Editorial Policy

Our commitment to accurate, unbiased, and practical insulation information.

InsulationRValues.com is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased insulation resource on the web. This Editorial Policy explains how we create, review, and maintain our content to ensure it meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Our Editorial Process

Every article on InsulationRValues.com goes through a rigorous multi-step process before publication:

Our Sources

We rely on authoritative, peer-reviewed, and government sources for R-value data, building code requirements, and energy efficiency recommendations:

Government and Research Organizations

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) — Energy efficiency guidelines, insulation recommendations by climate zone, and building energy codes
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) — Building envelope research, whole-wall R-value testing, and thermal performance data
• Building Science Corporation (BSC) — Moisture management research, building assembly design, and practical guidance documents
• Energy Star — Retrofit recommendations, program specifications, and certified product lists
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) — Energy modeling data and residential building research

Building Codes and Standards

• International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Minimum R-value requirements by climate zone (we reference the 2021 IECC as the current model code)
• ASHRAE Standards — Ventilation, energy efficiency, and building performance standards
• State and Local Building Codes — When discussing specific jurisdictions

Industry Sources

• Manufacturer Technical Data — Product-specific R-values and specifications from Owens Corning, Rockwool, Johns Manville, CertainTeed, and others
• Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA) — Industry best practices and installation guidelines
• North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) — Industry data and technical resources

We cite our sources within articles and link to original documents when available. If you notice a claim that lacks a source or appears inaccurate, please contact us.

Content Standards

All content on InsulationRValues.com must meet the following standards:

• Factual Accuracy: All claims must be supported by authoritative sources or verified field experience. Opinions are clearly labeled as such.
• Practical Relevance: Information must be useful and applicable to real-world insulation decisions. We avoid theoretical discussions without practical implications.
• Clarity: Complex building science concepts are explained in accessible language without oversimplification that compromises accuracy.
• Completeness: Articles cover topics thoroughly, addressing common questions, edge cases, and potential pitfalls.
• Timeliness: Content reflects current building codes, product specifications, and best practices. Outdated information is updated or removed.

Affiliate Relationships Disclosure

Transparency about how we earn revenue is essential to maintaining your trust.

Affiliate Links

Some links on our website are affiliate links to retailers including:

• Amazon (Amazon Associates Program)
• Home Depot
• Lowe's

When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the website and allow us to continue providing free educational content.

How Affiliate Relationships Affect Our Content

They don't.

Our editorial process is completely separate from our revenue model. Content decisions are made based on:

• Building science data and research
• Field performance and installer feedback
• Cost-effectiveness for homeowners
• User questions and needs

Content decisions are never made based on:

• Commission rates or affiliate availability
• Manufacturer requests or pressure
• Advertiser preferences

Many of our top recommendations are for products that aren't available through affiliate programs, or for approaches (like hiring specific types of contractors) that generate no revenue for us. We recommend the best solution, not the most profitable one.

Display Advertising

InsulationRValues.com displays advertisements through Raptive (formerly AdThrive/CafeMedia). These ads help support the website and allow us to provide free content.

Important: Advertisers have no influence over our editorial content. The appearance of an advertisement on our website does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's products or services.

For more information about how advertising works on our site and your choices regarding ad personalization, see our Privacy Policy.

Content Update Policy

Building codes, product specifications, and best practices evolve. We are committed to keeping our content current through:

Regular Review Schedule

• Annual Review: All articles are reviewed at least once per year to verify accuracy and update statistics.
• Code Update Reviews: When new IECC codes are adopted, we update R-value requirement articles within 60 days.
• Product Updates: When manufacturers significantly change product specifications, we update relevant articles.
• Reader-Reported Issues: When readers report errors, we investigate and correct verified issues within 5 business days.

Update Transparency

Each article displays its "Last Updated" date so you know when the content was last reviewed. Major updates are noted within the article when relevant.

Corrections Policy

We take accuracy seriously. If we publish incorrect information, we correct it promptly and transparently.

• Minor Corrections: Typos, broken links, and minor factual errors are corrected without notation.
• Significant Corrections: Material errors that could affect user decisions are corrected with a note explaining the change.
• Retractions: In the rare case that an article contains fundamentally flawed information, we will retract or completely rewrite it with a note explaining the issue.

Found an error? Please email us at info@insulationrvalues.com with the article URL and a description of the issue. We appreciate your help in maintaining accuracy.