Masonry Magazine March 1981 Page. 25
In Atlanta, 11,000 BTUs per linear foot are saved per year; in Columbus and Madison, the figures are 18,000 and 24,000 BTUs, respectively. The savings per 10,000 sq. ft. of building space per year are $39, $67 and $88, respectively. This still represents an approximate 22% reduction of energy loss.
MASONRY WALL CONSTRUCTION WITH INTERIOR INSULATION AND HEAT DUCTS IN THE SLAB:
The interior wall insulation creates a major short-circuit through the slab to the foundation joint. This may circumvent some of the insulation system. Heat escapes both into the ground and out into the atmosphere.
One method of insulating this type of construction would be to run insulation up the interior of the perimeter, and then parallel underneath the foundation. Despite the fact that heat transmission still occurs at the slab to foundation joint, energy loss is reduced by 32%. That equals 64,000 BTUs per linear foot per year and $225 per 10,000 sq. ft. per year in Atlanta: 88,000 BTUs and $309 in Columbus, and 104,000 BTUs and $366 in Madison.
A more effective placement of the insulation would be to create a thermal break at the slab to foundation juncture by running the insulation completely through the slab. With this configuration, the estimated reduction of energy loss would be 66%. This transforms into a reduction of 130,000 BTUs per linear foot per year for Atlanta, 180,000 BTUs for Columbus, and 214,000 BTUs for Madison. The dollar savings per 10,000 sq. ft. per year is $457, $633 and $752, respectively.
METAL STUD CONSTRUCTION WITH AN INSULATED INTERIOR WALL:
In this type of construction, there are two serious thermal shorts. The first is at the exposed slab end, and is compounded by the metal channel runner on the bottom of the metal studs. This short-circuits some of the insulating qualities of the slab itself. The other major short is through the perimeter foundation. By placing the insulation down the exterior of the foundation to the top of the footer, energy loss is reduced approximately 56%. This amounts to 53,000 BTUs per linear foot annually in Atlanta, with a savings of $190 per 10,000 sq. ft.; 86,000 BTUs in Columbus, with a savings of $306, and 114.000 BTUs in Madison, with a savings of $401 per 10,000 sq. ft. per year.
It is apparent that the use of insulation in below-grade applications can turn a reduction in energy loss into substantial monetary savings. The dollar figures stated are approximate costs using either fuel oil (about 90¢/gal.) or electricity (about 34/kwh.), but they underscore the value of perimeter foundation insulation. All calculations are based on a 100' structure with the slab on grade.
"The major problem in insulating foundations used to be finding a material that would perform in a below grade environment," said Mackey. "Many insulations, including the molded polystyrenes, will deteriorate and lose their original insulating value when exposed to moisture, soil chemicals and freeze-thaw cycles. Through years of research in below grade applications, we have found that Styrofoam SM brand insulation continues to effectively conserve energy while withstanding deterioration."
One of the most recent applications of the product was at the 1980 Winter Olympic facilities in Lake Placid. N.Y. Not only was it used in the more traditional ways in the walls and roofs of many buildings, but also under the ice skating rinks and under the bobsled and luge runs.
REIMANN & GEORGER PLATFORM HOIST
THE MASON'S LIFT
The rugged, dependable, safe way to automatically lift heavy, bulky materials to where you need them.
The Mason's Lift is portable, tough and capable of delivering bricks, mortar or virtually any masonry materials or equipment up to 400 lbs. as high as 44 ft. Two rugged, portable models are available with either gas or electric power to raise and lower work materials quickly and safely.
REIMANN
GEORGER
1853 Harlem Road
Buffalo, NY 14212
Save Energy
BUILD A BETTER FIREPLACE or IMPROVE EXISTING FIREPLACES With CHIM-A-LATOR.
AIR-TIGHT CHIMNEY DAMPER
Eliminate cold draft complaints
Eliminate downdraft back-smoking
Easy to install and operate
Life time quality appliance for fireplace
AND
AIR-A-LATOR
FRESH AIR INTAKE
Supplies outside air for complete combustion
Eliminates need to open window
Parks up dying fire
Controls rate of burning
the CHIM-A-LATOR
Write for free catalog
since
8824 Wentworth Avenue South-Minneapolis, Minnesota 55420
MASONRY/MARCH, 1981 25