PERLITE
BLOCK AND CAVITY FILL 		SCHUNDLER

R-VALUES
U-VALUES
Coverage Charts 		CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
The Schundler Company
10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
732-287-2244 www.schundler.com


PERLITE BLOCK AND CAVITY FILL

R-VALUES AND U-VALUES, AND
COVERAGE CHARTS FOR MASONRY UNITS

Insulation is essential in all construction for energy conservation. The original cost of installing perlite loose fill insulation can be recovered quickly due to substantial reductions in heating and air condition energy consumption. In addition, perlite loose fill insulation cuts installation costs since it is lightweight and pours easily and quickly in place without need for special installation equipment or skills. The insulation may be poured directly into walls or emptied into a simply wood or metal hopper which can be slid along the wall to direct the free flowing perlite into cores of cavities thus insulating all voids and air pockets.

Concrete Block Walls---U-Values & R-Values

Block Only
Block Thickness in Inches
Density
of Block
UninsulatedInsulated
RURU
6
80 pcf
Lightweight
2.64
.38
6.75
.15
125 pcf
Sand & Gravel
2.05
.49
3.86
.26
8
80 pcf
Lightweight
2.86
.35
9.07
.11
125 pcf
Sand & Gravel
2.21
.45
5.06
.20
10
80 pcf
Lightweight
3.00
.33
11.02
.09
125 pcf
Sand & Gravel
2.31
.43
5.95
.17
12
80 pcf
Lightweight
3.12
.32
13.44
.08
125 pcf
Sand & Gravel
2.38
.42
7.17
.15

Values given are approximate and include the effect of inside and outside air film resistances

Installation:

a-The insulation must be installed in the following locations:

  • In the cores of all exterior (and interior) hollow masonry units.
  • In the cavity between all exterior (and interior) masonry walls.
  • Between exterior masonry walls and interior furring.

b-The insulation shall be poured directly into the wall at any convenient internal. Wall sections under doors and windows shall e filled before sills are placed.

c-All holes and opening in the wall through which insulation can escape shall be permanently sealed or caulked prior to installation of the insulation. Copper, galvanized steel, or fiberglass screening shall be used in all weep holes.

(The inclusion of weep holes is considered good construction design practice to allow passage of any water that might penetrate the cavities or core spaces of wall construction.)

Approximate Coverage(a)
Sq. ft. of wall area(b)
1"
Cavity
2"
Cavity
3"
Cavity
6"
Block
8"
Block
12"
Block
100
2
4
6
5
7
12
500
10
21
31
23
33
58
1,000
21
42
62
46
65
118
2,000
42
84
124
96
130
236
3,000
63
126
186
138
195
354
5,000
105
210
310
230
325
590
7,000
147
294
434
322
455
826
10,000
210
420
620
460
650
1,180

(a) 4-cubic foot bags required to fill
(b) a standard 8"x16" block equals 0.89 sq.ft.
Multiply the number of blocks times 0.89
to calculate the total square footage needed.

Applicable Standards, Specifications, and References:

  • ASTM Specification C549 for Perlite Loose Fill Insulation
  • ASTM Specification C520 Density of Granular Loose Fill Insulation
  • ASTM Specification C236 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal
  • Performance of Building Assemblies by Means of a Guarded Hot Box
  • ASTM Specification E84 Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
  • FHA Use of Materials Bulletin UM-37
  • GSA Commercial Item Description A-A-903 Insulation, Thermal(Expanded Perlite)
  • Brick Institute of America Technical Notes No 21A
  • Federal Specification HH-I-515D

For more information, please call or contact:

The Schundler Company
10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
732-287-2244 or www.schundler.com

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