§ 460.5 - R-value tests.

§ 460.5 R-value tests.

R-value measures resistance to heat flow. R-values given in labels, fact sheets, ads, or other promotional materials must be based on tests done under the methods listed below. They were designed by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). The test methods are: in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section.

(a) All types of insulation except aluminum foil reflective insulation must be tested with ASTM C 177C177-0413, “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus;” ASTM C 518C518-0417, “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus;” ASTM C 1363C1363-9711, “Standard Test Method for the Thermal Performance of Building Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box Apparatus” or ASTM C 1114C1114-0006, “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Thin-Heater Apparatus.” The tests must be done at a mean temperature of 75 [ degrees ] Fahrenheit and with a temperature differential difference of 50 [ degrees ] Fahrenheit plus or minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The tests must be done on the insulation material alone (excluding any airspace). R-values (“thermal resistance”) based upon heat flux measurements according to ASTM C 177C177-04 13 or ASTM C 518C518-04 17 must be reported only in accordance with the requirements and restrictions of ASTM C 1045C1045-0107, “Standard Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Properties from Under Steady-State Conditions.”

(1) For polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, and extruded polystyrene, the tests must be done on samples that fully reflect the effect of aging on the product's R-value. To age the sample, follow the procedure in paragraph 4.6.4 of GSA Specification HH-I-530A, or another reliable procedure.

(2) For loose-fill cellulose, the tests must be done at the settled density determined under paragraph 8 of ASTM C 739C739-0317, “Standard Specification for Cellulosic Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation.”

(3) For loose-fill mineral wool, self-supported, spray-applied cellulose, and stabilized cellulose, the tests must be done on samples that fully reflect the effect of settling on the product's R-value.

(4) For self-supported spray-applied cellulose, the tests must be done at the density determined pursuant to ASTM C 1149C1149-0217, “Standard Specification for Self-Supported Spray Applied Cellulosic Thermal Insulation.”

(5) For loose-fill insulations, the initial installed thickness for the product must be determined pursuant to ASTM C 1374C1374-0314, “Standard Test Method for Determination of Installed Thickness of Pneumatically Applied Loose-Fill Building Insulation,” for R-values of 13, 19, 22, 30, 38, 49 and any other R-values provided on the product's label pursuant to § 460.12.

(b) Single sheet systems of aluminum foil reflective insulation materials must be tested with ASTM E 408-71 (Reapproved 2002)E408-13, “Standard Test Methods for Total Normal Emittance of Surfaces Using Inspection-Meter Techniques,” or ASTM C 1371C1371-04a15, “Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable Emissometers.” This tests test determines the emissivity emittance of the foil reflective surfaces - its power to radiate heat. To get the R-value for a specific emissivity levelemittance, air space, and direction of heat flow, use the tables in the most recent edition of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) Fundamentals Handbook, Table 3 in the ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 26, if the product is intended for applications that meet the conditions specified in the tables. You must use the R-value shown for 50 [ degrees ] Fahrenheit, with a temperature differential difference of 30 [ degrees ] Fahrenheit.

(c) Aluminum foil Reflective insulation systems with more than one sheet, and single sheet systems of aluminum foil that are intended for applications that do not meet the conditions specified in the tables Table 3 in the most recent edition of the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, Chapter 26 must be tested with ASTM C 1363C1363-9711, “Standard Test Method for the Thermal Performance of Building Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box Apparatus,” in a test panel constructed according to ASTM C 1224C1224-0315, “Standard Specification for Reflective Insulation for Building Applications,” and under the test conditions specified in ASTM C 1224C1224-0315. To get the R-value from the results of those tests, use the formula specified in ASTM C 1224C1224-0315.

(d) For insulation materials with foil reflective facings, you must test the R-value of the material alone (excluding any air spaces) under the methods listed in paragraph (a) of this section. You can also determine the R-value of the material in conjunction with an air space. You can use one of two methods to do this:

(1) You can test the system, with its air space, under ASTM C 1363C1363-9711, “Standard Test Method for the Thermal Performance of Building Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box Apparatus,” which is incorporated by reference in paragraph (a) of this section. Apparatus” If you do this, you must follow the rules requirements in paragraph (a) of this section on temperature, aging and settled density.

(2) You can add up the tested R-value of the material and the R-value of the air space. To get the R-value for the air space, you must follow the rules requirements in paragraph (b) of this section.

(e) The standards listed above required in this section are incorporated by reference into this section . These incorporations by reference were approved by the with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be inspected at the All approved material is available for inspection at the FTC Library (202-326-2395), Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, Room 130Room H-630, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue , NW., Washington, DC 20580 , or and is available from the sources listed in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section. It is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call ( 202) -741-6030 , or go to : http://www.archives.gov/federal_-register/code_of_federal_regulationscfr/ibr_-locations.html. Copies of materials and standards incorporated by reference may be obtained from the issuing organizations listed in this section.

(1) The American Society of Testing and Materials(1) ASHRAE Headquarters, 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329; telephone [phone]; https://www.ashrae.org.

(i) 2017 ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals, Chapter 26: Heat, Air, and Moisture Control in Building Assemblies - Material Properties, Inch Pound (I-P) Edition (Copyright 2017).

(ii) [Reserved]

(2) ASTM Int'l, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshocken, PA 19428-2959, 877-909-2786, www.astm.org/.

(i) ASTM C 177-

04

13, “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate

Apparatus.”

Apparatus” (published October 2013).

(ii) ASTM C 518-

04

17, “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter

Apparatus.”

Apparatus” (published July 2017).

(iii) ASTM C 739-

03

17, “Standard Specification for Cellulosic Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal

Insulation.”

Insulation” (published August 2017).

(iv) ASTM C 1045-

01

07 (Reapproved 2013), “Standard Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Properties

from

Under Steady-State

Conditions.”

Conditions” (published January 2014).

(v) ASTM C 1114-

00

06 (Reapproved 2013), “Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Thin-Heater

Apparatus.”

Apparatus” (published January 2014).

(vi) ASTM C 1149-

02

17, “Standard Specification for Self-Supported Spray Applied Cellulosic Thermal

Insulation.”

Insulation” (published October 2017).

(vii) ASTM C 1224-

03

15, “Standard Specification for Reflective Insulation for Building

Applications.”

Applications” (published November 2015).

(viii) ASTM C 1363-

97

11, “Standard Test Method for

the

Thermal Performance of Building Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box

Apparatus.”

Apparatus” (published June 2011).

(ix) ASTM C 1371-

04a

15, “Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable

Emissometers.”

Emissometers” (published June 2015).

(x) ASTM C 1374-

03

14, “Standard Test Method for Determination of Installed Thickness of Pneumatically Applied Loose-Fill Building

Insulation.”

Insulation” (published May 2014).

(xi) ASTM E 408-

71 (Reapproved 2002)

13, “Standard Test Methods for Total Normal Emittance of Surfaces Using Inspection-Meter

Techniques.”

(2) U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405.

(i) GSA Specification HH-I-530A, Federal Specification, Insulation Board, Thermal (Urethane), November 22, 1971.

(ii) [Reserved]

[70 FR 31274, May 31, 2005

Techniques” (published June 2013).

[84 FR 20788, May 13, 2019]