Overview
ISO 22097:2023 - Thermal insulation for buildings - Reflective insulation products - Determination of thermal performance - defines harmonized procedures to measure and report the thermal performance of insulation products that rely in part on reflective or low-emissivity surfaces. The standard complements existing CEN/ISO test methods (it does not replace them) and provides a reproducible framework to express the thermal behavior of reflective insulation in a way that can be compared across products.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and intent: Applies to any insulation whose claimed performance depends on one or more reflective/low-emissivity surfaces plus associated airspaces. It provides measured information from which in-use or design values can be derived, but does not itself give in-use/design values.
- Product classification: Introduces product Types 1–4 and a normative flow chart (Annex A) to identify the appropriate test route for each type.
- Measurement methods: Specifies use of established methods such as guarded hot plate, heat flow meter, and hot box techniques to determine core thermal resistance and total thermal performance (see Clauses 5 and 7).
- Thickness & specimen preparation: Defines procedures for thickness measurement, specimen size, conditioning and preparation (Clause 5.2–5.3). It distinguishes test approaches for different thickness regimes (e.g., treatments for products >20 mm and ≤20 mm).
- Emissivity assessment: Requires measurement of surface emissivity (Clause 5.9) and includes accelerated ageing procedures to assess changes in emissivity over time (Annex D covers thermal infra‑red emissivity measurement).
- Uncertainty & reporting: Addresses measurement uncertainty (Clause 6) and prescribes how to report results - combining core thermal resistance with emissivity values and noting airspace details (Clause 7–8).
- Normative annexes: Practical guidance in Annexes B–E (method selection, emissivity measurement, dummy specimen technique for heat flow meters).
Practical applications and users
ISO 22097:2023 is valuable for:
- Manufacturers of reflective insulation seeking standardized thermal performance declarations.
- Independent testing laboratories performing hot plate, hot box or heat‑flow meter testing and emissivity measurements.
- Building designers and specifiers who need comparable product data to model thermal performance (especially where air gaps and reflective facings influence results).
- Regulators and certification bodies assessing conformity with performance claims.
Practical outcomes include consistent declarations of core thermal resistance, quantified emissivity values (including aged performance), and documented test conditions (airspace sizes, specimen thickness) that enable more reliable thermal modelling.
Related standards (examples)
- Existing CEN and ISO thermal test methods referenced within ISO 22097:2023 (guarded hot plate, heat flow meter, hot box standards).
- ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 on measurement uncertainty, referenced for uncertainty evaluation.
Keywords: ISO 22097:2023, reflective insulation, thermal performance, emissivity, hot box, guarded hot plate, heat flow meter, thermal resistance, air gap.
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