As an HVAC provider, you understand the usefulness of radiant barriers. Radiant barriers are installed in homes, usually in the attic, to reduce summer heat gain, in order to lower cooling costs. The barriers consist of a highly reflective material which reflects, or re-emits, radiant heat rather than absorbing it.

Radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates, especially when cooling air ducts are located in the attic. Some studies show that radiant barriers can lower cooling costs by 10% when used in a warm, sunny climate. The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system. If you are an HVAC installer, Service Partners has a radiant barrier to help you improve your leverage with potential clients.

Many business owners and commercial property owners are looking for ways to increase their bottom line while decreasing expenses. Non-fixed costs are way they can do this, and with the increase in heating expenses, along with the tax credits to those who improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, many business owners and commercial building owners are investigating their utility bills and wondering how to save on energy costs. As a contractor you can bring your knowledge and cost savings to the table when discussing renovations or improvements.

As you know, investing in building renovations and home improvements can actually yield cost saving results. One of the many ways you as a contractor can do this for your customers is to improve the existing insulation with a reflective radiant barrier from Service Partners.

Although radiant barrier technology is by no means new, radiant barriers are being used for the purpose of building insulation and are considered one of the newer methods for shielding the interior of a commercial building from both the heat of summer and the cold, frigid temperatures of winter.

As media attention and commercial business interests have increased in making more energy efficient and ecologically green investments, radiant barriers are quickly becoming one of the most economical ways to augment a buildings’ existing insulation. Unlike traditional fiberglass batting or loose fill insulation, which acts to slow the progression of heat transfer, you can set yourself apart from the everyday contractor by showing your potential clients these radiant barriers and their cost savings. These barriers will actually reflect the majority of any heat transfer taking place allowing the building interior to remain at a more comfortable temperature.

With less need for air & heat conditioning cycles it is clear to see how this will not only save your customers money in operating costs, but also minimize the wear and tear of the HVAC system. Be sure to contact us to learn more about our weatherization products.

Radiant barriers perform a function that is similar to that of conventional insulation, in that they reduce the amount of heat that is transferred from the attic into the house. They differ in the way they reduce the heat flow. A radiant barrier reduces the amount of heat radiated across an air space that is adjacent to the radiant barrier. The primary function of conventional insulation is to trap still air within the insulation, and hence reduce heat transfer by air movement. The insulation fibers or particles also partially block radiation heat transfer through the space occupied by the insulation. The old saying, heat rises, is false in this instance. Hot air rises because it’s less dense than cold air, but otherwise, heat moves from hot places to cool places. When the sun shines on a roof, the plywood sheathing warms up and radiates heat, which in turn warms anything solid, like rafters, joists, air handlers, and ducts. The warmer these things get, the warmer the ceilings and attic get, and the harder the air conditioner has to work to cool the house. To combat this problem, Service Partners offers a variety of radiant-barrier products.

Conventional insulations are usually rated by their R-value. Since the performance of radiant barriers depends on many variables, simple R-value ratings have not been developed for them


Radiant barriers work by reducing heat transfer of thermal radiation across the air space between the roof deck and the attic floor, where conventional insulation is usually placed. In other words radiant barriers assist in blocking or reflecting heat transfer. All materials give off energy by thermal radiation as a result of air temperature. The amount of energy emitted depends on the surface temperature and a property called the emissivity. Emissivity is effectively the amount of heat which is “emitted” or radiated off of a surface to surrounding air.

A closely related material property is the reflectivity. This is a measure of how much radiant heat is reflected by a material. For a material that is opaque, the emissivity and reflectivity are added together, the sum is one. Hence, a material with a high reflectivity has a low emissivity, and vice versa. Radiant barrier materials must have high reflectivity and low emissivity, and must face an open air space to perform properly.

A roof or attic applied radiant barrier works by reducing the amount of radiation incident on various components in the attic. These are typically thermal attic insulation, ductwork, air handling equipment, and other building components. Since the amount of radiation striking the top of the insulation is less than it would have been without a radiant barrier, the insulation surface temperature is lower and the heat flow through the insulation is reduced. Radiant barriers can also reduce indoor heat losses through the ceiling in the winter. Radiant barriers reduce the amount of energy radiated from the top surface of the insulation. In summary these products provide you with an excellent way to keep your home or business well insulated and comfortable.