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Technical Paper (National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research), 1959-08-01
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Ser mHl N21t2 no. ?5 e . 2 BIDG
NATIOTAI RESEANCH COITNCItr CANANA
DIVISION OF BIIIIDING RESEA.RCH
INSIII,AIIO$ Iil NORMERN BITTIDIIVG by
R. E. Hlatts
A N A ! . Y Z E D
lechnlcal Saper No. 75 of the
Dlvlslon of Bullcllng Research
o[[A![a
Aueust 1959
PREFACE
Heatlng cost is one of the 1ar6e anct
$porbant ltens in the annual cost of hoilsing in
Norbherzr canad.a. Fuel costs varry wittely, defiendlng
on the cost of transporbation. I'or man! a-eas ln the
IVorth other than those senred directly 6y the sr"at
Maokenzie Rlver.waterwayr- the cost of- oii ruer-may be from three to slx tlmes- the cost at southe:rn areai. llhls can be offset ln pgrt by inproved. builcling deiislo
to recluce the fuer requiremeits.- [he use of iicreaiJa
amounts of lnsulatlon are justlfled, as shown ln this
paper, even though insulatlon costs wlll also be
affected bq^hlgh transpor:tation costs. The author, a research offlcer with the Northern Buirdlng sectlon, ls engaged. Ln a speetal_ study of norbbe:rr Eouslng.
Ottawa,
TABIE OF COIItENIS
TITE PNOBIXM
SffiECIT$G INSIILAfION TIrPES AIID METHODS ECONOMTC INSIII,AITON THICKI{ESS
[yplcal- nor:thern areas Cost of insulation
Cost of heatlng
Calculatlng the economlo thichress UEATISG A INICAI NORIHERIV HIN
r$sur,ATroN 0F MANUFA0TURED
BmrDrsc coMpoNEl[rs
DTSCUSSION SI]MMARY REFERENCES 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 I 9
rISIIIATIOI{ TS trORT'TTF:RN BUII,DING by
R. E. Platts
Recent expansion of constructlon aotlvity in the Canad.ian
need. for better lnformation on
rs of cllnate, transport,
supply are very different from
tlmun bullcting deslgn for these ct by thorough conslderation of eaoh of thege.
As part of tts oontlnuing research ln this fleld, the
Dlvlslon of Bui}<ting Research of the National Research Council
ls cutrently stu{ying prefabricated. and site-bullt houslng for
the ITort^tr tn te:ms of serrlce and economy. frre present report on insulation represents one aspect of thls project.
,rrTn SRoBIfM
Ore cllmate of the Sorth cllffers from that of Southern canads not so much ln the extrenes as ln the duration of cold woatJrer. Ttte anrrual heattng load along the northern contlneutal
coast ls clouble and even trtple that of the more populated
areas to the south. trrls fact togethef with the high cost of
fuel resulttng from heavy frelght charges meana that it can cost
about S1rO00 annually to heat a snaIl insulated frame hut. Drus, the type, amount and nethod. of lnsulatton for a bulLding
can have a most crltlcaL effect on the annual cost of llvlng
and should be a prlmary consi-deratlon ln all northern bulldtng
destgn. [trls study outltnes and. attenpts to lnterpret the
factors lnvo1ved ln chooslng the type and amount of lnsulatlon for northerrn use.
sErEcIISe INSIILATION IIPES ANp Mq$rOpS
fn addltlon to the obvlously cleslrable propertles of
lnsulatlon such as pemanence, cleanllness, and reststance to
flre, moisture, ve:rnJ.n, ancl bacterla, certaln properttes become
especlally orlttcal tn northerm use. One such factor ls the
effect of convectlon currents on i.nsula tlon perfoimance ln very low tenperature cond.ltloas.
&re lotl temperalnrres conmon to the North are similar to
those ln the Cansd,tan halrlesr so that ttre best gene:ra1 type of
lnsulatlon oaa be suggestecl by expertence ln prairie houslng.
