Insulation Quiz

What type of insulation would be a good choice for the walls of an uninsulated existing structure with finished interior and exterior walls?

loose fill

When installing flexible batt insulation between floor joists over crawl spaces the author recommends that... (Hint: not the same as wall cavities.)

no vapor barrier should be used (use unfaced batts)

What is the result of condensation within walls, attics, roofs, and floors?

paint may blister, wood will rot causing structural failure, R-value will be decreased, and other serious problems

Which of the following is NOT a natural insulator (which is manmade)?

phenolic foam

Which of the following has the highest R-value per inch?

polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam

What can be done to prevent condensation of moisture within a building?

reduce the moisture in the warm inside air, Ventilate the attic to remove moisture, and Install vapor barriers in areas that cannot be ventilated

Aluminum foil is used as an insulating material that ______ heat.

reflects

The resistance to the passage of sound through a building section is rated by its...

sound transmission class

______ insulation prevents the loss of heat in cold seasons and resists the passage of heat from the exterior into air-conditioned spaces in the hot season.

thermal

Proper ______ must be provided to remove the moisture that forms in the space between the cold surfaces and the thermal insulation in buildings.

ventilation

To reduce heat loss all ______ that separate heated from unheated areas must be insulated.

walls, ceilings, roofs, and floors

Use of a ground cover in crawl spaces...

will inhibit moisture from leaving the ground and getting into the floor system above.

Batt insulation is available in thicknesses up to ______ inches.

12

The use of ______ studs in exterior walls permits the installation of R- ______ batt insulation.

2 x 6; 19

______ insulation reduces the transmission of sound from one area to another.

acoustical

______ is an excellent insulator if it is confined to a small space in which it is still.

air

The ______ on both edges of blanket type insulation facing are used to fasten it to studs or joists.

aluminum foil flanges or Kraft paper flanges

The higher the R-value number of an insulating material, the ______ the material is.

better insulator

Flexible insulation can be purchased in ______ form.

blanket and batt

The minimum free-air area for attic ventilators is based on what?

ceiling area of the rooms below the attic space

When designing to eliminate heat loss, which of the following cannot be controlled or prevented?

cold weather

When the temperature of moisture-laden air drops below its dew point, ______ occurs.

condensation

If an area is well ventilated...

condensed moisture is removed by evaporation

Which of the following is referred to as beadboard?

expanded polystyrene

Foamed-in-place insulation...

expands on contact with the surface

Organic insulating materials (materials that were once living; like cellulose, straw, cedar bark, cane, etc.) are treated to make them resistant to...

fire, insects, and vermin

Which of the following is NOT good to use in termite prone areas? (What do termites eat?)

foam board and untreated cellulose

Rigid insulation is usually made of...

foamed plastic material

What style of roof is designed to house large triangular louvers for ventilation?

gable