The Australian standard for insulation products is AS/NZS4859.1 ( Amended Dec 2006). All insulation products used in new home construction under the Building Code of Australia must comply with this standard.
Insulation Product Standards – A Guideline
Some key elements of this standard are:
- Only bulk insulation products eg glasswool, rockwool, polyester, sheepswool or cellulose fibre are required to be tested for R value ( the measure of thermal performance) in a registered laboratory.
- The R value of reflective foil products are allowed to be determined by estimation using a calculation method contained in AS/NZS4859.1 as they are only effective when installed with at least 25mm air gap in combination with the total building structure.
- The method for testing R value for batts is ASTM C-518. Compliance to AS/NZS4859.1 is not achieved by having an R value test alone.
Some other areas of compliance unique to AS/NZS4859.1 that must be met include :
- Test sample must be selected at random
- Minimum sample size for testing is 15m2 for batts and 27m2 for blanket
- Thickness must be measured in 5 specific places
- Product must be tested at least three times
- Packaging label must contain :
- product name
- description of contents and total area
- name an address of manufacturer
- batch identification
- safety instructions
- statement of compliance
- thickness after settling
- declared material R-value
- summer and winter R values must have equal prominence
- and for foil products, the total building structure assumed for the declared R value and the reflective value ( called emissivity)must be tested and stated
Under the Standard compliance documentation must be provided upon request. If your supply does not provide this documentation then they are not compliant.
For more information contact your nearest Bradford office.