Insulation in the walls -- adhesive or no adhesive?

[wrajr]

I have read and seen different photos of how the fiberglass is applied to the walls during Airstream assembly at the factory.

Several posts allude to the giant blankets of fiberglass being draped over the exterior frame and the exterior aluminum sheets riveted to the frame holding the insulation in place.

Others post and a factory video show a water based adhesive being sprayed to the inside of the exterior sheet and the fiberglass being adhered with the glue.

We have a 2008 Airstream and are wondering which method was used.

Thanks for any insight.

[vinstream]

Without a thermal break on the ribs of any Airstream all the insulation in the world will not matter or how it is attached! Sorry again to raise this point it just sad for me that no one ask or seams to care! 60 to 70 percent of your heat or cooling goes from your inner to out skin though the ribs!!!!

Todd

[Minno]

Todd,

What would you recommend for the thermal break before we put the inner skins back on? A directly related question is, would the thermal break, just by being in between the inner skins and the rib, weaken the overall mono-structure of the shell?

Chris

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by vinstream

Without a thermal break on the ribs of any Airstream all the insulation in the world will not matter or how it is attached!

the o.p. has a modern stream.

there IS a thermal break on the ribs, under the outer skin.

they've been doing this for YEARs (more than 10)
__________

to the op

the info you have viewed or your interpretation of that info seems 2b mangled.

they've never hung the pink stuff then attached the outer shell to hold it.

a complete outer shell is attached to the floor/frame then takes a shower...

any sealant gaps are fixed from INSIDE at that time...

THEN the pink stuff is installed from INSIDE before the inner skin is attached.

and they don't spray any water based adhesive on the inside of the outer skin.

the pink stuff is stuffed into the spaces and held long enough for the inner skin to go up.

spray adhesives are used to attach the mouse fur or vinyl ceiling/wall treatments.

the spray goo is low on VOCs but i don't think the stuff is water based.
____________

perhaps you've seen pics of outer segment REPAIR/replacement

which might show skin being added over the existing insulation.

but that's a repair not original/new assembly.

the basic question seems to be "howz my stream built"

and the clearest way to understand that is a factory tour.

the a/s website used to include a picture/slide show of assembly

and there are/were threads here with pics from INSIDE the plant...

from the daze b4 cameras were banned....

cheers
2air'

[lynn]

The Thermal seperation (barrier) tape was added around 1994 when they changed how the shells were built.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by lynn

The Thermal seperation (barrier) tape was added around 1994 when they changed how the shells were built.

yes that's it...

the UPright assembly jigs (for rib/skin assembly)

3 piece ribs, pushed OUT corners and 5 segment shells=thermal tape.

approaching 20 years of use.

cheers
2air'

[wrajr]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

the o.p. has a modern stream.

there IS a thermal break on the ribs, under the outer skin.

they've been doing this for YEARs (more than 10)
__________

to the op

the info you have viewed or your interpretation of that info seems 2b mangled.

they've never hung the pink stuff then attached the outer shell to hold it.

a complete outer shell is attached to the floor/frame then takes a shower...

any sealant gaps are fixed from INSIDE at that time...

THEN the pink stuff is installed from INSIDE before the inner skin is attached.

and they don't spray any water based adhesive on the inside of the outer skin.

the pink stuff is stuffed into the spaces and held long enough for the inner skin to go up.

spray adhesives are used to attach the mouse fur or vinyl ceiling/wall treatments.

the spray goo is low on VOCs but i don't think the stuff is water based.
____________

perhaps you've seen pics of outer segment REPAIR/replacement

which might show skin being added over the existing insulation.

but that's a repair not original/new assembly.

the basic question seems to be "howz my stream built"

and the clearest way to understand that is a factory tour.

the a/s website used to include a picture/slide show of assembly

and there are/were threads here with pics from INSIDE the plant...

from the daze b4 cameras were banned....

cheers
2air'

Many thanks for the explaination -- makes sense!

[Birdwell57]

Originally Posted by lynn

The Thermal seperation (barrier) tape was added around 1994 when they changed how the shells were built.

Sorry about the hijack, but what is this thermal barrier, how thick is it, and would it behoove me to install it on the inside of my frame before I put the inside skin back on?

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Birdwell57

Sorry about the hijack, but what is this thermal barrier...

the oem stuff is a double sticky butyl tape ~2 mm thick.

there are maybe dozens of threads on this issue some very recent (like this month) ...

with discussions about WHAT to use and HOW to apply it and IF it does much.

search the key terms it's all there.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...ide-63397.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f381...kin-60323.html

cheers
2air'