Thermal and Fire Performance of Multilayer Reflective Insulation: A Study Based on MS 2095:2022

Reflective insulation materials are critical for enhancing energy efficiency and thermal management in buildings, but their fire safety remains a pressing concern. This study evaluates the thermal resistance and fire propagation characteristics of multilayer reflective insulation materials in compliance with the MS 2095:2022 standard. Thermal performance was tested using a heat flow meter following ASTM C518, while fire safety was assessed using BS 476 Part 6 to measure the Fire Propagation Index (I). Results reveal that increasing the number of layers significantly enhances thermal resistance, with the quadruple-layer configuration achieving a thermal resistance of 3.181 m2 · K/W, a 25.5% improvement compared to the single-layer configuration. Conversely, the Fire Propagation Index initially increased from 6.72 for the single-layer to 8.04 for the triple-layer configuration but decreased to 5.95 for the quadruple-layer configuration, likely due to the additional thickness acting as a thermal barrier. This study highlights the dual benefits and challenges of multilayer reflective insulation: while thermal resistance improves with layering, fire safety must be carefully managed. The findings provide actionable insights for optimizing reflective insulation materials to achieve both energy efficiency and fire safety, contributing to sustainable building practices and innovative material design.