Calculators - Efficiency Matrix

Thermal Imaging Field Of View Calculator

Olof Gymjock — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:07:57 +0000

Easily calculate the Field of View (FOV) for your thermal imaging camera based on the camera resolution and lens specifications. This tool helps determine the Horizontal, Vertical, and Diagonal FOV, along with the Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) per pixel. It’s ideal for understanding your camera’s coverage area and optimizing system design for surveillance, inspection, or other thermal imaging applications.

Simply input your camera’s resolution and lens FOV, and get precise angular measurements to support accurate distance estimation and scene planning.

Maximum Distance from target at input horizontal size

Inputs Camera Model:
Size of target/ defect:
Horizontal size (mm)
Input from IR camera specs:
HFOV (Degrees)
Resolution (H)(pix):
Resolution (V)(pix):

Results Intermediate HFOV (m):
Distance between target and sensor (m):

Anomaly Observation Calculator – Calculate the angular position of an observed anomaly within the camera’s FOV. By inputting the pixel location of the anomaly, this tool converts it into a real-world angle, enabling more accurate tracking, targeting, and spatial analysis of thermal events.

Observing from angle

Inputs Camera Model:
Site measurement:
Distance between target and sensor(m)
Viewing Angle (Degrees)
Input from IR camera specs:
Resolution (H)(pix):
Resolution (V)(pix):
HFOV (Degrees)
VFOV (Degrees)

Results Perpendicular distance to target (m):
Triangle's adjacent side total length x1 (total)(m):
Waste length of triangle's adjacent side x2 (total)(m):
HFOV 1(m):
HFOV 2(m):
Size of pix on the target object: H-IFOV1(mm):
H-IFOV2(mm):
Maximum horizontal size for accurate measurement(mm):

The post Thermal Imaging Field Of View Calculator appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Common Material Vapour Permeance

John Konstantakopoulos — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 09:12:56 +0000

Vapour permeable sarking/wraps or building products on the EXTERIOR of WALLS are designed to allow water vapour to diffuse through them, which can be beneficial in managing moisture within wall systems.

This capability is particularly important in hotter humid climates compared with colder climates for several reasons:

In colder climates:

Prevent Moisture Accumulation – When warm, moist air from inside the building comes into contact with cold exterior walls, it can condense into water. If the wall system can’t effectively allow this moisture to escape, it can build up, leading to mould growth and structural damage. Vapour-permeable materials on the outside let this moisture diffuse out of the wall, reducing these risks.
Dry-out Capability – If any moisture does penetrate the wall system (such as from driving rain), vapour permeable materials enable the wall to dry to the outside, preventing water from being trapped and causing decay or corrosion over time.
Adaptability – These materials can respond to changes in humidity and temperature, adjusting their permeability as needed to facilitate optimal moisture management within the wall system.
An airtight vapour permeable wrap reduces wind washing of insulation.

In warmer climates:

Humidity Management – In humid conditions, A vapour retarder exterior can help prevent the buildup of moisture within the wall assembly, reducing the potential for mould and structural issues.
Balance of Airflow – By allowing walls to breathe, these materials help maintain airflow balance within the wall system, which contributes to a more stable and comfortable indoor environment.

Vapour barriers on the INSIDE of WALL systems, conversely, play different roles in cold and warm climates:

In colder climates:

Preventing Condensation – A vapour barrier on the inside of the wall helps prevent the diffusion of moist indoor air into the colder wall cavities, where it can condensate and lead to water damage.
Energy Efficiency – By creating a more airtight environment, vapour barriers can reduce the amount of heat lost through walls, thereby increasing energy efficiency and reducing heating costs.

In warmer climates:

Vapour Barrier inside the wall system is less beneficial to an indoor healthy environment.
Vapour Permeable internal air barrier is beneficial in warm, humid environments because it allows a wall to at least dry to the inside. In summary, the combination of vapour permeable materials on the outside and vapour barriers on the inside of wall systems helps to manage moisture levels effectively, protect structural integrity, and maintain energy efficiency regardless of climate conditions. Each component ensures an optimal balance between preventing unwanted water ingress and allowing moisture within the wall to escape, thereby contributing to overall building durability and occupant comfort.

Here is a table of common construction products coupled with the vapour permeance capabilities.