Dlvlslonal fleld lnvestlgatLons and extenslve laboratory studles
have shown that refleettve lnsuLatlons, parttcularly the
2
to leatl to dtfficulties 1n colcl clinates (1, 2). Substantial
variatton ln the irurer surface tempenature of exterlor walls
was found. where practical fonns of refleotlve lnsulatlon were
used,. l[tls resulted ln severe surface cond.ensatlon ancl. reduced
over-aIl tnsulation value. The ultlmate value that most
practlcal types of lnsulations can achieve ls that of stlll, dry
alr. In extrenely cold weather convectlon currents in the a1r
spaces Ljrit the abllity of reflectLve lnsulation to approach
tbls vaLue wlthout the use of a very 6reat nurnber of closely
strnced layers- An exception woulcl be ln dormward heat loss
condltions through exposed. ground floors, where reflective
lnsulattons can be used. to ailvantage. Perfonnance of reflecttve
materlals ln walL spaces ls 1nrtlcularIy sensitlve to lnstallatlon
practLce; seallng at top, botton and, sldes of stucl cavltles must be metlculously d.one. These coroments are generally
appll-cable to any insulatlon method that tncLudes an alr space or
spaces ln the stutt eavity. Urus, to prevent uneven surface
temperatures ancl oondensatlon and. to cut the over-alL heat loss and. lmprove comfort cond.itions, bulk types of insulation are consldered preferable for northern bulld.ings.
Another problen even more lmportant in the NorJh than ln more southerly areas ls that of oondensation withln the
tnsulation. Insulatlon must be effectLve not only when lnstalled.,
but nust remaln effectlve over the years; condensatlon, whlch
may lower lts lnsuLatj.ng value and cause rotting of the ad.jacent
wood, meubers, must be prevented. Ihe longer cold season and
shorter drylng seasoa tn the Sorth a6gravates the problen and
d.emancls very careful vapour barsler lnstallation on the warm
sid.e of all exposed. surfaces as well as provlslon of proper
breathLng characterlstlos ln the outer claddlng. Batt ancl
bLanket insulatlons are avallable wlth vapour-bartler backlngs,
but these must be lapped. at each stud and. are not as vapour tlght as separate sheet vapour bamlers lnstaIled after the lnsulatlon ls placed.. flre sLngle sheet vapour bamier appLlcation lessens
the rtsk of cond.ensatton in northem. buLld,lng. Po1yetWlene
flIn ls now availeble ln rolls I ft 5 in. wlde whlch are
oon-venlent and effectlve for thls use.
For northenr use, then, the bulk types of lnsulatlon
are preferabLe, and. shoulcl be carefully protectect wLth large
sheet vaBour barrters. llhe cholce between the many suitable
types of vaBour banlers and betlveen batt, blanlcet, or fill
for:ns of lnsulatlon, will depend. not only on speclftc technlcal
consLderatlons but also on the economlc faetors that wtlI now be d,tsoussed.
ECOI{OMIC INSIII,AIION ITIICffiESS
Ilr 1940 Dr, J.D. Babbltt of the Natlonal Research
Counctl caLculatecl the optlmun lnsulatlon thtclirress for homes
la Souttrern Canada (3). lDre Canadlan Mlneral Wool Manufacturerf s
1
1954 (4). frrLs brochure 1s stlll a valtd and. usefirL guide to home lnsulatlon ln tbe more populated, areas of Canacla, but tt ts
of Lintted value 1n tlwelllng deslgn for the North, The followlng oalculatlons of eoonorolo thlcknosses of lnsulatlon for northem use oan serre ln d,ete:mlnLng not only the amount of insulation, but also the types, welghts, k factors, and. other propertie s.
&tls study follows closeLy the methods used, by Dr. Babbltt. Costs of heatlng, lnc1udlng the arurual amortized
costs of varlous ttrioknesses of lnsulatlon, are calculated, for several representative northerrr areas, and. the lnsulatton thtck-ness that allols the lowest annual total cost is then cletermined.. fVplcal l[orthern Areas
u'i'lre Northrf ls a broad. tem representirrg a vast and varlable area. For thl-s study 1t is necessary to establlsh not one but sevenal northeru. areas accord.lng to climate and. trans-portatton costs. the cllnatic envlronment has been fairLy well estabLlshed, but tt shoulcl be enphaslzed that transportation is ancl wllL eontinue to be a chaageable and crlttcal factor affectlng northern costs. ftte transport rates and, fuel costs used here have been d.etermined. with the asslstance of the Depart-ment of Northena Affairs and Nattonal Resources, the Departnent of fbarisps3tr, ttre Norther:r. fbansportatlon Co. ltd,, and the Eud.sonts Bay Company.
