SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/eng-insulation-r-value

What does insulation R-value measure?

R-value measures resistance to conductive heat flow.

Start playing free

  1. Thermal resistance ✔
  2. Heat capacity
  3. Surface temperature

Why: R-value describes how strongly an insulation layer resists heat conduction. It depends on both the material and its thickness.

Huh, didn't know that: Thermal conductance, often called U-factor for assemblies, is the inverse of thermal resistance when units are consistent.

The dad joke
Insulation resisted change because it had a high R-value.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Thermal resistance. R-value describes how strongly an insulation layer resists heat conduction. It depends on both the material and its thickness.

  1. US Department of Energy, Insulation and Air-Sealing Essentials www.energy.gov/cmei/buildings/articles/energy-efficient-home-improvement-credit-insulation-and-air-sealing
    An insulating material's resistance conducting heat is measured by R-value.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

EngineeringHow many base units does the International System of Units (SI) have?EngineeringSince the SI redefinition voted in 2018, what defines the kilogram?EngineeringIn today's SI, how precisely is the value of the Planck constant known?

That's stuff everyone should know.