Class	VCM Category	Min. (μg/N.s)	Max. (μg/N.s)
Class 1	Vapour Barrier	0.0000	0.0022
Class 2	Vapour Barrier	0.0022	0.1429
Class 3	Vapour Permeable	0.1429	1.1403
Class 4	Vapour Permeable	1.1403	No max.
	ASTM-E96 Method B Wet Cup - 28 C 50%RH

Building Materials Water Vapour Resistance Table

Test samples		Thickness	Mean permeance (g/MN.s)	US Perms	AS4200.1 Classification	NCC Climate Zone 4-5 Applicable (Class 3 or 4)	NCC Climate Zone 6, 7 and 8 Applicable (Class 4)	Airtight
Gyprock Aquacheck	No paint	10mm	2.284	39.93006993	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siniat Weather Defence	Vapour Permeable	13mm	1.52	26.57342657	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
CSR Glasroc	Vapour Permeable	12.5mm	>=1.1403	>=19.93531469	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siniet Wet Zone Plaster 13mm	No paint	13mm	2.355	41.17132867	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aquacheck - 2 Base Coats	Primer white Paint	10mm	1.083	18.93356643	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Aquacheck - 2 Base Coats - Mould Resistive Paint	Primer white Paint + bathroom Paint	10mm	1.059	18.51398601	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Standard Plaster - Spray on special white Liquid Membrane 2 coats	2A Written on Label	10mm	0.612	10.6993007	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Standard Plaster - Black Special Membrane 2 coats	3A Written on Label	10mm	0.237	4.143356643	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Standard Plaster - 2 Base Coats	Primer white Paint	10mm	1.1418	19.96153846	Class 4	Yes	No	Yes
No Sealer, 3 Coats Special Paint	Vapour Tight	10mm	0.147	2.56993007	Class 3	Yes		Yes
Sealer + 2 coats Special Paint	Vapour Tight	10mm	0.134	2.342657343	Class 2	Yes		Yes
Proclima Intello Plus	Vapour Barrier or Vapour Permeable	0.4 +/- 0.15 mm	0.8 - <0.008	13.98601 - <0.13986	Class 2 - Class 3	Yes*	No	Yes
Proclima Intello Connex	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	0.0709	1.23951049	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Proclima Solitex Extasana	Vapour Permeable	0.595 mm - 0.605 mm	2.179	38.09440559	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proclima Solitex Extasana Adhero	Vapour Permeable	0.595 mm - 0.605 mm	2.179	38.09440559	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proclima Aerosana Visconn	Vapour Barrier	0.2 - 1 mm wet film	0.0303 - 0.03704 @ 0.3 mm	5.297203 - 6.475524 @ 0.3 mm	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Proclima Solitex Mento Plus	Vapour Permeable	0.5 mm - 0.7 mm	1.429	24.98251748	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proclima Solitex Mento 5000	Vapour Permeable	0.6 mm - 0.8 mm	1.153	20.15734266	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proclima Solitex Mento Ultra	Vapour Permeable	0.8 mm - 1 mm	1.3072	22.85314685	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proclima Solitex UM Connect	Vapour Permeable	N/A	Not Provided	Not Provided	N/A
Proclima DA	Vapour Barrier	0.4 mm - 0.5 mm	0.0853	1.491258741	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Passive Purple External		Two Layers	Not Provided	Not Provided	Not Provided
Passive Purple	Vapour Barrier	Two Layers, 0.5 - 1 kg/m^2	0.005714 - 0.01	0.099895 - 0.174825	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Proctor Smart Vap 100	Vapour Permeable	0.3 mm	0.55	9.615384615	Class 3	Yes*	No	Yes
Proctor RW/RW-IT	Vapour Permeable	0.4 mm	2.983	52.15034965	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor CW/CW-IT	Vapour Permeable	0.5 mm	3.019	52.77972028	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor HTS/HTS-IT	Vapour Permeable	0.6 mm	2.565	44.84265734	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor Wraptite SA	Vapour Permeable	0.65 mm	4.1	71.67832168	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor Wraptite UV-SA	Vapour Permeable	0.38 mm	1.5	26.22377622	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor HTR	Vapour Permeable	0.99 mm	3.71	64.86013986	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
ProctorGeo Vap 120	Vapour Barrier	0.32 mm	0.02	0.34965035	Class 2	N	N	Yes
Proctor RS-IT	Vapour Permeable	0.5 mm	2.78	48.6013986	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proctor PyroPerm A2	Vapour Permeable	0.4 mm	1.426	24.93006993	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
ProctorGeo IRMA	High Vapour Permeability	0.38 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	N/A	N	N	N
Bradford Thermoseal FireSpec Wall Wrap & Roof Sarking	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Bradford Light Duty Facing 729	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 1	No	No	Yes
Bradford Medium Duty Facing 730	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Bradford Medium Duty Facing 730 Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Heavy Duty Facing 750	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 1	No	No	Yes
Bradford Heavy Duty Facing 753 Perforated (Facing Material)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Medium Duty Facing 750 Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Thermoseal 756 HD (Facing Product)	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Bradford Thermoseal 756 HD Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Thermoplast 990F White Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Thermoplast 990F White (Facing Product)	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Bradford Thermoplast 993 Black Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Thermoplast 993 Black (Facing Product)	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Bradford Thermoplast 993F White Perforated (Facing Product)	Aesthetic or Acoustic Property	< 1 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
