Understanding U-Factors in Architectural Metal Products
U-factor (U-value) measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping a home or building. U-factor ratings generally fall between 0.15 and 1.20. The lower the U-factor, the better a product is at keeping heat inside the building. U-factor is particularly important during the winter heating season in colder climates.
This article is a nice summary of how U-factors are used in another architectural metal product – though this is about windows, the exact same concepts apply to Aluminum Composite Materials. When thinking about concepts related to continuous insulation and thermal bridging, understanding the concept of the U-factor is key. U-factor is used to express the insulation value of windows. This explains heat transfer concepts well and how to spot some less-than-transparent practices when reviewing published U-factors in assemblies.