Insulation

Insulation is material or a biological feature that slows heat transfer between a body and its surroundings. It works by limiting conduction, convection, radiation, or combinations of these.

Thermal conductivity: A measure of how readily a material conducts heat through itself. Low thermal conductivity limits heat flow through solid insulation.
Fiberglass: A material made from fine glass fibers, widely used in building insulation. Its fibers trap still air, providing thermal resistance in walls and roofs.
Building insulation: Materials and assemblies that reduce heat flow through a building envelope. It applies insulation to walls, roofs, floors, and other building boundaries.
Thermal mass: A material's capacity to absorb and store heat as its temperature changes. Thermal mass delays temperature changes rather than necessarily slowing heat transfer.
Building energy performance: The amount and efficiency of energy a building uses to provide services such as heating and cooling. Better insulation can reduce the energy needed to maintain indoor temperatures.
Thermal resistance: A measure of how strongly a material or assembly resists heat flow. It combines material conductivity and thickness to characterize insulation performance.
Mineral wool: A fibrous insulation made from molten rock or industrial slag. Its dense, noncombustible fibers provide thermal and sound insulation.
Thermal envelope: The parts of a building that separate conditioned interior space from outdoors or unconditioned space. Insulation is one component of the envelope's control of heat flow.
Heat exchanger: A device that transfers heat between fluids while keeping them physically separate. Heat exchangers promote controlled heat transfer, the opposite of insulation's usual aim.
Condensation: The change of a substance from gas to liquid, often when moist air cools. Poorly designed insulation can create cold surfaces where indoor moisture condenses.

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