Bradford Thermoplast 993F White (Facing Product)	Vapour Barrier	< 1 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Ametalin CeaseFire	Vapour permeable wall and roof membrane	0.17 mm	1.5767	27.56468531	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ametalin Vapour Tech RWC Roof Wall Commercial	Air Barrier and Water Barrier	0.83 mm	2.144	37.48251748	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ametalin Vapour Tech Wall	Air Barrier	0.45 mm	3.764	65.8041958	Class 4	Yes^	Yes	Yes
Ametalin Vapour Tech Brane VHP	Air Barrier	0.38 mm	12.85	224.6503497	Class 4	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Fire Sark Micro - perforated	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.2 mm	0.8698	15.20629371	Class 3	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver Wrap Micro - perforated XHD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.17 mm	0.5727	10.01223776	Class 3	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver Wrap Micro - perforated HD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.12 mm	0.3341	5.840909091	Class 3	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver Wrap Micro - perforated MD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.1 mm	1.717	30.01748252	Class 4	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver Wrap Micro - perforated LD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.09 mm	1.6	27.97202797	Class 4	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver xR Wrap Micro - perforated HD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.12 mm	1.45	25.34965035	Class 4	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin Sliver xRS Wrap Micro - perforated MD	Vapour Permeable reflective wrap	0.1 mm	0.2028	3.545454545	Class 3	Yes^	Yes	No
Ametalin SilverSark HVB	Vapour Barrier	0.17 mm	0.002	0.034965035	Class 1	No	No	Yes
Ametalin SilverSark XHD	Vapour Barrier	0.17 mm	0.02121	0.370804196	Class 2	No	No	No
Ametalin SilverSark HD	Vapour Barrier	0.12 mm	0.004	0.06993007	Class 2	No	No	No
Ametalin Silver Wrap MD	Vapour Barrier	0.10 mm	0.0131	0.229020979	Class 2	No	No	No
Ametalin Silver Wrap LD	Vapour Barrier	0.09 mm	0.0152	0.265734266	Class 2	No	No	No
Ametalin Fire Sark	Vapour Barrier	0.2 mm	0.003	0.052447552	Class 2	No	No	No
Outback Building Wrap BM	Vapour Permeable		5.55	97.02797203	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Outback Building Wrap BML	Vapour Permeable		1.01	17.65734266	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Hardie Wrap Weather Barrier	Vapour Permeable	< 1 mm	1.695	29.63286713	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
James Hardie Hardie Backer 1/4 In Cement Board		6.5 mm	0.09975	1.743881119	Class 2	No	No	Yes
James Hardie Hardie Backer 500 Cement Board		11 mm	0.16188	2.83006993	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
James Hardie Rigid Air Barrier Board	Rigid Air Barrier	6 mm	0.95	16.60839161	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Aerated Concrete 460 kg/m^3 (50% Humidity)	Vapour Permeable	3	1.13	19.75524476	Class 3	Yes	No	No
Cemintel Rigid Air Barrier	Rigid Air Barrier	6 mm	0.25	4.370629371	Class 3	Yes	No	Yes
Save Board Better Brace Rigid Air Barrier	Air Barrier	10 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided				Yes
DuPont Tyvek Homewrap	Air Barrier, Vapour permeable	0.14 mm	2.8	48.95104895	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
DuPont Tyvek Supro Wall Underlays	Vapour Permeable	0.45 mm	3.7	64.68531469	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
DuPont Tyvek Pro Wall Underlays	Vapour Permeable	0.38 mm	4.5	78.67132867	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siga Majrex 200 (Direction 1 Wet Cup Method)	Vapour Permeable	0.3 mm	0.2166	3.786713287	Class 3	Y	No	Yes
Siga Majrex 200 (Direction 2 Wet Cup Method)	Vapour Permeable	0.3 mm	0.0741	1.295454545	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Siga Majvest 200	Vapour Permeable, Water resistive air barrier	0.5 mm	3.876	67.76223776	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siga Majvest 500 SA	Vapour Permeable, Water resistive air barrier	0.7 mm	1.368	23.91608392	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
SIga Majvest 700 SOB	Water Resistive Barrier	0.5 mm	6.1204	107	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siga Wetguard 200 SA	Moisture Protection Membrane for timber	0.5 mm	0.02797	0.488986014	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Weather Defence	Vapour Permeable	13 mm	Not Provided	Not Provided	Class 4	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multishield		13 mm or 16 mm						Yes
Mastashield		10 mm or 13 mm						Yes
Opal		10 mm						Yes
Shaftliner		25 mm						Yes
Trurock		13 mm or 16 mm						Yes
Fireshield Heavy		13 mm						Yes
Soundshield		10 mm or 13 mm						Yes
Spanshield		10 mm						Yes
Trurock HD		13 mm						Yes
Watergate Plus	Vapour Permeable	< 1mm	> 0.1429	> 0.008174	Class 3 - Class 4	Yes	No	Yes
Covertek 407	Vapour Barrier	< 1mm	> 0.1429	> 0.008174	Class 3 - Class 4	Yes	No	Yes
Seal Grip	Vapour Barrier	5.3 mm wet, 1.6 mm dry	< 0.0572	< 1	Class 1 - Class 2	No	No	Yes
Insul Kote Vapor Barrier 530	Vapour Barrier	7 mm wet, 2 mm dry	0.01716	0.3	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Benjamin Moore Super Spec Vapor Barrier Primer Sealer 260	Vapour Barrier	0.09144 mm wet, 0.0254 mm dry	0.0286	0.5	Class 2	No	No	Yes
Sherwin Williams Moisture Vapor Barrier Interior Latex Primer Sealer	Vapour Barrier	6-8 mil wet, 1.6-2.1 mil dry	< 0.0572	< 1	Class 1 - Class 2	No	No	Yes

