PIMA Technical Bulletin #301: Polyiso Continuous Insulation (CI) Performance in Residential Wall Applications

Posted by PIMA

Technical Bulletin #301 looks at the use of Polyiso CI (with foil or coated glass facer) to provide a continuous layer of insulation on the exterior of residential housing (when used with wood or steel framed construction) to minimize thermal bridges and increase the overall thermal performance and energy efficiency of a home. This document covers various applications of Polyiso CI including: thermal insulation; thermal bridge reduction; water resistive barrier: air barrier; water vapor control; and fire performance.

Included in this technical bulletin are a number of illustrations comparing Polyiso CI with other insulation systems. A “Key Facts” summary and “Definitions” section provide addition and important information. A link to PIMA Technical Bulletin #301 is provided here.

Tags: building envelope continuous insulation Efficiency energy codes insulation Polyiso

Canada to Address Building Code Gap for Existing Buildings

Posted By PIMA

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes has issued recommendations to address “the absence of clear code requirements for existing buildings.” The report outlines an approach to constructing a regulatory framework for today’s building stock to address five objectives, including improved energy efficiency. Canada has invited interested stakeholders to provide input on the report through a brief online survey by August 30, 2019. PIMA plans to submit comments that highlight the United States’ experience with the existing building provisions of the IECC and respond to the report’s concerns of building fire safety. To view the online survey, click here.

Energy Conservation Lives!

Posted By PIMA

A recent Trump Administration document “encourages communities to adopt and enforce up-to-date building codes.” This important policy recommendation, contained in the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)’s National Mitigation Investment Strategy (NMIS), is expected to further catalyze code adoption and pave the way toward enforcement of these critical building standards.

The NMIS Recommendation 3.1 further states:
“Building codes regulate the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings and structures by providing minimum requirements to safeguard public safety, health and general welfare. Architects, engineers, builders, and regulators should use the latest building codes for the most up-to-date requirements for structural integrity, mechanical integrity, fire prevention and energy conservation. Using up-to-date building codes helps communities survive, remain resilient, and continue to provide essential services after a disaster occurs.”

This recommendation, combined with increased code adoption at the local level will be a powerful market signal. Further information and an explanation of the document is available here.

Durham’s Liberty Warehouse – Iconic and Insulated

Liberty Warehouse will be Durham, North Carolina’s next iconic building and an anchor of the Central Park neighborhood. The project will use the Rmax ECOMAXci Wall Solution to provide Polyiso Continuous Insulation (CI) in the walls along with specialty windows to enhance this unique re-development effort.  

Originally built in the 1940’s as one of the last of the large tobacco auction warehouses, this space will now include 246 luxury rental apartments and 24,693 square-feet of retail space. The ECOMAXci Wall Solution is an NFPA 285 approved assembly, providing continuous insulation to eliminate thermal bridging through the steel studs, and an integrated air, water and vapor barrier to improve performance, lower costs, and reduce environmental impact.

Insulation Fly-In: Building Relationships for Better Buildings

Posted By PIMA

In this age of instant connectivity, virtual encounters allow communication and cooperation with unprecedented speed and ease. But there’s something about a face-to-face meeting that really helps people reach common ground. In May, 110 contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers from the insulation industry representing the majority of states met on Capitol Hill with lawmakers to discuss issues and ideas for harnessing the resources of the insulation industry to tackle some of our country’s most pressing problems. And they were serious about building those face-to-face relationships—and packed in 101 meetings on Capitol Hill, 23 of them with members of Congress. 

With the constant stream of news stories highlighting the human costs and economic consequences of a changing environment, momentum is growing behind solutions that can address these environmental challenges in ways that strengthen U.S. economic productivity and competitiveness. To that end, PIMA members are working to build enthusiasm for federal action on policies that optimize the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. Raising standards for new residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and retrofitting older ones can lead to long-term savings through better building performance.

Increasing the energy efficiency of our buildings is a practical way to help the environment, create jobs, and save money. Boosting energy efficiency alone can provide 40% of the necessary greenhouse gas emissions reductions to meet global targets and the work to implement these standards will lead to jobs in manufacturing, distribution, and installation. These improvements will save consumers billions of dollars in energy costs annually – money that can be invested back into the U.S. economy.

But these policies would do more than save energy; they’d also provide buildings and the people who use them with added protection from severe weather events. In 2017 alone, there were $317 billion in losses from US natural disasters, jump-starting discussions on creating more resilient buildings and communities. Optimizing insulation for an energy efficient building envelope improves performance post-disaster or during prolonged events like heat waves or extreme cold. And the investment would pay off – it’s estimated that designing buildings to the 2018 I-Codes would deliver a national benefit of $11 for every $1 invested.  