Usln€; ttrese fireL costs, transport rates, and. the chart of mean aunual total d,egree days ln Canaila as gj-ven in,the NatlonaL Bulldlne Cod.e (l-.951) (5), the northern coastal antl waterflvay regtons can be convenleatly <llvLdect lnto slx cost areasr Bs strorun ln RLg. 1 ancl [ab].e f. Sone lnoonslstencles are unavolclable ln these divtslors" For exanple, ln Ungava Bay only Fort Chlmo has Area I rates; smaller settlements ln the Bay are under Area If rates. Slnot1arly, 1t strould be noted that ln Churohlll and the funmecll,ate vlcinity, with rail- servlce from Illnnipeg, o11 ls available at 35 cents per gal-lon, but that all other looali.ties in Area fI are stlll more cheaply suppllecl ln sunmer from MontreaL by sea at the rates shown in Table I. Areas I, II, anct III are thus usually suppllect by D.O.T. by sea from Montreal. Area IT ls barely accesslble by sea even ln summ€rr belng servloed, ln some lnstances by p,atrol ships vla the eastenr Arctlc, but usually by Hudsonts Bay Co. lrranshlpnents from frrktoyaktuk, whtch is suppHed vla the Mackenzle Fltver. Ihe Area IV rates ln Iable I are based. on Hudsonrs Bay Co.
reports for lts Bathurst Inlet post. Areas V ancl VI are senrred from klmonton by rail to WaterwayS r thence by the Northerm
fh:ansportatlon Co. I,td,., by way of the Athabasca and Mackenzle Rivers. Alttrough ln most areas both materiaLs and firel will be proportionatel;r hi€h in cost because of equal-ly lone supply routes, Areas V and VI enjoy low fuel sosts because of the
locatlon of an Imperial 011 reflnery at Noman Wells. As w111 be shorrn, this gives these areas the lowest economlc insulatlon
4
-It must be polnted out that ttre general freLght rates given in fiable I are ni.nlnum rates ancl should therefore be used. wltJr cautlon. they nay Lncrease 10 per cent under more difficult faLl strlpping oondltions. (mfs increase has been added. to the lnsulatton transporb rates of Areas I to IY, Iable I. ) In
ad.dltion, a bulk factor of 1.! pena3.Lzes tnsulatlon materlals ln western Arctlc transportatton, although no such penalty is lncurred in D.O;f. strilrrents. On the other hand, certain
prefabri.cated, buildlng components are charged. 2.5 times the baslc rate under D.0.[., except ln special shllments or tn large
nlxed lots. Freight rates for speolfic conmodities should always be cl,ete:slned dlrectly, rather than by relying. on a general guide such as Ls glven in ELg. 1 ancl fable I.
Cost of Insulation
fiable If shows the estinated costs of 1O0 sq ft of in-sulation ln place ln the several areas. These costs are the sun of the cost Ln place at the port of suppLy, incLudlng materlal, labour, and the usual contlngencies, plus. shlpplng cost, and a firrther 5O per cent northern contlngency. lkre extra costs lncurred ln framing the thlcker than nornal wall eavitles for
lnsulatlon thicknesses greater than 4 Ln. are considered. separately in a lqter sectlon.
ftre lnsulatlon welght ts based on a denslty of 4 Lb/cu ft ln place, whtctr can eastly be reallzett uslng mlneral wool. Ihe total cost ln place ls converted to a yearly cost based. on a
ZJ-year life wlth a 5 per cent lnterest rate. Cost of Eeatine
Ikris report uses only ot1 fi.rel to establlsh heatlng oosts, as welght and freleht llnlt the use of other fuels ln most northern areas. It slrouldl be noted. th^at 1ow-6rade coal
is available fron Pond Inlet Mlnes in northern Baffln fsland and. tbat wood ls used. to some extent along the Mackenzie Rlver.
Stre nost common heatlng unlt for small dwellings in the Nortlr is ttre oil-flred space heater. Itlith Broper care Lt can 81ve an efflolency of about 70 per cent; one gallon of o11 can y1eld about 116000 Btu of usefuL heat. ,
A conventional 2 by 4 stud frane waIl or prefabrlcated panel oan provLde a usefrrl base for comparlng heat transml.ssions. Hlywood lntertor anrl exterlor cladding ls assumed, since sheet-type olatldlng i-s much cheaper ln the North than sheathlng lumb_e_r because of lower labour and fretght costs.- Btis glves a base U value, wtthout i.nsulatlon, of O.30 Bta/hr/oT/sq ft, whlch ls
close-enough to roof and floor values to aLl-ow the subsequent calculatiors to be used also for roofs and exposed floors.
frre U values for progresslveLy ttrlcker lnsulatlon are shown ln Iable rII. &rey allow for heat transmisslon throuefr the studs
5
-so that the yearly heat load per 1OO sq ft of surface area can be contruted. from the U values and the degree-clay totals (Iable
III). Divldlng by 116rO00 6ives the annual fuel consumptlon and from this the fuel cost. fhls can be expressed:
tr\rel consumptlon in gallons of o11 = (per 100 sq ft surface)
U x-11?9_ rc 4[ x ,desree d.ays 1 1 6 , o o o
CaLgqlq[b:Lng thg Eq_o$oml c _Itr1!:knesg
flre total annual heating cost can be considered as the fireL cost plus th.e amorttzed cost of Lnsulatlon. In flable fII total costs are strown at varylng insulatlon thieknesses for Afeas I to VI. frre economic thickness is show.- at the polnt of Iowest total heating cost. Iable fII and tr'lg. 2 tndlcate that ttre econonric insulatlon varies from 6 ln. in Area VI to as high as 16 ln. in Areas IfI and IV.
