New York Landmarks Conservancy
Common Bond Volume 15, No. 1
Spring-Summer 1999
Building Systems: To
Insulate or Not to Insulate
The subject of insulating religious properties presents a dilemma: At what cost
do we insulate sites that never were? How often are such attempts actually cost
effective? When original material and finishes are removed to provide access,
what is the real gain and -- most important -- what is the real loss?
Cold winters in New York State may inspire thoughts of tightening up your historic
house of worship and filling your rafters with rolls of pink fiberglass. Insulating
your historic religious property, however, could prove to be hugely detrimental
if the approach is not mindful of your building’s site-specific conditions.
The congregation also should be realistic about desired goals, and clear about
a reasonable payback period. The intention of this article is to provide insight
into proper evaluation of insulation needs and prudent resolution strategies.
An objective understanding and identification of the source of the problem,
coupled with realistic expectations, are necessary before proceeding.
Evaluating Your Site
As with all major capital projects, it is advisable to consult with a reputable
preservation architect or building conservator on the proper methodologies for
both evaluation of your needs and implementation of repairs.
To understand the feasibility and the impact insulating your building would
have with respect to the structure itself, comfort levels, and cost savings,
your consultant should begin by examining the specific characteristics of your
site. This process comprises several steps and an array of evaluative techniques
–- it is in the congregation’s best interest to seek as much quantitative information
as possible.
1. What is the pattern of
usage? The sanctuaries of religious sites are typically used intermittently
only one or two days a week. Given the difficulty regulating the temperature
in these majestic spaces and the fact that parishioners are less tolerant of
the heating standards accepted at the time of their initial design, these are
often the first to be considered for insulation despite the fact that the actual
cost-effectiveness may be poor. As we will see, there may be less expensive
and destructive means to effectively increase the comfort level within the sanctuary.
2. How is the entire building
and complex framed and spatially arranged? Is there an accessible attic space?
Is there a crawl space or finished u ndercroft? How is the wall system framed
and finished on the interior and exterior? These, and questions like them, set
the stage for decision-making regarding the basic type(s), and associated costs,
of insulation options.
3. What are the principal
materials employed in your building? Stone buildings have an inherent thermal
lag -- they absorb the radiant heat of the sun during the day, then release
that heat hours later. This is a powerful natural system that may render insulation
ineffective. Is the roof wood shingled? Placing insulation within the rafters
of a wood shingled roof may lead to accelerated deterioration because the shingles
require air flow to keep them dry.
4. Where does most heat
loss occur in a building? Buildings are each different with respect to heat
transfer and loss, however most heat -- as much as 55-80% -- is lost through
the roof; about 5-15% or more is transferred through the foundation; and the
balance permeates the wall system. This is good news because it is far simpler
to insulate roof structures and foundations than inaccessible cavity-walls.
Bear in mind that it is the combination of walls and windows and doors that
represent total heat loss -- often more the result of infiltration via gaps
around openings. Sealed gaps, secure siding, and a good coat of paint are the
first line of defense.
5. What is the specific
level of heat loss? Computer programs can analyze diverse data to calculate
heat loss. Each space within a religious complex typically has different needs,
indicating that a single remedy can rarely be universally applied to the whole.
A valuable supplement to heat loss calculation is an infrared survey. These
photographic or video-graphic surveys visually illustrate how much heat your
structure loses through a colorful display of heat radiating to the outside
from within. Such evaluation procedures demonstrate graphically that a significant
improvement in energy efficiency (and a reduction in heat-loss) can be realized
by identifying and correcting areas of air infiltration/loss -- much less destructive
and cost effective than full-scale insulation.
6. What is the pattern of
costs related to heating the space? Evaluate at least two years of heating (and
cooling) costs. Also, examine the heating source and correct inefficiencies
and/or upgrade the system. Ask yourself: Are the heating plant, burners, steam
traps, and ductwork routinely maintained and cleaned? Are the sanctuary and
other autonomous spaces separately zoned for heat? Does conversion to dual fuel
(independent connections to both oil and gas, which allow switching with ease
during periods of price fluctuations) make economic sense? Is the sexton or
heating plant operator fully knowledgeable about the system? (Don’t overlook
this issue -- gross inefficiencies are often are traced to it.) Addressing the
actual heating plant may significantly improve comfort levels and yield substantial
savings. A thorough survey will provide you with a big-picture understanding
of your historic house of worship and the information necessary to reduce heat
loss and maximize the heating system’s performance. Be sure your exam includes:
* the structure and materials
used in construction
* where and how much heat is currently being lost and which spaces most acutely
require attention; and
* known and projected costs to heat your building and verification of the present
system’s adequacy and performance.
Based on the survey, your architect can help you determine whether alternatives
to insulation would actually prove to be the most economical approach and yield
the best results.
Alternatives to Insulation
In addition to sealing areas of air infiltration and maximizing the effectiveness
of the heating system, there are several practical options that may obviate
the expense of insulating the walls of an historic religious structure. Consider
implementing one or more of the following:
* Incorporate timers that would allow the boilers to activate in the middle
of the night preceding a service: This would allow more time for the space to
become warm.
