Abstract
The efficacy of full-building radiation barriers for use in climate control has been analyzed both analytically and experimentally. The mutually reinforcing results suggest that heat transfer through corrugated metal roofs can be dramatically reduced through the use of inexpensive, highly reflective sheets. The experiments were performed on two types of structures, one with a single metal roof and the other fabricated with a dual-roof system. In both cases, it was found that the radiative barriers provide excellent insulation. The reduction of heat transfer from the roof to the building proper was determined both analytically and through experiment. The excellent agreement between the two solution methods suggest that either technique is sufficient for future use.