Before acceptlng these flgures, thelr basis should be further studled. Table III and Fig. 2 estabLlsh definitely that it ls economlcal to f111 the nominaL 4-in. stud. cavtty of the conventlonal frane wall. Ttrese calcuLatlons are based. on trryo vartables only - lnsulatlon and. fuel costs - but above 4 in. a third vari.abl-e must be conslclered.: the additlonal frantng cost of a thicker wall. Ihe slope of the total cost eurves ln Fig. 2 are still qulte steep at 4-tn. thlckness, and. thts suggests that the deslgner should lnvestigate the annual total costs wlth lncreasecl wall thlckness for his partlcular
type of bulLding. In arly case, it 1s apparent that in exposed. ground floor and ceiling insulation where the insulation space is not llnlted to { tn., f11ling 6 or more ln. thick betmeen jolsts ls economLoally justlfied.
As an example of the net effect of thlcker walLs on thls anrrual eost basis, lt can be computed by stanclard. dwel3-ing estl-mating procedures that 6oi.ng to 2 by 6 studs on 2-ft centres w111 cause an addltional expense of about $11 per hundred. sq ft of wall. flrls aLLows for extra matertal, labour, transpor-tation to Area I, ssyr the norual 20 per cent contlngency
allowance, plus the attdltlonel JO per cent northe:rr conttngency allowance as used. before. It could be arguecl that replacing 2 b y 4 r s a t 1 5 i n , o . c . b y 2 b y 6 t s a t 2 f t w o u l d n o t b e a n add.itlonal expense, but th{s ls not valld as 2 by 4ts at 2 ft are usuaLLy sufflclent for small slngle-storT dwe1l1ngs. qsfng the extra first cost of $ff per hun.drecl sq ft to galn the 6-1n. stud oavlty, the extra amortlzecl cost over 25 years at 5 Ber cent is about 8O cents per year. Adldlng to thts the 6-in'
lnsulation and ol-1 costs for Area I, (31g. 2a) r lt can be seen that the totaL anrrual cost 1s stlll well below that with con-ventional 4-1n. studs. fhls suggests that lt 1s economically
- 6
Justlfled to use 2 by 6 studs for conventlonal frame houses ln nost of the North.
rable rv shows the effect of varylng thlckrresses of lnsulatlon on the arrnuaL heatlng cost foi a-hone 540 sq ft
tn area at Pangnlrtung_ln-Area rrr. wlndows are trlple- grazed aad.- ftxed., ald fom only 5 per cent of the floor arei. Ihus, both wlndow transmisslon and lnflltratlon heat losses are reduced to a rnlnlmum, the lnfil,tration being assumed to be no FoTg than 5q0O eu ft per hour, the nlnlmum iequlred, for ventl-latl.on for 6 occupants to preirent od.our sensaflon. A further 2-0 per ceqt ls addect to allow for d.oor openlngs, etc. As srrown ln flabre rv, ttrese wlndow and inliltratioir l-osses fo:m a conslderable proportlon of the heat Load 1n we1l tnsulated. buLldtngs. Here, of course, the cb,olce of lnsulatlon thlclqxess lnvolves ttr.e d.esi.gnerrs or bullderts Judgnent. Ihe lnconvenlences of more lasulatton and ttricker walIsn in ter-ms of hlgher flrst
oosts, plannlng, handllng, storage, and erectlon sched.ules are perhaps not Justlfled above 5 ln. But the calculatlons lndlcate that 2 by 6 frame waLls wlth 6 ln. of lnsulatlon are economically
justlfled, on the basls of annuaL oosts ln the canadlan North. Stmtlar heatlng calculattons for several exlsttng and proposed huts were recently completed'aud compared. wlth actual reoord.ed. heatlng costs. In sotre cases th.e latter were doubLe
tJre c_omputed. costs. Yet the computed. costs compare closely with actual northern heatlng gosts of army barracksr-recorded whlle uslng proper heating control and malntenance, -rt cannot be
overemphaslzed. that proper malntenance of the spa.ce heater and controL of temperature and ventllatlon are as lmportant in
retlucln8 northern heatlng costs as proper lnsulatton deslgn. ISst|IaTIoN oF MANUT'ACTI]RED BmtDINe COMPoXTENTS