Please note, that the method of testing is not stipulated in this table, results may vary depending on testing method. (Vapour Permeance)

A very generic table of vapour permeance

Green Building Water Vapour Permeance Figures

Material	Permeance (perm) grain/ ft2 hr (in. Hg)	Permeance (µg/N.s)
Aluminium foil (1 mil)	0	0
Aluminium foil (0.35 mil)	0.05	0.00286
Polyethylene (6 mil)	0.06	0.003432
Polyethylene (4 mil)	0.08	0.004576
Polyethylene (2 mil)	0.16	0.009152
Asphalt kraft paper facing	0.3	0.01716
Unplasticised PVC (2 mil)	0.68	0.038896
Asphalt paint on plywood (2 coats)	0.4	0.02288
Aluminium paint (2 coats)	0.30 - 0.50	0.01716 - 0.0286
Latex VDR paint (1 coat)	0.45	0.02574
White lead/ oil paint on wood siding (3 coats)	0.30 - 0.99	0.01716-0.056628
White lead/ zinc oxide/ oil paint on wood siding (3 coats)	0.88	0.050336
Extruded polystyrene (1 in)	0.4 - 1.6	0.02288 - 0.09152
Polyutherane (1 in)	1.2	0.06864
25 mm (1 in) expanded polystyrene	2 - 5.79	0.1144 - 0.331188
100 mm (4 in) rock wool	28.97	1.657084
100 mm (4 in) cellulose fibre	28.97	1.657084
100 mm (4 in) glass fibre wool	28.97	1.657084
100 mm (4 in) glazed tile masonry	0.1 - 0.16	0.00572 - 0.009152
3 mm (1/8 in) cement board with oil paint	0.3 - 0.5	0.01716 - 0.0286
19mm (3/4 in) boaRD (wood)	0.3 - 4.03	0.01716 - 0.230516
Plywood, exterior glue, Douglas-fir (1/4 in)	0.7	0.04004
Brick (4 in)	0	0
Concrete block (8 in)	2.38	0.136136
Tar paper (15 lb)	4	0.2288
Hardboard (standard) (1/8 in)	10.96	0.626912
Spunbounded polyproplyene	15.37	0.879164
Sheathing paper, asphlalt saturated and coated	20.35	1.16402
Gypsum drywall	49.74	2.845128
Tyvek Home Wrap	77	4.4044
Commercial Wrap	28	1.6016

