How Insulation Batts Work

In homes, insulation installed in walls, ceilings and floors keeps the heat OUT in summer and IN during winter.

Bulk insulation works by trapping pockets of still air between its fibres, retarding the transfer of heat. This resistance to heat flow is measured by the R-value - the higher the insulation's R-value, the longer it takes heat to transfer through and the more effective it is. Generally, the R-value increases with the thickness of the batt as there are more air pockets - that's why we say "The Fatter the Batt the Better!"

Through retarding the transfer of heat, insulation can make a significant impact on the level of comfort in your home all year round by reducing the amount of warmth escaping during winter and keeping out the heat during summer.

Examples of Bulk insulation products that are commonly used include Glasswool, Polyester, Rockwool, Wool blend, loose fill insulation and polystyrene. For a more detailed description on the types of insulation, please click here.

It is also useful to understand that, while each of the different types of insulation have a varying physical look and size, you can compare the insulating abilities by comparing their R-values.