Because heat rises, much of a home's heat loss can occur through the ceilings and roof.
Insulated ceiling tiles can be a useful product for any homeowner trying to keep a home's internal temperature regulated while also keeping the monthly utility bills down. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulated ceiling panels "provide superior and uniform insulation compared to more traditional construction methods ... offering energy savings of 12%--14%." Elite Aluminum Corp. manufacturers one of the most popular of this type of product.
Materials
Elite panels are designed to be dressed, that is covered over with more architecturally pleasing materials. Not designed for great beauty, they none-the-less accomplish their product specification of providing thermal insulation through a multiple density makeup. At their core, the Elite panels consist of high-density polystyrene. This is then laminated with other materials, including aluminum, plywood and steel. This multi-layer structure allows them not only to be thermally efficient, but strong as well. The panels come in widths of 2 to 4 inches, lengths up to 40 inches and widths and thicknesses of 3, 4, 6 and 8 inches, depending on the application.
Material Advantages
As mentioned in the previous section, the cores of the panels are made from polystyrene. According to The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, this is the same material used in refrigeration units to keep cool air in and moisture out. Additionally, according to the site, "to compare its insulating capabilities to other products on the market, you would need 12cm. of fiberglass, 24cm. of hardwood or 122cm. of brick to equal 5cm. of polystyrene."
One of the ways that other insulation fails is by leaving gaps in coverage through which heat can escape and cool air can blow in. While other types of insulated panels may be applied by laying them out concurrently, elite panels are designed to be applied with an interlocking system. The helps to eliminate gaps and therefore increases the products insulating effectiveness.
Tags: Elite panels, interlocking system, panels designed