lDting top performers in radiant barrier insulation

D a.oIeNr BARRTER insulation can I\save homeowners big money-if they choose the best products for the right job.

Although installing radiant barriers in attics can lower utility bills by as much as 77Vo,not all products are cost effective or suited for such applications. Some use non-code materials, according to Luke Rogers, technical director for Innovative Insulation. Arlington, Tx.

"Product safety testing standards used by ASTM International, a global standards development organization, should guide consumer buying decisions," Rogers advises.

But first, buyers and sellers must become familiar with how different types of insulation work. Products such as batts, foam and blown-in fiberglass absorb heat, while radiant barrier materials reflect it. Heatabsorbing products typically are thick, while reflective products are paperthin.

Innovative Insulation offers a fivepoint checklist to help dealers steer consumers to top-performing products:

1. Know the Fire Rating. Rogers says that, for the best performance, look for products certified to ATSM Standards E84 and E2599. No radiant barrier product with aluminum foil on both sides passed these ASTM fire spreading tests, while metalized plastic film products did.

2. Not All Perforations Are Created Equal. Radiant barriers must be able to "breathe" to let moisture pass through. Not all products do this well. Rogers suggests looking for products certified to ASTM C1313, which requires a minimum rating of 5 oerms for anv material intended to transmit moisture.

3. Provide Fact Sheets. Some companies sell products not made to ASTM standards, and which are not safety tested. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires anyone selling insulation products to the public to provide fact sheets that spell out insulation values.

4. Reflective Insulation Is Not for Attics. Reflective insulation has a thin layer-about a quarter of an inch-of foam, bubble-pack, or fiberglass sandwiched between two layers of reflective material. It is for applications such as walls, floors and basements where some R-value is needed, but space is limited. It is more expensive than radiant barrier film and adds less R-value than additional blown-in or foam insulation would provide.

5. Paittt Does Not Meet the Definition. Radiant barrier materials, as defined by ASTM, must be at least 907o reflective. The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association says the reflectivity of "radiant barrier paints" ranges ftom l)Vo to 757o. Rogers advises to look for Energy Star insulation labels on radiant products-you won't find them on paint.

Edmond Carl Fiedler, 84. former owner of D.S. Stuckey Lumber, Wichita, Ks., died July I I in Wichita.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army. He became owner of D.S. Stuckey after graduating from the University of Kansas in 1949.

He also served as president of the Kansas Lumbermen's Association.

Walter E. Hornburg Jr., former owner of Ellington Hardwood Lumber, Ellington, N.Y., died of cancer Sept. 27 in Russell, Pa. He operated Ellington Hardwood for 40 years.

Howard C. ttHowiett Lee.70. former owner of Omro Lumber Yard, Omro, Wi., died Sept. 25 in Omro.

A U.S. Army veteran, he worked at Omro Lumber for 38 years, the last eight as owner.

Daniel T. Broderick Jr., 90, former owner of D.T. Broderick Lumber, Pittsburgh, Pa., died Aug. 9 in South Bend,In.

A Navy veteran, he also worked at Western Spruce Sales, Pittsburgh, and held stakes in several B.C. lumber operations.

Eleanor Olson, 90, former coowner of Olson Lumber Co.. Manawa. Wi., died Sept. 23 in King, Wi. She co-founded Olson Lumber with her husband, Ralph, and brother-inlaw, Clarence Olson. The firm is now known as Kettle Moraine Hardwood.

Mary A. Ritter, 94, retired president of L.E. Ritter Lumber, Belvedere, N.J., died Oct. l3 in Belvedere.

A 1931 graduate of the New Jersey College for Women, she volunteered as a plane watcher and for the Red Cross during World War II. She headed L.E. Ritter from 1983 until her retirement in 2004.

Donald Clyde Cusick Sr.,75, former manager of Try Cash & Carry Lumber Yard, Canfield, Oh., died Sept. 23 in East Palestine, Oh. He spent 15 years at Try Cash.

J.A. "Chigger" Stokes, 85, owner of Stokes Lumber, Vanleer, Tn., died Oct. 16 in Dickson, Tn. His wife of 64 years, Rosalie, died two days earlier.

John W. Nohren, 66, owner of Ace Hardware, Pana, Il., died Oct. l7 in Tower Hill, Il. He opened the store in 1978 with Dave Spurgeon and became full owner in 1980.

