Phenolic Insulation Board for Cavity Walls - 4specs: Discussion Forum

Author Message Stephen Wilson
Intermediate Member
Username: swilson

Post Number: 4
Registered: 02-
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, - 08:25 am:    Hi all,

Has anyone out there had any experience using Phenolic Insulation Boards? I recently came across an ad for the product, which has an R-value of R-8 per inch, and can be used in cavity walls like any other insulation board. (Can also be used in NFPA 285 assemblies.)

As far as I can tell, Kingspan is the only company that markets it, under the trade name Kooltherm K8. Does anyone out there have experience using it on projects? With thermal preformance so much higher than your typical XPS or Polyiso, I'm wondering "what's the catch?" (Cost I'm sure, but I also wonder how it performs on-site in installation.) Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid

Post Number: 579
Registered: 10-


Posted on Wednesday, February 03, - 02:28 pm:    Phenolic insulation was introduced in the s by Koppers. Fantastic thermal performance. It was pulled from the market however due to long-term problems with performance. I don't recall the specifics. Perhaps Kingspan has solved the problems.

BTW, I was part of a consulting team advising Koppers. They asked me to write guide specs for the product using different styles of specifying: Proprietary, Performance, Descriptive, etc. It was a wonderful exercise that improved my skills as a specifier. Koppers got insight, too, into how to position and promote the product. Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number:
Registered: 12-


Posted on Wednesday, February 03, - 03:08 pm:    Wow. Koppers. I remember when they still had some great roofing systems.

As I recall the phenolic insulation corrosion issue first became a problem in Canada where it was much more widely used. Seems to me that the failures north of the border precluded its usage catching on in the US.

As many forensics articles have noted over the years, everything leaks given enough time. Perhaps using non-metallic ties and anchors is advisable when using this insulation since even vapor drive and condensation could possibly set it off if it's still an issue. Stephen Wilson
Advanced Member
Username: swilson

Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, - 10:54 am:    Thanks, all! Considering the previous generation of phenolic insulation boards was last used when I was in elementary school, no wonder I hadn't heard of the history.

It will be interesting to see how Kingspan's product performs over time. I noticed roof applications is conspicuously absent from their list of applications, so it sounds like they are trying to avoid that kind of liability again. The brick tie corrosion issue is a good question though. Ed Storer
Senior Member
Username: ed_storer

Post Number: 94
Registered: 05-
Posted on Sunday, June 06, - 08:06 pm:    I worked in Atlanta when One Atlantic Center (aka IBM Building) was constructed in the 's.

From Wiki: "One Atlantic Center was designed by Johnson/Burgee Architects. As associate architect, Heery International, Inc. produced the contract documents."

Koppers phenolic insulation was used in the granite-clad walls. I'm pretty sure that none of the fasteners for the stone anchorage penetrated the insulation.

I've never heard of any problems with the exterior of the building, so I guess it's not a problem after 30 years. Ed Storer, CSI Member Emeritus