Which statement is true about R-value?

Which statement is true about R-value?

• A. Higher R-value means greater heat transfer
• B. Higher R-value means better resistance to heat flow
• C. R-value measures air leakage
• D. R-value measures structural strength

Answer: (B)

R-value measures how well a material resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer, so less heat moves through the material for a given temperature difference. This is why insulation with higher R-values helps keep buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer, improving energy efficiency. The idea that higher R-value increases heat transfer isn’t correct, because it describes the opposite of resistance. R-value isn’t a measure of air leakage—that’s about airtightness and gaps. It also doesn’t indicate structural strength, which relates to a material’s load-bearing properties. In practice, aiming for higher R-values improves thermal performance within thickness, space, and cost constraints.

R-value measures how well a material resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer, so less heat moves through the material for a given temperature difference. This is why insulation with higher R-values helps keep buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer, improving energy efficiency. The idea that higher R-value increases heat transfer isn’t correct, because it describes the opposite of resistance. R-value isn’t a measure of air leakage—that’s about airtightness and gaps. It also doesn’t indicate structural strength, which relates to a material’s load-bearing properties. In practice, aiming for higher R-values improves thermal performance within thickness, space, and cost constraints.