ltre above economtc thickness stucly can be a guide ln deslgnlng prefabrlcated as well as slte-bullt stnrctures. .Llthough stressecl skin and structural sandwich wall, floor, and, roof panels need be only 1 to 3 in. thick for strength purposesr ancl have been so desl6ned for some northem houses, lnzulatioa conslderatlons strould nomally lead to increasecl thloknesses. sre charts and calculationb given in thls report can be used. di.rectly to d.etermlne the opttmun lnsulation thtcf-ness of conventional frame 1nnels or stressed. skln panels uslng wooL lnsuLatlons. I,lghtuvelght sandwich 1nnels, however, must be anal.yzed. selnratery, ustng the sarne approach. sandwich core materlals dlffer from usual lnsulatlng practtce, slnce stiff low-denslff materlals must be used to provld,e stablllzlng
- 7
&re eharts of Flg. 2 can be readily adapted. to clete:rnlne optlmura thlckness of sandwlch panels. For example, conslder a sandwtc,h lnne1 wLth a olosed-ceIl bead-foan-polystyrene core, of I p.c.f. d.ensity. The foan-polystyrenes are used, extensiveljr as colil storage lnsulatlons and have high reslstanqe to water vapour penetratlon. New types reporte-d.Iy can be incorporated
ln a sandlvlch panel for under $ cents/bd ft. fbbLe fI shows th,at the cost, ln plaoe, of a typlcal mlnelal wool ls about 5 centsfbd ft; plasttc foam triples the lnsulation costs. (fn conpartng total 1nnol costs, the sandwj.ch core ls consiiLered. against the lnsulation, stud.ding, and accessories that it replaces, but here only lts cost as lnsulation ls relevant. ) Using RLg. 2(a), lf a new lnsulatton line 1s d.rawn ln at triple the Level of the exlstlng line and the fuel cost ltne ls lowered, slnce the k value of plastlc foam ts only O.25 as a6alnst O.JO used ln the chart, and the heat loss through studs ls eliminated, lt 1s found that lnsulation and fuel llnes cross at an optlmum thickness of over 4 ln. Slmilar adjusturents can show the
optlmum thlclsress of any type of material or panel. DISCUSSIO$
. flre severlty of the heatlng problem in the North ts well-indlcated. by the economlc Lnsulatton thlckness curves of Fig. 2 and the smalL hut heatlng example of TabLe fV. Ihese suggest that the d.esigner slrould consiiler the'following factors. ft
pays to obtain materlals with lower k value, even at proporttonately hlgher rnarket costsr BS they lower the fliel cost curve and may brtag the polnt of optlmum thickness within the conventlonal 4-in. llnlt, avoldtng the expense ancl tnconrrenlence of thicker waIIs. Slnllarl-y, tt has been shown that transport substantially lncreases the lnsulation cost at a northern siter so that the ltgbtest avallabIe lnsulatlons consistent with gooct k values are preferabLe, subJect to the pecullarttles of northenr freight
rates. Glass flbre and shot-free rock wools are now avalLable a t d,enslties under 2 p.c.f.
For any glven klnd of fibre insulation there is an optinum denslty at whlch the lowest themal eonduotlvity w111 be obtalned. 'IPris optimun density ls usuaLly much higher
than those provlcled, for no:mal use, since red,uclng the clenslty of a flbre paok to one half or even to one quarler optlnum
densl.ty greatly reduces the anount and cost of the materlal, wh1le orrly sLtghtly lnoreasing the concluotivi.ty. With very flne flbres such as are provlded, in some klnds of glass wooL, k val.ues of O.7O oan be obtalned with as llttle as t ft of flbre per cublo foot. Coarser glass flbres and. good quality roek-wool fibres w111 provtd.e r-easonably good (1ow) k values at flbre densities
of about 2 Lb/cu tt. Ifany rock wools contain substantlal
- B
resuLtlng from the flbre manufacturin8 process. shot may add. r exceed.lng the we16ht of flbre re neLatlveJ.y hlgh, the presence re quallty of the product,
lhot-free rnlnerral wools may be c o s t s .
Ihe finer the fibre ancl the l-olver the flbre denstty the more lmportant lt becomes to have a good blnder, comblned ivftfr
gogd ftbre af,trang-ement, to rtflxrt the-flbres 1nt6 a well-formed.
batt_' blanket, oi boarfl havlng the deslred restllenoe or rigf dfty as the case may. be. rnsuratlons ma,ile of rlghter, more unlfdm flbres usually- hale phenol forrnaldehyde or 6ther'plastlc
naterlal as a bLnd.or. less reflned materlars, which nay stlrl
be goocl lnsulatlons, often enp3.oy a bltuurlnou6 blncler.
