Insulating the GARN

With the PEX tubing done, I now had to insulate the GARN before the siding could be finished. We decided to use rock wool which has an R-value of almost R-4/inch. Our local supplier in Lancaster,PA, Specialty Products and Insulation sells a product they manufacture called RidgidFlex-1000.

They take rock wool and attach it to a Foil backing to form 2" thick X 3' wide batts that come in 20' lengths. That is the perfect length to wrap the GARN. My goal was to insulate the GARN with approximately an R-32 Value. That meant 8" thick, or 4 wraps with the Ridgidflex. After each wrap the seams were taped, and the next pass would overlap the seams from the previous wrap. Once the final wrap was completed, I anchored a 2x4x10' along each edge and secured the facing under the 2x4 to keep the entire wrap tight.

There was enough of the insulation left after cutting batts to length to insulate both ends of the GARN to the same 8" thickness. That step will be finished when the building is completed, and the system plumbing has been completed. Access to both ends of the boiler will be much easier without the insulation in place.