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Most people have heard of insulation but may not fully understand what it means. Insulation is simply a material used to slow down the transfer of heat, whether into or out of a building. Insulation is one component of a wall assembly, either inside the wall cavity or as a continuous layer that is part of the wall. Continuous insulation performs better and is increasingly required in building codes because there are no gaps in the insulation for heat to leak through.
Continuous Insulation provides a host of benefits, from energy efficiency to providing air & moisture control and meeting advanced energy code requirements. Keep the following features in mind when choosing the type of continuous insulation for your building.
With rising energy prices and the increased importance of efficient energy usage, continuous insulation is becoming more important than ever. Inside and outside temperatures naturally want to come to equilibrium or the same temperature. Building occupants typically want commercial buildings to be warmer or cooler than the outdoor environment depending on the season. Central HVAC systems are good at conditioning indoor environments, however, it is continuous insulation that keeps those environments comfortable and reduces the energy required to keep them that way.
Thermal comfort is an absolute must for commercial buildings. Continuous Insulation eliminates thermal breaks through the studs and helps keep a commercial building at a consistent temperature and also reduces air leakages. Without continuous insulation, buildings are more likely to have hot and cold spots throughout the building.
Continuous Insulation and cladding systems play a critical role in moisture control, an issue that can begin to slowly - or, sometimes, quickly - start to degrade structures. Utilizing a modern continuous insulation system will also help provide moisture protection in the exterior wall.
When specifying continuous insulation in a commercial building, wall components must be tested together and meet NFPA 285 (National Fire Protection Association) requirements.
Climate control isn’t just about comfort and cold storage; it’s really about financial efficiency. When insulation performance is average, HVAC systems are forced to work harder at additional costs. If the insulation system is pretty good, same story - the air will be conditioned or heated, and costs will be saved. Imagine then that builders seek the best insulation system possible, a continuous insulation system featuring the best insulation material. Stretched across a larger building or structure, the financial benefits of this one investment will pay dividends for decades.
The three most common types of continuous insulation are:
Polyisocyanurate is a closed-cell, rigid foam board insulation with facers bonded to both sides. Used in roof, wall, ceiling, and below-grade applications, polyiso is used in commercial buildings of all types. At 6.5 R-value for one inch, Polyiso provides the highest thermal performance of widely used continuous insulation options. Additionally, polyiso has fire-resistive properties that make it the insulation type of choice for many architects, builders, and building owners.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is a type of foam plastic insulation. XPS is a thermoset material, and when exposed to high heat it softens or turns to a liquid. At a 5 R-value for one inch, XPS provides the second-best thermal performance of widely used continuous insulation options. Available as a foam board, XPS is similarly easy to install as polyiso.
Made from spinning molten rock, mineral wool is a soft, fibrous form of insulation. At 4 R-value for one inch, mineral wool provides the third-best thermal performance of widely used continuous insulation options; however, as an insulation batt material, it provides exceptional sound and fire resistance. Mineral wool’s lack of compressive strength means it can be harder to install and keep in place as a continuous insulation solution. Mineral wool tends to sag over time requiring conductive and costly Z-furring, hat channels, or proprietary clips for installation.
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