I{any of the mlneral woo} lnsuLatlons can be, and often
arer oomBressed, for shlpplng to one half or even lesi of the
unconfined, volume. rn thls wdxr shlpplng rates for llght
naterlals, whloh are based. on bulk ratrrei than on weJ.g[t, may bo
reduoed,. Eowever, unless tb,e tnsuLatlon ls of 6ood. quarity it ,lune when released. from the
;he amount of tnsulatton intend,ed..
I wlll depend. malnly upon lts ,nsulatlons ar€ therefore only as good as thelr rebouncl thlcls.essr. and care must be taken to
eee that the naterlals seleoted, Bossebs sultable reslllenoe and,
that they w111 expand 1n prace to the deslred. thtckness.
A shredded. red-wood. bark avallabLe ln lltesterrr Canad.a oan !g 4!41y compressed, ls Ueht ln welght, ancl can be reacltly
fluffetl to orlgtnal denslty when unpactea. Two-1mrt polyrrr6thane
foams can be sfilppea 1n cais and foimed ln plaoe'. rtres" are
Fgfttg used. tn experimental- houstng in ALaska. &rey are at present
hlgh ln_cost and. are usualJ.y dlfftcuLt to foam ln place to frtt
aL1 voids; further lmprovements may earn theLr conslderatlon for
norbhern use. fn each i.nstance the d.eslgner should oheck wlth
the shipper to fincl whetber these compressed. materlals wlLL avold
the hlgher shlpBlng rates applied to bulky lnsuLatlons.
Ihe Divlsion has reoentl-y tested. a common ArctLc plant,
traarlbou nosstt, for 1ts lnsuratlig quallties. A fatr k value of
o.32 at a denslty_9f 9 p.o.f. ls provtded by thls naterlar, whlclr shoulcl remaln stable when properly protected against molstrire.
rt nay prove to be the cheapest souioe of insulatton ln those
northern areas where lt ls plenttfrrL and easlly gathered.. SI'MMARY
Ia the Cauad.lan Sorth:
1. Bulk types of lnsulatlon are usually preferabLe to reflective
Upes. lEte one exception coulel, be ln lnsulatlng exposed
2 ,
, .4 .
5 .
6 .7 .
B . 9ft ts eoonomlcally justlfled on an annual cost basis to ftl1 the usual 4-tn. stud cavlty ancl even to use 6-tn. lnsulated. walLs.
Or the same basis prefabrloated. framed,, stressed. skln, ancl sandwlch panel thlcknesses of 4 ln. or greater are often J u s t l f l e c l .
Insulatlons provlding the lowest k values obtainable may be preferable even at proportlonately hlgher market costs. llgbtwet6bt materlaLs wtlL usually be preferabLe because
of reduced shlpping costs.
Tapour barrter lnsul-ation backlngSr stapled to the studs, are not as rollable as large sheet vapour barriers.
Compresslble or foam-ln-place lnsufatlons should be consldered. where they enJoy more favoureble frelght rates, but shoulcl be oarefully selected,.
n0arlbou mosstr may prove a 6ood source of eheap lnsulatlsn
ln some nortfiern areas.
9. Proper use as wel-1 as regular nainteaance and adjustment of heater, and, conirol of temperature ancl ventilatioa are as Lnportant.as ad.equate tnsulatlon tn reducing anrrual heating oosts.
RMERHSCES
1. Hand.egorcl, G.0. ancl N.B. Hutcheon. flre:ma1 Perfo:mance Trame WalLs. Natlonal Research Council of Canad,at 2. Hancle6ord., G.O. and N.B. Hutcheon. frrernal Performance of
trEame'WalLs, Part II: A1r Sp,aces Blocked. at Mid.-helght. National Reiearch CounciL of Canad.a, DBR 36.
3. Babbltt, J.D. flre Optlmun flrlokness of Insulation for
Canadlan Eomes. hE. Jour. V. 21, N. 1, January f 94O. (also avallable fron the Natlonal Research CounciL of Canada, ffiC 87 4 , 5p. )
4. Babbltt, J.D. (jotnt author). 'Flae Economie fleLckness of Insulatlon for Canadtan Homes; amencled' 1954. Canadlan ItYool Manufacturerst Assoclatlon, 23p.
