R+HEATSHIELD Radiant Barrier Insulation

A radiant barrier is a reflective material that is used to effectively block the transfer of radiant heat. Radiant barriers typically come in sheets with a highly reflective surface on one or both sides, depending upon the application. A good radiant barrier blocks 95 percent of radiant heat transfer, making it highly effective at controlling the transfer of heat from one space to another. For example, installed properly in an attic, a radiant barrier will make the attic cooler in the summer, leading to lower cooling costs and more comfortable home.

There are many applications for the building industry (e.g., residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural). R+HEATSHIELD is thin and lightweight, so it's ideal for controlling temperatures in any space-constricted situation (such as in a recreational vehicle or inside machinery that requires temperature control in order to function properly).

All Low E materials achieve the majority of their thermal performance ONLY when they face an air space. "E" stands for emissivity, the converse of reflectivity. Low E surfaces like R+HEATSHIELD, when facing an air space, will either reflect 95 percent of the heat that is directed to them across the air space, or they won't emit more than 5 percent of the heat that is conducted to them.

R+HEATSHIELD is a perfect do-it-yourself product to enhance the current insulation in your attic. It is lightweight, easy to install and will reduce energy consumption. Scroll down this FAQs section to see our "FAQs for Residential Attic Installation". Also, scroll down this page to see the R+HEATSHIELD Installation Guide.

No. R+HEATSHIELD can be cut easily with a razor blade or scissors and installed with common staples, nails or screws.

To achieve an absolute moisture barrier, taping the seams is recommended. Seams can be easily taped using our reflective tapes. However, if an absolute moisture barrier is not a concern, such as in a horizontal application in attic spaces, taping seams is not necessary.

R+HEATSHIELD can help reduce condensation problems because it creates a buffer between interior and exterior temperatures.

R+HEATSHIELD is a radiant barrier. Unlike mass insulation, which slows down heat transfer, R+HEATSHIELD reflects heat. To stop radiant heat, you must reflect it with a radiant barrier like R+HEATSHIELD.

Just like wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil keeps a potato warm longer by holding the heat in, covering your attic insulation with R+HEATSHIELD holds the heat in the house. Ever seen a marathon finisher wrapped in a "space blanket"? Marathon runners know that a thin space blanket can keep a person warmer than several heavy blankets. R+HEATSHIELD acts like a space blanket for your house in the winter; even though it's very thin and lightweight, it holds heat in.

No. R+HEATSHIELD actually makes your present insulation more effective.

No. The tiny holes in perforated R+HEATSHIELD allow moisture to escape from your regular insulation.

R+HEATSHIELD's reflective surface stops up to 94 percent of radiant heat from the sun as it beats down on your house. It reflects the sun's heat away before it can warm up the insulation in your attic. With fiberglass, foam or cellulose insulation, heat transfer is merely slowed down; it's just a matter of time before living spaces heat up. When radiant heat is reflected away, it never gets a chance to reach your living space, so your house stays cooler. A cooler house means lower energy costs; installing R+HEATSHIELD can pay for itself pretty quickly.

For attic installation, the perforated (not solid) version of R+HEATSHIELD should be used. The preferred application for an attic is stapled to the underside of the roof rafters. In some attics this is not a good option, either because the roof pitch is too low to physically reach the rafters or there may be too much blown-in mass insulation on the floor precluding a good working area to do the installation. In these situations, please contact Innovative Energy for other installation options.

No. In fact, research has confirmed that summertime attic temperatures will be much cooler with R+HEATSHIELD in place.

Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic, adding perforated R+HEATSHIELD could save on your heating and cooling expense, and keep you much more comfortable.

The Florida Solar Energy Center at Cape Canaveral has tested radiant barriers in both small-scale laboratories and in full-scale building models. Their results indicate that radiation barriers like R+HEATSHIELD can provide significant resistance to heat transfer.

Tests conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge Laboratories in Tennessee and the University of Mississippi support the findings from the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Northeastern Illinois University conducted winter tests in residential and commercial structures using infrared thermograph photography. The photos showed significant resistance to heat transfer with a radiant barrier vs. with regular (mass) insulation alone.