FLORIDA BUILDING Materials Association gathered Sept. 22-24 for its annual convention and expo at Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort & Convention Center, Orlando, Fl. [1] Herb Strickland, Juan Quesada. [2] Steve Esham, Bo McVay. [3] Joe Dioco, Juan Nadal. [4] Tom Hammell, Brice Dixon, Jamison Eige. [5] Bruce Peters, C.W. Macomber. [6] Keith Fox, Tim Kallan, Jeff Hoffman. [7] Dave Wilson, Brad Wanzenberg, Bill Tucker. [8] Teeny & Nancy Johnson, Bonnie Lewis, Linton Tibbetts. [9] Ralph DelValle, Tom Joyner. [10]Joe Shetler, Tom Heard. [11]Chris

Abbott, Dillon Forbes, Tim Gosy. [12] Gus Stritt, Terry Lewis. [13] Amy Yelverton, Greg Mann. [14] David Swisher, Mike Smyth. [15] Dan Bowman, Bobby Fehr, Mike Bowman. [16] Craig Schneider, Linda & Brian Vance, Kelsey Vance, Tony Cerully. [17] Phil Jenkins, Manny Feijoo, Lily & Mike O'Brien, George Fishtorn ll. [18] Rick Sanders, Tya Camp, Randy Tenill. [19] John Coleman.

(More photos on next two pages)

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association installed Joe Collings, c.e.o., Ferguson Lumber, Rockville, In., as chairman, replacing outgoing chair Dan Fesler, Lampert Yards, St. Paul, Mn.

Other new officers are chair-elect Cally Coleman Fromme, Zarsky Lumber, Victoria, Tx.; 1st vice chair Chuck Bankston, Bankston Lumber, Barnesville. Ga.: 2nd vice chair Chris Yenrick, Smith-Phillips Building Supply, Winston-Salem, N.C.; treasurer Linda Nussbaum, Kleet Lumber, Huntington, N.Y.; manufacturers & services council chair Carlos Guilherme, Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Wa., and federated association executives chair Chris Quinn, Kentucky Building Materials Association.

Northeastern Retail Lumber Association feted Harold LaValley, founder of LaValley Building Supply, Portsmouth. N.H.. as Lumberman of the Year during its annual meeting.

New officers are chairman David Moore, Wiley Bros., Schaghticoke, N.Y.; chairman-elect Tony Shepley, Shepley Wood Products, Hyannis, Ma.; vice chair Jon Hallgren, Curtis Lumber, Ballston Spa, N.Y.; treasurer Dick Tarr, Lapointe Lumber, Augusta, Me., and members-at-large Scott Norrie, Howe Lumber, E. Brookfield, Ma., and Joe Miles, R.K. Miles, Manchester, Vt. New directors: Chris Davie, PSI Distributors, Elizabeth, N.J.; Tim Lyons, Brockway-Smith, Andover, Ma.; Joe Walker, Sancona Builders Supply, Sandy Creek, N.Y., and Rob Holden, Florence Building Materials, Huntington, N.Y.

This fall, ffiliated groups are also naming a Lumber Person of the Year during their annual meetings. New York & Suburban Lumber Association selected Bert Smeraldi, PSI Distributors; Western New York named Dick Mallory, Williamson/Wolcott Building Supply; Lumber Dealers of Connecticut named Richard Slevinsky, Miner's, and Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers named Jay Torrisi, Jackson Lumber & Millwork. Bob Keiver, Keiver-Willard Lumber, received the Massachusetts group's Lifetime Achieve-ment Award.

At upcoming annual meetings, Tim Erchick, Mid-State Lumber, will be honored by Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Nov. l2 in Washingtonville, N.Y.; Wayne Farley, Cleary Lumber, Buildingrhodudsom by Rhode Island Dealers Nov. 19 in Warwick, R.L; Chuck Handley, Burke's Home Center. by Central New York Nov. 19 in Auburn, N.Y., and Bart Biondolillo, North Counties Supply, by Northern New York Nov. l9 in Alexandria, N.Y.

Indiana Lumber & Builders S|rpply Association booked economist Morton Marcus, Farnsworth Group's Jim Robisch, and new NLBMDA chair Joe Collings to speak at its annual meeting Dec. 9 in Indianapolis.

New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Associationts annual meeting is Nov. 17 in East Brunswick. N.J.