5. Mean Annua1 Total Degree Days on a 65"F Bas1s, ?art.2, Gltart J, Natlonal. Butldlng Cod.e of Canad.a (1951) , NatLonal Research Counoil of Canada, tr[RC 5188r L951.
of
TABIE T
Ihe canad.ian Nort'lr Grouped. by clinate and, Transport
Area Port of Supply Av. Yearly
Degree Days Iended CostFuel Oil General, Frelghttbansport fnsulationTransport loeallty
I Montreal by
sea 17000 per
{t
o . 4 5
ga1Ion per ton$ 5 3 . o 0
per tonS 5e.oo
FrobisberSort Cfriuro Port HarrisonI I Montreal (or
Churchlll) 20000
o . 5 7
7 0 . 0 0'l7.oo
Cape Dorset Iake I{arbour Baker Ieke Iglool1k I I I Montreal 20000o . 6 1
9 0 . 0 0 1 0 0 . 0 0 Pangnirtung Clyde Pond fnlet Arctlc Bay Spence 3ay IV Montreal orEdmonton 20000 1 . 0 0 1 2 0 . O O 1 3 2 . 0 0 Bathurst InletCambridge Bay
Coppermine Holnan Isla nd
v
Edmonton by I L80O0Iflackenzie I
(ffret from Norman lVells)
o . 1 8
7 0 . 0 o
1 0 5 . 0 0 Fort Macpherson Aklavik ftktoyaktuk VIEdnonton
( zuet fron
No:man Ilells)15000
o . 2 5
55.OO 8 2 . 0 0 Fort NorroanFort Simpson IIay Rlver
IABIE IT
ApproxS-mate Cost of Insulatton ia the Canad.lan Sorth
Area Approx. Cost ln Plaee-:r
at Port of Supply (per 1OO sq ft)
Transport Costs per 100 sq ft at Thiclsxesses Shown *x
(at 4 lb/cu ft) (approx. )
Cost in Plaoe at Slte per 100 sql ft h!.-x-r$ (yearly eosts in-bracketsi
(approx. ) 2il 4tr 5tt gr l2n 1dr 2 t l 4!, 5n gn ];z.n 15rt 2'l 4 " 6li 8n Lztt 16"
r
$$
$ $
$ s
7 1 1 1 5 2 1 2 9 3 8s $ $ $ $ $
r . 7 5 3 . 5 A 5 . 2 5 7 . O O 1 0 . 5 0 1 4 , 0 O$
s
$
s
$
lf, * 1 1 . 5 0 1 9 . 0 0 2 8 . 0 0 7 6 . 5 0 5 1 . 0 0 5 8 . O O ( 0 . 8 1 ) ( 1 . 3 5 ) ( 2 . 0 0 ) ( 2 . 5 0 ) ( 5 . e 0 ) ( + " e o )TT 7 1 1 1 6 2 L 2 9 3 e 2 . 3 Q 4 . 6 0 7 . 0 0 9 . 2 0 1 4 . 0 0 1 8 . 4 0 l:2.00 20.00 30.00 lg.oo 56.o0 74.oc
( 0 . 8 5 ) ( 1 . 4 2 ) ( 2 . L 2 ) ( 2 . 8 0 ) ( 4 . 0 0 ) ( 5 . 2 5 )
IIT 7 1 1 1 6 2 ] - 2 9 3 8 1 . O O 6 . 0 0 9 . 0 0 ] , 2 . o o 1 g . o o 2 4 . o o 1 5 . 0 0 22.OO 73.OO 43.OO 51.00 81,00
( o . 9 2 ) ( 1 . 5 6 ) ( 2 . 3 + ) ( 1 . 0 0 ) ( + . l o ) ( 5 . 7 0 )
IV 7 1 1 1 6 2 1 2 9 3 8 4 . 0 0 1 . g a 1 1 . 9 0 1 5 . 9 0 2 2 . 8 o 1 I . 7 O 1 4 . 0 0 2 5 . O O 16.OO 48.OO 57.00 gl.oo
( 1 . 0 0 ) ( L . 7 7 ) Q.56) (1.+a) (+.eo) (e.50)
v
9 1 4 2 2 2 7 1 9 4 9 3 . r 5 6 . t o g . 5 o 1 2 . 6 0 1 9 . 0 0 2 5 . O O1 6 , O 0 2 6 . 0 O 4 1 . 0 0 5 1 . 5 0 75.OO 96.OO( 1 . 1 5 ) ( 1 . e 5 ) ( 2 . 9 0 ) ( 5 . 7 o \ ( 5 . 1 0 ) ( 6 . e 0 )
vr
9 1 4 2 2 2 7 3 9 4 9 2 . 5 O 4 . 9 O 7 . 4 O 1 0 . 0 0 1 4 ; B O ] - g . 7 O + 5 . 0 9 . 2 + . 5 0 , B . O O 4 8 . 0 0 ? o . o o g 0 . o o( 1 . 0 5 ) ( L . 7 4 ' , 1 Q . r o ) ( 3 . 4 0 ) ( 5 . 0 0 ) ( 6 . + O )
{$ Up to 6tr the cost lu place is derlved from Canadian Wool }fianufacturerrs Assoclation figures.
