ASTM C727-01(2007)e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Installation and Use of Reflective Insulation in Building Constructions
Standard Practice for Installation and Use of Reflective Insulation in Building Constructions
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice recognizes that effectiveness, safety, and durability of reflective insulation depends not only on the quality of the insulating materials, but also on their proper installation.
Improper installation of insulation can reduce its thermal effectiveness, cause fire risks and other unsafe conditions, and promote deterioration of the structure in which it is installed. Specific hazards that can result from improper installation include fires caused by (1) heat build-up in recessed lighting fixtures, (2) deterioration or failure of electrical wiring components, and heat build-up resulting from overcurrent protection devices incorrectly matched to wiring; or (3) deterioration in wood structures and paint failure due to moisture accumulation.
This practice provides recommendations for the installation of reflective insulation in a safe and effective manner. Actual conditions in existing buildings may vary greatly and in some cases additional care should be taken to ensure safe and effective installation.
This practice presents requirements that are general in nature and considered practical. They are not intended as specific recommendations. The user should consult manufacturer for recommended applications.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice has been prepared for use by the designer, specifier, and installer of reflective insulation for use in building construction. The scope is limited to recommendations relative to the use and installation of thermal insulation consisting of one or more surfaces, having an emittance of 0.1 or less such as metallic foil or metallic deposits unmounted or mounted on substrates and facing enclosed air spaces. The reflective insulation covered by this practice must meet the requirements of Specification C 1224.
1.2 This practice covers the installation process from pre-installation inspection through post-installation procedure. It does not cover the production of the insulation materials.
1.3 This practice is not intended to replace the manufacturer's installation instructions, but shall be used in conjunction with such instructions. This practice is not intended to supercede local, state, or federal codes.
1.4 This practice assumes that the installer possesses a good working knowledge of the applicable codes and regulations, safety practices, tools, equipment, and methods necessary for the installation of thermal insulation materials. It also assumes that the installer understands the fundamentals of construction that affect the installation of insulation.
1.5 The values given in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The SI units in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: C727 – 01 (Reapproved 2007)
Standard Practice for
Installation and Use of Reflective Insulation in Building
Constructions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C727; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
´ NOTE—Sections 2, 3.2.5, 5.1, 7.2, and footnotes 4 and 5 were editorially corrected in April 2007.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This practice has been prepared for use by the designer, 2.1 ASTM Standards:
specifier, and installer of reflective insulation for use in C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
building construction. The scope is limited to recommenda- C1224 Specification for Reflective Insulation for Building
tions relative to the use and installation of thermal insulation Applications
consisting of one or more surfaces, having an emittance of 0.1 E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
or less such as metallic foil or metallic deposits unmounted or Materials
mounted on substrates and facing enclosed air spaces. The 2.2 NFPA Standards:
reflective insulation covered by this practice must meet the NFPA 31 Standard for the Installation of Oil Burning
requirements of Specification C1224. Equipment
1.2 This practice covers the installation process from pre- NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
installation inspection through post-installation procedure. It NFPA 211 Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, and Vents
does not cover the production of the insulation materials. 2.3 Code of Federal Regulations:
1.3 This practice is not intended to replace the manufactur- 16 CFR 460 Federal Trade Commission Trade Regulation
er’s installation instructions, but shall be used in conjunction Rule: Labeling and Advertising of Home Insulation
with such instructions. This practice is not intended to super-
3. Terminology
cede local, state, or federal codes.
1.4 This practice assumes that the installer possesses a good 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
working knowledge of the applicable codes and regulations, tice refer to Terminology C168
3.2 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
safety practices, tools, equipment, and methods necessary for
the installation of thermal insulation materials. It also assumes 3.2.1 applicator—the person or persons who apply thermal
insulation materials in buildings whether or not such person or
that the installer understands the fundamentals of construction
that affect the installation of insulation. persons have contracted with the owner to perform the work.
3.2.2 conditioned space—any space in a building that is
1.5 The values given in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The SI units in parentheses are for information served by a heating or cooling system.
3.2.3 owner—the person, partnership, corporation, agency,
only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the or other entity owning the building to be insulated whether
such ownership is by virtue of deed, contract, or any other
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- instrument for acquiring legal title under the laws of the state
in which the building is located.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.21 on Reflective the ASTM website.
Insulation. Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
Current edition approved March 1, 2007. Published April 2007. Originally Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved 2001 as C727 – 01. DOI: Federal Register, Vol 70, No. 103. Available from Department of Housing and
10.1520/C0727-01R07E01. Urban Development, 451 7th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20410.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C727 – 01 (2007)
the following signs of potential electrical deficiencies: lights dimming,
3.2.4 reflective insulation system—thermal insulation con-
fuses blowing, circuit breakers tripping frequently, electrical sparks and
sisting of one or more low emittance surfaces, bounding one or
glowing from receptacles, lights flickering, and coverplates on switches
more enclosed air spaces.
and outlets that are warm or hot to the touch.
3.2.5 vapor retarder—any material (membrane or paint)
that has a water vapor permeance (perm) rating of 57 ng/ 6.4 In the areas where insulation is to be installed, the
(Pa·s·m ) (1 perm) or less, in accordance with Test Methods applicatorshalllocateandplanforsubsequentblockingaround
E96/E96M, using the desiccant method. recessed lighting fixtures, motors, fans, blowers, heaters, flues,
chimneys, and other heat-producing electrical or mechanical
4. Significance and Use
devices.
4.1 This practice recognizes that effectiveness, safety, and 6.4.1 Securely fasten blocking, such as wood, metal, or
durability of reflective insulation depends not only on the
unfaced mineral wool batts, around all heat-producing devices
quality of the insulating materials, but also on their proper
to permanently maintain the clearances specified in 6.4.2,
installation.
6.4.3, or the exception in 6.4.4. Install all required blocking at
4.2 Improper installation of insulation can reduce its ther-
least as high as the height of the finished insulation and in a
mal effectiveness, cause fire risks and other unsafe conditions,
manner that ensures all devices that require maintenance or
and promote deterioration of the structure in which it is
servicing remain accessible after the insulation is installed.
installed. Specific hazards that can result from improper
6.4.2 Install blocking to provide a minimum three inch (76
installationincludefirescausedby(1)heatbuild-upinrecessed
mm) clearance around all sides of recessed lighting fixtures,
...
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