| Why is R-value of BARRIER Ultra-Rtm so
much higher than BARRIER 20tm?
The R-value of a vacuum insulation panel at any given internal pressure is
primarily determined by (a) the thermal conductivity of the "core"
material itself and, (b) the ability of that material to interrupt the mean
free path of any residual gas molecules. Therefore, it is the properties
of various "core" materials that will make otherwise identical panels
at identical pressure have different R-values. The highly specialized
aerogel core used in BARRIER Ultra-Rtm represents the culmination of
many years and millions of dollars of collective research by both public and
government laboratories.
I have heard that some vacuum panels don't hold their vacuum very
long. How can Glacier Bay put a 25 year warranty on BARRIER
Ultra-Rtm?
All vacuum panels are not created equal! The life span of any vacuum
insulation panel is a function of the many different things These are
covered in some technical detail in our paper VIPs - Principles, Performance and
Lifespan. Simply put, BARRIER Ultra-Rtm panels
achieve their high R-value with relatively little vacuum compared with other
types of panels. Obviously, it is much easier to maintain a low (modest)
vacuum level for many years than it is a very high vacuum. Lifespan is
also affected by many factors during the production process. Glacier Bay
has been making vacuum insulation panels for commercial applications longer
than anyone else in the business. We understand what it takes to produce
high-quality panels that last.
I've heard about a new "space-age" insulation that was
developed using "NASA technology". Are you familiar with this
material and is it similar to BARRIER
Ultra-Rtm?
These descriptors could fit the products of most insulation manufacturers
including Glacier Bay (we too make insulation for space and military
applications). However, several small manufacturers have begun making
terms like "space-age" a major part of their marketing
approach. These same companies typically will also tout some connection
(however remote) with NASA to give the impression of a solid technological
basis for their performance claims. For example, two manufacturers
specifically selling into the marine market that take this approach are
Heatshield
Marine and Vacupanel.
As one can see from the Thermal Performance
Tests conducted on these products, they have nothing what-so-ever
in common with BARRIER Ultra-Rtm.
What happens if I puncture a BARRIER
Ultra-Rtm panel?
The R-value immediately declines to R-9. Obvious, this is a long way from
the R-50 you had before the puncture but it's still almost twice as good as
regular urethane foam. Also, it is important to realize that
BARRIERtm insulation is covered with a tough polypropylene plastic
so puncturing it is pretty hard to do. To put that statement in
perspective you should realize that you would puncture it if you drilled
through it but would not puncture it if you laid it on a gravel road and
ran over it with your Porsche!
Sounds great, how do I put it in?
If you already have a box, BARRIER Ultra-Rtm can be used in place of
rigid sheet foam to superinsulate the outside of the box liner or (using the
optional fiberglass facing) put on the inside to form a new superinsulated
liner. If you are building an entirely new box, BARRIER
Ultra-Rtm can be purchased as complete set to make up an easy-to-assemble box "kit". For an
excellent example of how one professional marine installer uses it, see the
Swedish Marine Box Rebuild.
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