R-Value Isn’t Everything: Understanding the New Standards in Thermal Insulation

You’ve probably heard of R-value when it comes to thermal insulation. It’s a measure of how well a material resists heat transfer, and it’s closely tied to thickness — the thicker the insulation, the higher the R-value. For a long time, that was the go-to metric for deciding which material to use in roofs, walls, or piping.

We’ve been asked many times:“What’s the R-value of Nanobarrera?”The truth is, with a thickness of just 2 mm, it can’t be directly compared to traditional insulation materials that rely on bulk to perform.

More importantly, R-value doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t account for critical factors like:

• Moisture resistance

• Ease of application

• Adaptability to complex surfaces

Through our experience, we’ve seen that thin-film thermal coatings like Nanobarrera perform exceptionally well when it comes to:

• Efficient thermal insulation

• Moisture protection

• Saving space — especially when thickness is a constraint

This kind of solution has helped overcome many of the limitations of conventional insulation, particularly in projects where space and flexibility matter.

So, while R-value is still a useful benchmark, it’s no longer the only thing that matters when choosing thermal insulation. Technology has moved forward, and thin, multifunctional solutions like Nanobarrera are proving to be both practical and highly effective for a wide range of applications.

REFERENCES

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2023). Insulation R-Values. Recuperado de: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/insulation/insulation-materials

• ASTM International. (2020). ASTM C1483-20 – Standard Guide for Application of Thermal Insulation Coatings.

• Khalil, M. I., & Ahmed, S. E. (2019). Thermal insulation performance of nano-coating materials for building applications: A review. Energy and Buildings, 199, 69–78.DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.06.009