* Ensure that thermostats are placed in appropriate locations.
* Modify humidity levels within the space by addressing areas of water infiltration
or utilizing dehumidifiers in particularly damp locations. Firing up the boilers
the night before the service will also help dissipate humidity -- the perception
of temperature is affected by the amount of humidity present in the ambient
air.
* Use air locks or heated passageways -- through the narthex for example --
to reduce the amount of cold air entering occupied spaces each time a door is
opened.
* Maintain window sash and doors, and make repairs that ensure their proper
operation and accurate fit when closed. Incorporate weather-stripping systems
specifically designed for retrofit applications and, if possible and appropriate,
install storm sash. But be careful -- studies have shown that installing vented
protective glazing on stained glass will not lead to increased energy savings
and may actually damage the glass.
A Holistic Approach to Insulation
If the congregation still wants to insulate, then it is necessary for your architect
to determine the impact the process will have on the historic fabric, and thoughtfully
design the best approach utilizing the survey data in order to determine exactly
where insulation would prove most useful. With the projected minimum payback
period of ten years in mind, the architect will also calculate the R-value desired
(R-value is the standardized measure of a material’s resistance to heat transfer.
The higher the R-value, the more effective its insulating properties) and estimate
the costs associated with the installation.
Insulation should have a
vapor barrier, generally kraft paper, foil, or plastic sheeting. A vapor barrier
eliminates the potential for condensation to form when cold air meets warm,
and must face the warm side of the space. That means that for ceilings, the
vapor barrier faces down; for floors, up; and for walls, inward. This is important
because a build-up of moisture could lead to real problems down the line.
Keep in mind that the ceilings/roofs and foundations/floors, are the most cost-effective
and least destructive places to insulate and design your approach accordingly.
* Ceiling/Roof: These locations are generally readily accessible without any
kind of demolition or destruction of historic materials. The effectiveness of
the insulation here will be greatest if the space is in continuous use. It is
usually best to install the insulation within the attic floor or ceiling framing
depending on your roofing materials. When the attic is occupied or used for
storage, insulating both the floor and the roof may be beneficial. Be sure the
attic space is adequately vented to reduce the buildup of moisture and heat
during summer months. For open ceilinged spaces, panels of rigid insulation
may be incorporated between exposed rafters or -- in some cases -- may be installed
beneath the roofing system when the roof is removed for repair or restoration.
* Floor/Foundation: Insulating
your foundation will not have a profound effect on cost savings or comfort,
but it is a step that is relatively easy to perform and one that will provide
some benefit including making it easier to control humidity levels. If mechanical
distribution systems are located beneath the floor, insulating between the floor
joists will provide a measure of noise abatement as well as reducing the amount
of air infiltration (often laden with mold spores and fungi) through the gaps
in early wooden floors.
The object lesson is to
consider the retrofit of insulation within historic walls as the last resort.
The Last Resort
If all information and efforts thus far lead you to that last resort -- insulating
the walls -- consider the following: choosing to insulate the walls will necessitate
the removal of irreplaceable historic materials. The cost of such removals,
simply from an economic standpoint, often greatly offsets the marginal benefit
wall insulation might provide. It is inadvisable unless concurrent restoration
work would allow access to the internal wall spaces.
It should also be noted
that a typical plaster wall system mounted on a timber frame with wood sheathing
and siding, already possesses an R-value of approximately 4.31! While not the
highest R-value theoretically possible, it is significant and does represent
a considerable capacity of inherent resistance. You have to wonder if insulation
will improve conditions appreciably.
The Real Last Resort
For those considering the real last resort -- blown-in insulation -- be aware
that infrared technology has proven useful in verifying the fact that voids
often occur as a result of the technique’s inability to negotiate internal framing
elements such as wind-bracing and fire-blocking. It also tends to get hung-up
on rough lath surfaces and nails. The resultant voids dramatically reduce its
insulating ability. It also settles, and depending on what material is used,
moisture can be a real problem. If the insulation gets waterlogged it is completely
useless as an insulator. It can then soak adjacent materials, and encourage
condensation throughout the wall system.
Thus, although blown-in insulation is touted as being easy and effective, it
carries with it attendant problems:
* It is tricky to install
correctly and must be done by a skilled professional.
* It lacks a vapor barrier,
potentially leading to moisture problems, rot, and ineffective insulating ability
if the material gets wet.
* It settles, leaving large
un-insulated gaps.
* It has difficulty effectively
filling voids and negotiating framing elements, which also leaves uninsulated
holes. Its R-value can be significantly reduced due to all of the above.
Conclusion
To insulate or not to insulate should be determined through a careful and methodical
process of analysis, information gathering, and truthful evaluation of the costs
and benefits. Remember that low-tech and relatively low-cost interventions such
as sealing voids in the building envelope and maximizing the efficiency of the
heating system, can be extremely effective. Should the congregation remain interested
in insulating, consider doing the ceiling and foundation first, leaving the
walls as a last resort.
Due to the implicitly destructive
nature of insulating inaccessible spaces, try to install the insulation when
roofing or wall material has been removed for other restoration purposes.