Technology
Types of Insulation Material for Buildings
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Updated:3/7/2026
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Insulation Material↕ | R-Value per Inch↕ | Form / Application↕ | Fire Resistance↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiberglass Batts | R-3.0 to R-3.7 | Pre-cut batts and rolls | Non-combustible (Class A) | The pink cotton-candy-looking rolls found in 90% of American attics — invented by Owens Corning in 1938, cheap and widely available, the itchy insulation that makes you regret not wearing long sleeves in the attic, effective but loses performance when compressed or wet |
Closed-Cell Spray Foam | R-6.0 to R-7.0 | Spray-applied, expands on contact | Requires thermal barrier (drywall) | The highest R-value per inch of any common insulation — expands to fill every crack and crevice creating both insulation and an air barrier simultaneously, adds structural rigidity to walls, the premium choice for tight building envelopes, satisfying to watch it expand like shaving cream |
Open-Cell Spray Foam | R-3.5 to R-3.8 | Spray-applied, expands on contact | Requires thermal barrier (drywall) | A softer, spongier spray foam that expands dramatically to fill cavities — excellent sound absorption compared to closed-cell, lower cost, acts as an air barrier but not a vapor barrier, the more forgiving spray foam that's easier to trim and work with after application |
Cellulose (Blown-In) | R-3.2 to R-3.8 | Loose fill, blown into cavities | Treated with borate fire retardant | Recycled newspaper ground up and treated with fire retardant — the greenest insulation available made from 85% post-consumer content, blown into walls and attics to fill every nook, the satisfying irony that yesterday's news becomes tomorrow's energy savings, excellent acoustic dampening |
Mineral Wool (Rockwool / Stone Wool) | R-3.3 to R-4.2 | Batts, boards, loose fill | Non-combustible up to 2,150°F | Made from molten basalt rock spun into fibers — superior fire resistance that can withstand temperatures that would melt fiberglass, excellent sound absorption, hydrophobic so it sheds water, the choice for fire-rated assemblies and soundproofing, increasingly preferred over fiberglass for its dual performance |
Rigid Foam Board (EPS) | R-3.6 to R-4.2 | Rigid panels | Combustible, requires thermal barrier | Expanded polystyrene — the same material as coffee cups but engineered as insulation board, lightweight, moisture-resistant, the workhorse for insulating foundations and below-grade walls, cheap and effective but the beads squeak horrifyingly when cut with a knife |
Rigid Foam Board (XPS) | R-5.0 | Rigid panels (typically blue or pink) | Combustible, requires thermal barrier | Extruded polystyrene — the blue or pink boards that scream 'construction site' — higher R-value and moisture resistance than EPS, the standard for below-grade foundation insulation where contact with soil is unavoidable, Owens Corning's pink and Dow's blue boards are iconic |
Rigid Foam Board (Polyiso) | R-5.7 to R-6.5 | Foil-faced rigid panels | Combustible, requires thermal barrier | The highest R-value per inch of any rigid board insulation — foil facing acts as a radiant barrier, the standard for commercial flat roof insulation, loses R-value in extreme cold which is its Achilles' heel, the insulation contractors reach for when every inch of wall thickness counts |
Sheep's Wool Insulation | R-3.5 to R-3.8 | Batts, rolls, loose fill | Naturally self-extinguishing | An ancient material rediscovered for modern green building — wool naturally absorbs and releases moisture without losing insulating performance, self-extinguishing because keratin requires more oxygen to burn than air provides, no itch, no chemical irritants, the gentlest insulation to install |
Aerogel Insulation | R-10.0 to R-10.3 | Thin blankets, boards, particles | Non-combustible | The world's lightest solid material — 99.8% air by volume, originally developed by NASA for space suits and Mars rovers, the absolute highest R-value per inch of any insulation on Earth, translucent versions let light through while insulating, prohibitively expensive for most buildings but extraordinary in performance |
Cotton Denim Insulation | R-3.4 to R-3.7 | Batts | Treated with borate fire retardant | Made from recycled blue jeans — literally old Levi's ground up and formed into insulation batts, no itch, safe to handle bare-handed, excellent acoustic performance, the feel-good insulation choice where your old denim keeps your house warm, slightly more expensive than fiberglass but infinitely more pleasant to install |
Vermiculite Loose Fill | R-2.1 to R-2.5 | Granular loose fill, poured | Non-combustible | A mineral that expands like popcorn when heated — poured into wall cavities and attics, fireproof and lightweight, but tragically associated with asbestos contamination from the Libby, Montana mine that supplied 70% of the US market, existing vermiculite insulation should be tested before disturbing |
Hempcrete (Hemp-Lime) | R-2.0 to R-2.5 | Cast-in-place or block | Fire-resistant (lime coating) | Hemp fibers mixed with lime binder that creates a breathable, carbon-negative wall system — the plant absorbs more CO2 growing than the lime emits during curing, naturally mold and pest resistant, used in European renovation for centuries, the poster child for regenerative building materials |
Perlite Loose Fill | R-2.5 to R-3.0 | Granular loose fill, poured | Non-combustible | Volcanic glass popped like popcorn at 1,600°F into lightweight white granules — poured into masonry block cores and wall cavities, completely fireproof, will not rot or attract pests, the insulation you can pour like sand, used in cryogenic applications because it works at any temperature |
Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs) | R-25 to R-50 | Pre-fabricated sealed panels | Non-combustible core | The thermos flask principle applied to buildings — a microporous core sealed in an airtight envelope with the air evacuated, R-values 5-10 times higher than any other insulation at the same thickness, one puncture destroys the vacuum and the panel, used where extreme thinness is required like historic renovations |
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