Above 6rr tJrlcbress the cost tn place is estimated. ,**' Transporb Costs based. on weight, as described 1n text.
t$it+t Cost in_ place at slte = cost at port plus transport plus jO% coatlagency allowance.
IABIE TIT
Total Cost vs Insulation I?rlckness
Area
Yearly 0i1 Consumptlon / ol CostgaLAoO sq ft surface / v [ota1 Yearly Cost - trbe]. PLus Insulation
ltrick-negs 0 2
4
6 I L 2 1 6o
2 4 6 B L 2 L6ItUtl . 3 0 . 1 0 8
. 0 8 0
.o52 .o45
. 0 3 0 .027.7 . 3 0 . 1 0 8 .og0 .452.o43
.a1o
.o27
r
ga1ll+
105 48 38 L 7 28.2 L 1 L8.3 9 . 2 I 5 6 . 9 1 0 . 5 4 . 7 B . L 3 . 6 4B 1 8 1 4 . 4 1 0 . 29 . 4
8 . 3 8 . 4 I T gal It p L24 564 5
2 . 4
3 3
1 7 .5
2r.5
1 1 . 5 189 . 5
L2,5 6 . 59 . 5
5 . O
6 6 2 4 . 9 1 9 J . 3 , 6 1 2 . 1 1 0 . 6r 0 . 3
rrr
gal al iP 124 784 5
28.4
3 5
2I
2r.5
r1.5
18 1 1 . 5 1 2 . 5 7 . 99 . 5
6 . 0
78 2 9 . 3 2 2 . 5 1 5 . 9 l . 4 . 5 1 2 . 2 1 1 . 8 I T gal ,+[ + 124 t244 5
4 5
3 3
5 3
21.52r.5
18 L E 1 2 . 5 4 2 , 59 . 5
o 6 t24 4 6 1 4 . 8 2 4 . 92r.4
1 7 . 3
1 5 Y ga1 .P L 1 2 42"5 40 1 53 0
1 1 .4
1 9 .4 'l .4 1 6 6 , 1 LL.2 4 . 3 9 . 5 3 . 34 2 . 5
t 6 . 2 L 3 . I 1 0 . 19 . 5
9 . 3
l o . 2
VI 8a1 & \v9 3
2 5
3 4 , 4
9 . 5
2 5
6 . 5
1 6 41 3 . 3
7 . 3
9 . 3
2 . 3
7.r
1 . 82 3
9 . 7
B6 . 7
6 . 7
7 . 3
9 . 2TASIE IV
Heatlng a fVpical Northern Hut I,ocatlon -- Pangrrlrtung,
Hut ConventlonaL
Heating requi.rement 19O0O deg days. Wind.y. 011 cost 63d/sa)-.
wood. frame, 16t x 34r plan. 0n plIes to avoid disturbing pe:mafrostr so floor exposed.. Surface area 1980 sq ft. Iflndolvs triple glazed, area 30 sq ft. Insulated. surface 1950 sq ft. Ventj.lation at mlnimum ,000 c.f ./hT plus 2O/o. 0i1 heatlng at 116000 Btu useful heat/9aI.
Btu/year cal OII Flxed Heat l,oacl
Wind,ow trans-nLsslon Inflltratlon
( : o o o x. 0.018 x
30 46.5 x 10540
254
Heat load. Annual Cost#zs
160 g 185g
o . 3 6
24 x l9oOO) 2g5 x 1O5 Approx, Total, Tixed. Varlable lleat load.Insulatlon frrlekness g
o
o.5o
2 0 . 1 0 8 4 0 . 0 8 06
o.o52
B O . O 4 'Varlable plus Flxetl Cost lotal Fuel Cost 1950 1 9 5 0 1950 1950 1950 Btu 3r 2560 x 105 960 x 105 ?1O x 1O5 460 x 1o5 3Bo x 1o5 Gal Oil 23OO 810
6ro
400 3 3 0sl450
525
385 250 2LOr635
71o
57o
415
595
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o
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o
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o
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t 6
a 4
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to
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(b)
ARE
A II
TOTAL HEATINGcosT
a-r--aFUEL
INSUL ATION6 8 t o a 2 1 4 t 6
I N S U L A T I O N
T H I C K N E S S
( I N C H E S )
FIGURE 2 (o) ond (b)
o E J J
