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Rigid
boards are plastic foams or fibrous materials pressed or extruded into board-like
forms. Common materials include polystyrene, urethane, or glass fiber. Polystyrene
and urethane have superior insulating qualities, but when used on interior wall, require a minimum 1/2 inch thick fireproof covering such as gypsum wall board. Rigid
board has the advantages of structural strength, low weight and high R-value per inch.
To achieve an R-30 using glass fiber blankets would require roughly 8.5 in.
With rigid urethane boards, R-30 can be attained with only 5.5 in. Rigid boards
come faced and unfaced. Some are faced with a reflective material that acts
as a vapor barrier and reduces heat flow when facing a dead air space.
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