It is unknown what test method was used for these figures. Results were derived from the "Cold Climate Housing Research Centre - Alaska"

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The post Common Material Vapour Permeance appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Wind Speed Conversion Calculator

John Konstantakopoulos — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:47:30 +0000

Calculation of wind speed and induced pressure can be highly beneficial for comprehending the average total pressure that could impact a building in a specific location, utilizing data from the local weather bureau. This includes determining the wind speed and the resulting pressure (in pascals) exerted on building facades due to the wind experienced on a given day or through an average. The air changes per hour (ACH) or permeability rate at an average induced pressure (in pascals) is defined as ambient. Utilize this calculator to determine the probable ambient pressure by inputting wind speed values.

Wind speed conversion calculator

Knots:
Metres/s:
Miles/h:
km/h:
Pa:

The post Wind Speed Conversion Calculator appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

R-value Metric to Imperial Calculator

John Konstantakopoulos — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:43:09 +0000

Insulation R-Value Conversions, Imperial R-value is very very different to Metric R-values. If you come across any tables in the US, sharing R-value performance of materials, use this calculator to convert them to a more recognisable value.

Calculation converting R-value Metric to Imperial

US R Value:
Metric R Value:

The post R-value Metric to Imperial Calculator appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Permeability Rate Calculator: CFM/ft2 to m3/h/m2

Olof Gymjock — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:34:26 +0000

To convert the permeability rate from cubic feet per minute per square foot (CFM/ft²) to cubic meters per hour per square meter (m³/h/m²), you can use the following conversions:

Calculation converting permeability rate CFM/ft² to m³/h/m²

cfm/ft²@50Pa:
m³/h/m²@50Pa:

The post Permeability Rate Calculator: CFM/ft2 to m3/h/m2 appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Building Materials Vapour Permeance Conversion Calculator

Olof Gymjock — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 06:25:33 +0000

Vapor permeable and vapor barrier materials are crucial in the construction of buildings for managing moisture content and ensuring the durability and comfort of the indoor environment:

1. Vapor Permeable Materials: These materials allow water vapor to pass through them. Used in the right places, they help manage moisture by allowing walls to “breathe.” This is particularly important in climates where buildings are susceptible to accumulating moisture within the wall assemblies. If the moisture cannot escape, it can lead to mold growth, wood rot, and reduced effectiveness of insulation materials. Examples of vapor-permeable materials include certain types of house wraps, building papers, and some specialized sheathings.

2. Vapor Barriers: Also known as vapor diffusion retarders, these materials are designed to prevent the transmission of water vapor. In cold climates, placing a vapor barrier on the warm side of insulation is essential to prevent moisture from condensing inside the wall cavity when it hits the cold outside air. If the moisture were allowed to accumulate, it could damage the structure and insulation, and potentially lead to mold and mildew issues. Common vapor barrier materials include polyethylene plastic sheeting and vapor-retardant paints.

The correct use of these materials varies based on climate, the construction of the building, and local building codes. A balance between vapor permeability and vapor resistance is often required to manage moisture effectively while maintaining the energy efficiency of the building. In some cases, materials that are semi-permeable may be used to strike a balance between allowing some drying of the building assembly while blocking most of the vapor transmission.

It is crucial to understand that the same material can act differently in varied climates. For instance, what serves as a necessary vapor barrier in a cold climate could potentially trap moisture in a wall system in a hot, humid climate. Consequently, local climate conditions are a key determinant in the selection and placement of these materials.

