	0.4959	0.4754	0.4503	0.3982	0.3243	0.1478
	5 deg	23	0.4605	0.4428	0.4209	0.375	0.3088	0.1445
	7 deg	23	0.4321	0.4165	0.3971	0.356	0.2957	0.1416
Vert - Horiz	3 deg	23	0.4907	0.4707	0.4461	0.3948	0.3221	0.1473
	5 deg	23	0.4879	0.4681	0.4437	0.393	0.3208	0.1471
	7 deg	23	0.4840	0.4645	0.4405	0.3904	0.3191	0.1467
45° - down	3 deg	23	0.4748	0.456	0.4329	0.3845	0.3151	0.1459
	5 deg	23	0.4786	0.4596	0.4361	0.387	0.3168	0.1462
	7 deg	23	0.4809	0.4617	0.438	0.3885	0.3178	0.1464
Horiz - down	3 deg	23	0.4823	0.4629	0.439	0.3893	0.3184	0.1466
	5 deg	23	0.4810	0.4617	0.438	0.3885	0.3178	0.1464
	7 deg	23	0.4798	0.4606	0.437	0.3877	0.3173	0.1463
Notes: 1: The thermal resistance airspace values shown in the above tables are based on Robinson and Powlitch data validated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 2: If the above table values are to be used for assesement of in-situ performance, then the values should be treated as indicative since they will be dependant on prevailing environmental conditions. 3: The deltaT values shown in the above tables are relative to the temperature difference across parallel reflective airspaces that correspond to overall inside / outside temperature differences, 6K, 12K and 18K as shown in AS/NZS4859.1:2002.

Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspace m².K/W
			Width of Airspace 20mm
			Facing Surfaces and Emissivities
Orientation of Airspace & Direction of Heatflow	Airspace Temperature Difference	Mean Temp	foil x 2	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	no foil
	dT K	deg C	0.03/0.03	0.03/0.9	0.05/0.9	0.1/0.9	0.2/0.9	0.9/0.9
Horiz - up	3 deg	23	0.4705	0.452	0.4293	0.3816	0.3132	0.1455
	5 deg	23	0.4215	0.4066	0.3881	0.3488	0.2907	0.1404
	7 deg	23	0.3863	0.3737	0.358	0.3243	0.2735	0.1363
45° - up	3 deg	23	0.5859	0.5576	0.5233	0.4542	0.3605	0.1549
	5 deg	23	0.5232	0.5005	0.4727	0.4156	0.3357	0.1501
	7 deg	23	0.4769	0.4580	0.4346	0.3858	0.3161	0.1461
Vert - Horiz	3 deg	23	0.7259	0.6829	0.6322	0.534	0.409	0.1632
	5 deg	23	0.6789	0.6411	0.5963	0.5082	0.3937	0.1607
	7 deg	23	0.6491	0.6145	0.5732	0.4913	0.3835	0.159
45° - down	3 deg	23	0.7207	0.6783	0.6283	0.5312	0.4074	0.1629
	5 deg	23	0.7062	0.6654	0.6172	0.5233	0.4027	0.1622
	7 deg	23	0.6916	0.6525	0.6061	0.5153	0.3979	0.1614
Horiz - down	3 deg	23	0.7144	0.6727	0.6235	0.5278	0.4054	0.1626
	5 deg	23	0.7114	0.67	0.6212	0.5261	0.4044	0.1625
	7 deg	23	0.7084	0.6674	0.6189	0.5245	0.4034	0.1623
Notes: 1: The thermal resistance airspace values shown in the above tables are based on Robinson and Powlitch data validated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 2: If the above table values are to be used for assesement of in-situ performance, then the values should be treated as indicative since they will be dependant on prevailing environmental conditions. 3: The deltaT values shown in the above tables are relative to the temperature difference across parallel reflective airspaces that correspond to overall inside / outside temperature differences, 6K, 12K and 18K as shown in AS/NZS4859.1:2002.

Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspace m².K/W
			Width of Airspace 90mm
			Facing Surfaces and Emissivities
Orientation of Airspace & Direction of Heatflow	Airspace Temperature Difference	Mean Temp	foil x2	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	no foil
	dT K	deg C	0.03/0.03	0.03/0.9	0.05/0.9	0.1/0.9	0.2/0.9	0.9/0.9
18° - up	3 deg	23	0.5889	0.5601	0.5255	0.4557	0.3613	0.155
	5 deg	23	0.5327	0.5091	0.4803	0.4213	0.3394	0.1508
	7 deg	23	0.4904	0.4704	0.4457	0.3945	0.3217	0.1472
22.5° - up	3 deg	23	0.5958	0.5664	0.531	0.4598	0.3639	0.1555
	5 deg	23	0.5386	0.5145	0.4851	0.425	0.3418	0.1513
	7 deg	23	0.4956	0.4751	0.45	0.3978	0.324	0.1477
22.5° - down	3 deg	23	1.6444	1.4157	1.1966	0.8723	0.5752	0.1835
	5 deg	23	1.5489	1.3408	1.1397	0.8386	0.5586	0.1815
	7 deg	23	1.4719	1.2802	1.0933	0.8107	0.5447	0.1798
18° - down	3 deg	23	1.7709	1.5128	1.2682	0.912	0.5929	0.1853
	5 deg	23	1.6771	1.4407	1.2145	0.8811	0.5781	0.1836
	7 deg	23	1.6002	1.3813	1.17	0.8551	0.5656	0.1821
Notes: 1: The thermal resistance airspace values shown in the above tables are based on interpolated data. 2: If the above table values are to be used for assessment of in-situ performance, then the values should be treated as indicative since they will be dependant on prevailing environmental conditions. 3: The delta T values shown in the above tables are relative to the temperature difference across parallel reflective airspaces that correspond to overall inside / outside temperature difference, 6K, 12K and 18K as shown in AS/NZS4859.1:2002.

Thermal Resistance of Parallel Un-ventilated Airspace m².K/W
			Width of Airspace 40mm
			Facing Surfaces and Emissivities
Orientation of Airspace & Direction of Heatflow	Airspace Temperature Difference	Mean Temp	foil x 2	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	foil x 1	no foil
	dT K	deg C	0.03/0.03	0.03/0.9	0.05/0.9	0.1/0.9	0.2/0.9	0.9/0.9
Horiz - up	3 deg	23	0.5112	0.4894	0.4629	0.408	0.3307	0.1491
	5 deg	23	0.4613	0.4436	0.4216	0.3756	0.3091	0.1446
	7 deg	23	0.4245	0.4094	0.3907	0.3508	0.2922	0.1407
45° - up	3 deg	23	0.5947	0.5655	0.5303	0.4595	0.3638	0.1555
	5 deg	23	0.5317	0.5083	0.4797	0.4209	0.3392	0.1508
	7 deg	23	0.4866	0.4669	0.4426	0.3921	0.3203	0.147
Vert - Horiz	3 deg	23	0.8264	0.7711	0.7072	0.5865	0.4391	0.1678
	5 deg	23	0.7161	0.6742	0.6248	0.5287	0.4059	0.1627
	7 deg	23	0.6390	0.6054	0.5653	0.4854	0.3799	0.1584
45° - down	3 deg	23	1.1046	1.008	0.9014	0.7142	0.507	0.1768
	5 deg	23	0.9791	0.9024	0.8161	0.6595	0.4788	0.1733
	7 deg	23	0.8859	0.8227	0.7503	0.6159	0.4554	0.1701
Horiz - down	3 deg	23	1.2749	1.1479	1.0117	0.7817	0.5401	0.1807
	5 deg	23	1.2565	1.1329	1.0001	0.7747	0.5367	0.1803
	7 deg	23	1.2394	1.119	0.9892	0.7682	0.5336	0.18
Notes: 1: The thermal resistance airspace values shown in the above tables are based on Robinson and Powlitch data validated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 2: If the above table values are to be used for assesement of in-situ performance, then the values should be treated as indicative since they will be dependant on prevailing environmental conditions. 3: The deltaT values shown in the above tables are relative to the temperature difference across parallel reflective airspaces that correspond to overall inside / outside temperature differences, 6K, 12K and 18K as shown in AS/NZS4859.1:2002.

Thermal Resistance of Air Films
			Resistance (m².K/W)
Wind speed (m/s)	Surface position	Direction of heat flow	High emittance surface	Low emittance surface
Still air	Horizontal	Up	0.11	0.23
	Horizontal	Down	0.16	0.80
	22.5°-slope	Up	0.11	0.24
	22.5°-slope	Down	0.15	0.6
	45°-slope	Up	0.11	0.24
	45°-slope	Down	0.13	0.39
	Verticle	Horizontal	0.12	0.30
6.00 m/s (winter)	Any position	Any direction	0.03
3.00 m/s (summer)	Any position	Any direction	0.04
0.50 m/s (internal air movement)	Any position	Any direction	0.08