Passive House Roof Insulation

The house at cornell tech photo by field condition.

Passive house roof insulation.

Inadequate insulation and air leakage are the main causes of heat loss in homes. These values may be slightly higher or lower depending on the climate. Passive house has a reputation for requiring ungodly amounts of insulation. Examples of constructions suitable for passive houses with an excellent thermal insulation.

Passive houses are working examples of dwellings with very good thermal insulation standards. The level of insulation in passive houses u values thermal transmittance of external walls floor slabs and roof areas of passive houses range from 0 10 to 0 15 w m k for central european climate. Masonry construction with thermal insulation compound system timber construction lost. An exemplar of correct detailing.

If you re familiar with any passive house projects you may be thinking about double stud walls that are a foot thick or regular walls with 6 to 12 inches of rigid insulation on the outside. Insulation specifying high levels of insulation for the thermal envelope is at the heart of good passive design. Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow reducing heat loss in winter to keep the house warm or reducing heat gain in summer to keep the house cool. It grew out of the superinsulation movement after all.

Thermal insulation for passive houses must be extremely effective and so thick walls are built up using super insulation to achieve high r values.