Inputs

Select Unit Type:

Enter Value: (Enter a known value for the unit above, preferrably tested by a thid party)

Enter Thickness (mm):

Enter Thickness (inch):

Results

µ-value	0.9
Vapour Resistance (MNs/g)	0.135
Equivalent Air Layer Thickness (sd)	0.027
US Perms	0.4237
Mean Permeance (g/MN.s)	7.4074

The post Building Materials Vapour Permeance Conversion Calculator appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

What Caulk should I use?

John Konstantakopoulos — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 01:16:23 +0000

There are many different types of caulk that have Pro’s and Con’s for many different purposes. In this table, we try to break it down.

This is a generalised summary of different products of a few manufacturers products. Check the product information of your product to verify.

Type in the title row to filter out the other rows to make an easy comparison between all the different types of caulk.

TYPES OF CAULK	SILICONISED ACRYLIC	FIRE- RATED ACRYLIC	POLYURETHANE (ONE-PART)	ACETOXY SILICON (ACETIC ACID)	SILICON NEUTRAL CURE	SILICON NEUTRAL CURE (SANITARY GRADE)
Ease of Use	Relatively easy to tool & clean up	Relatively easy to tool & clean up	Harder to apply and “stringy”	Easy to tool, but leaches into porous	Easy to tool and use	Easy to tool and use
Tooling Time	15 minutes	15 minutes	10 minutes	5 minutes	5 minutes	5 minutes
Clean up with	Water immediately	Water immediately	Mineral Turpentine. Cured material may be cut and removed	Mineral Turpentine	Mineral Turpentine	Mineral Turpentine
Solvent	Water-based	Water based	Oil-based	Oil-based	Oil-based	Oil-based
Paintable (after full cure) None of these Caulk materials are Sandable	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Mould/Mildew Resistant	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Durability	Interior & Exterior	Interior & Exterior (exterior use must be protected from the elements)	More durable. Interior & Exterior	Interior ONLY	Interior & Exterior	Interior ONLY
Toxicity	Less toxic than polyurethane	Less toxic than polyurethane	Somewhat toxic; Not recommended for use around intake ducts or ventilation grilles	Strong odour, recommended for drying stage only	Low odour	Low odour
Flexibility/Shrinkage	Shrinkage upon curing (up to 28%) Flexible ±20%	Flexible ±20%	More flexible. Flexible ±25%	Flexible ±20%	Flexible ±20%	Flexible ±20%
UV Stability	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Water resistance	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (good for weather-proofing)	Yes. Recommended for use in damp and steamy areas
Dry Time to Touch @ 25°C and 55% RH	Approx 25 mins	Approx 25 mins	6 to 12 hours. Tack free time 2 hours	8-10 minutes.	8-10 minutes	8-10 minutes
Dry Time @ 25°C and 55% RH	Full cure achieved after 7 days (depending on size of joint)	Full cure achieved after 7 days (depending on size of joint)	1 to 10 days (approx. 2-3mm/day)	24 hours	5-7 days (10mm)	5-7 days (10mm)
Problematic applications	Not to be used for joints subjected to temporary or permanent immersion in water. Not for use in joints subjected to foot or vehicular traffic. Do not apply below 5°C or if temperature exceeds 35°C.	Not recommended for use in areas of high humidity or presence of free water during application or initial cure. Do not apply when rain exposure is likely within 24 hours of application.	Harder to apply and tool off, not recommended for internal areas.	Not to be used on porous surfaces. Can be corrosive to certain substrates and metals.	Not mould/mildew resistant. Not recommended for wet areas. Not to be used for joints subjected to permanent water immersion.	Not for use on polycarbonate plastic sheeting.
Uses	Perimeter sealing of door and window frames.	Acoustically rated: • Sealing construction joints and penetrations in acoustic partitions and walls. • Used as a putty for filling holes in fire rated substrates. • Perimeter sealing of door and window frames. • Fire-rating of cable tray penetrations.	• Construction and expansion joints. • Curtain walls, external walls and window frames. • Sandstone, Limestone and external paving. • Aluca Bond. • Holes and Gaps which can then be rendered over.	Cabinetry, wood skirting, internal window frames to sills, all internal gaps that require no painting and finishing touch. Not recommened for wet areas.	Cabinetry, wood skirting, internal window frames to sills, all internal gaps that require no painting and finishing touch.	Bathtubs and shower joints, kitchen splashbacks, bathroom and laundry counter tops, wet area tile joints. Avoid heavy chemicals.

