ADEME is right.
That’s why R'BULL is specified differently.
ADEME's 2012 opinion on thin reflective products is not an obstacle. It is a useful frame of reference: a thin reflective insulation product must be assessed in a specific installation configuration, with controlled air gaps, documented values and clearly stated limits of use.
ADEME's opinion does not condemn thin reflective insulation. It is a reminder that it must be specified rigorously, in controlled configurations.
What ADEME points out and what R'BULL documents
R'BULL is not based on a general promise. Every performance figure is tied to a specific configuration, a measured value and a clearly identified installation condition.
The right positioning
Thin reflective products are of value as a supplement to insulation, particularly in renovation projects where available space is limited.
The R'BULL range is positioned as a thin reflective solution designed to improve a wall, particularly when the available thickness, ceiling height or site configuration make thick insulation difficult to fit.
The system approach
The thermal contribution of a thin reflective product depends both on the product itself and on the adjacent air gaps provided for in the wall.
We clearly distinguish between the value of the product alone and the value of the system. For the R'BULL Pro 13, the core value is R = 0.29 m².K/W. The system value reaches R = 1.60 m².K/W only in the validated configuration with two non-ventilated 20 mm air gaps.
A documented technical framework
The performance of a thin reflective product must be determined within a recognised technical framework, such as a technical opinion or European technical assessment.
R'BULL relies on the ETA 22/0178 and on test reports according to EN ISO 22097:2023. Values are presented by installation configuration, with no extrapolation beyond the documented conditions.
Installation quality
Performance depends heavily on installation. Direct contact with a solid material can degrade the expected reflective effect.
Ceilingo provides specific installation configurations, values by build-up and limits of use. Where air gaps cannot be guaranteed, only the core value should be used.
Summer comfort and exposed roofs
In certain roof configurations, a thin reflective product can contribute to summer thermal comfort, in addition to other measures applied to the building envelope.
R'BULL Pro 13 has documented solar factor values. In the C3 roof configuration with a suspended ceiling, the solar factor reaches S = 0.018, which meets the thresholds applicable in Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.
Responding with transparency
Reservations about thin reflective insulation are legitimate when a product is presented without a clear technical framework. R'BULL responds with documented values, specific configurations and clearly stated limits of use.
ADEME says thin insulation is not enough on its own.
Correct. That is why we do not present R'BULL as a universal replacement for thick layers of traditional insulation. We present it as a thin reflective solution to be used in defined configurations, with values backed by testing.
Performance depends too much on installation.
Correct. That is why every R'BULL value is tied to a specific configuration. Where air gaps cannot be guaranteed, we specify that only the core value of the product should be used.
Why not rely solely on ACERMI?
ACERMI remains a recognised reference in France for thermal insulation. However, ADEME also refers to European technical frameworks. R'BULL relies on the ETA 22/0178 and on tests according to EN ISO 22097:2023, with values presented by installation configuration.
What is the benefit of R'BULL Pro 13 for summer comfort?
R'BULL Pro 13 has documented solar factor values. In the C3 roof configuration with a suspended ceiling, the solar factor reaches S = 0.018, which meets the thresholds applicable in Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.
Page updated on . Test reports, laboratories and PDFs: Test reports.