The post What Caulk should I use? appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Air Tightness Unit Converter

Olof Gymjock — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 05:30:25 +0000

The post Air Tightness Unit Converter appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

What’s the actual R-value of my house?

Olof Gymjock — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 10:13:06 +0000

It's becoming quite widely known these days that small gaps in your insulation installation can equate to significant losses in your insulation performance for your home. When homes are being built these days, there are key areas where insulation is not installed as well as they could be and these areas are.

Ceilings:

Around the whole perimeter of a home behind the cornice.
Manhole hatch
recessed lighting
Random areas around the house around outlets and exhaust fans
Ducted heating platforms

Click on these photos for more detail

Recessed lighting

Perimeter in Summer

Manhole Hatch

Exhaust fan clearance

Perimeter in Winter

Walls:

Above windows and sliding doors
Above doors to outside
Walls to a garage
Internal cavity switchboards or hot water systems
T junctions of walls coming off the facade of your home upstairs and downstairs.

From a floor plan of your home, calculate the perimeter of your building and the floor area and input those details into this calculator, to get an understanding of what R-value your home may actually have. For your walls measure the width of all your windows and doors and assume a lack of insulation to the ceiling.

T/Corner Junction

Above window in Summer

Above Window

Count all the junctions coming off your facade and add that total to the field specified.

What’s my actual R-value of my walls and my ceiling?

Instructions: Choose between ceiling or wall calculations.

Inputs

Ceiling

Metric

Walls

Imperial

Perimeter (m):

R-value of ceiling insulation:

Floor Area (m2):

Number of LED IC Rated downlights(0mm clearance(.008m2):

Number of LED NON IC rated downlights(50mm clearance(.023m2):

Number of Halogen downlights(200mm clearance):

Average gap in insulation around the perimeter(cm):

Other Surface areas uncovered (m2) (eg. Manhole):

R-value of wall insulation:

Ceiling height (m):

Uncovered area above doors (m2):

Uncovered area above windows (m2):

Number of corners/ T-junctions:

Results

Surface area uncoverage1
Percentage of surface area uncoverage1
Estimate R-value of ceiling with tiled roof1
Equivalent R-value with tiled roof1
Equivalent R-value of ceiling insulation1
Percentage of insulation degradations1
Typical R-value of simple tile roof (NCC 2019)0.74

Surface area uncoverage1
Percentage of surface area uncoverage1
Estimate R-value of wall with brick veneer walls1
Equivalent R-value with brick veneer walls1
Equivalent R-value of wall insulation 1
Percentage of insulation degradations1
Wall area of missing insulation1
Typical R-value of simple BV walls (NCC 2019)0.48

The post What’s the actual R-value of my house? appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Static Pressure Limit

Olof Gymjock — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 09:14:28 +0000

If the product of the temperature differential across the building envelope (ΔT), multiplied by the building height (m) is greater than 250 m·°C, it is likely that the stack pressure is too great to maintain an equal pressure difference across the whole of the building envelope.

The post Static Pressure Limit appeared first on Efficiency Matrix.

Total Flow (of envelope area)	Min 0.5	Mean 0.65	Max 0.95
cfm at 50Pa ft²	0.0	0.0	0.0
cfm at 75Pa ft²	0.0	0.0	0.0
cfm at 150Pa ft²	0.0	0.0	0.0
m³/h at 50Pa m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
m³/h at 75Pa m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
m³/h at 150Pa m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
L/s at 50Pa per m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
L/s at 75Pa per m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
L/s at 150Pa per m²	0.0	0.0	0.0
Air changes per hour
ACH50	0.0	0.0	0.0
Size of hole ( Equivalent Leakage area)
EqLA (in² at 10Pa)	0.0	0.0	0.0
EqLA (cm² at 10Pa)	0.0	0.0	0.0
ELA (in² at 4Pa)	0.0	0.0	0.0
ELA (cm² at 4Pa)	0.0	0.0	0.0