Some legislative tools to promote these improvements include:

• Strengthening oversight of new rules for disaster preparedness and response.

• Supporting investments in building science research.

• Recognizing buildings as infrastructure, including critical structures such as hospitals and schools.

Improving the energy efficiency and resilience of our built environment is a proactive approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while boosting economic growth, improving energy security, and advancing U.S. global competitiveness. PIMA members are working together to promote policies that support these goals through events like Insulation Industry National Policy Conference. 

For a deeper dive into the policy topics that were highlighted during the industry fly-in, please download the policy briefs:

• Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

• Resilient Infrastructure and Energy Efficient Buildings

• Immigration and the Recovery of the U.S. Construction Industry 

The Overarching Impact of the Insulation Industry

Posted By PIMA

Insulation can be found in buildings, refrigeration and a multitude of other end use products, and is used for floatation and transportation. From an environmental standpoint, when insulation products such as Polyiso are used in building and construction, the purpose of the insulation is to stop the flow of air (hot or cold) through the exterior walls and roofs of a building. Reducing the air transfer reduces the amount of energy required to regulate a building’s heating and cooling system. As a result, the insulation has a direct impact on the cost and use of energy to run that building.

Beyond its sustainability and environmental attributes, a new report, “The Contributions Insulation to the U.S. Economy in 2018,” produced by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), shows that the insulation industry contributes significantly to the U.S. economy. In fact, the industry generates more than 550,000 jobs and $33 billion a year in payrolls. For extended details on the economic contributions, insulation industry segments, and more view the full study here.

Attached Files:

Contributions of the Insulation Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2018.pdf (45.16 KB)

Sika® acquires the global Parex business

“Parex offers a number of complimentary brands that will benefit our customers through a more complete product offering in façade and interior finishing solutions…we are excited to welcome all Parex employees to the Sika® team.” – Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager Americas

Sika® Acquires Parex Press Release

Polyiso Fire Performance

Posted By  PIMA

All construction materials, including insulation products like polyiso, must provide a suitable margin of fire safety. Polyiso insulation products are tested per material-specific tests as well as part of full assemblies that test fire performance as constructed. Importantly, polyiso possesses a high level of inherent fire resistance when compared to other insulations due to its unique structure of strong chemical bonds. These bonds result in improved high temperature resistance (up to 390 degrees F – more than twice the temperature resistance of some other building insulation products), which in turn leads to enhanced fire resistance. In addition, polyiso does not melt or drip when exposed to flame. The product forms a protective surface char that enhances its fire resistance in terms of reduced flame spread and the potential to contribute to flashover.

For more information on polyiso insulation’s performance in fire tests, consult the following Technical Bulletins:

• Technical Bulletin 103:"Fire Performance in Walls and Ceilings"

• Technical Bulletin 104:"Fire Performance in Roof Systems"

• Technical Bulletin 105: "Fire Test Definitions"

• Technical Bulletin 111: "Class A and Class 1 Roof Assemblies Are Not the Same"

• Technical Bulletin 111C: "Roofing Regulations in Canada: Class A and Class 1 Roof Assemblies Are Not the Same"

• Technical Bulletin 405: Fire Resistance Properties of Polyiso Foam Plastic Insulation Used in Wall Assemblies - Facts and Comparisons"

Tags:  fire performance  insulation  NFPA 285  Polyiso 

Roofing Day

Posted by PIMA

On April 4, 2019, as spring unfolded in Washington, D.C. with the arrival of the cherry blossoms, PIMA and a sea of more than 400 roofing industry professionals descended on Capitol Hill for meetings with Congressional representatives to discuss issues of importance to the entire roofing industry. PIMA and its member companies were there to advocate in support of three key issues:

• A robust buildings component for infrastructure legislation.

• Immigration reform that meets the roofing industry's workforce needs.

• Expanded workforce training incentives.

There is strength in numbers and Roofing Day is an opportunity for the entire roofing industry to speak with one unified voice. Groups of roofing contractors, front-line workers, state and regional roofing associations, roofing manufacturers, distributors, and design and roof-consulting professionals participated in close to 300 Congressional meetings. Roofing Day 2019 had an increased participation of 5 percent compared to Roofing Day 2018. 

Visiting Capitol Hill with hundreds of roofing industry professionals was powerful as were the connections that were made. Equally as powerful and valuable - the connections made among the attendees.

Storage and Handling Recommendations For Polyiso Roof Insulation

Posted by PIMA

While it has been a long winter, spring is sure to get here sooner than we think, which means many roofing project will soon be underway. Here are key considerations (TB109) about the storage and handling of polyiso roof insulation on a job site:

Storage 
Polyiso insulation is typically shipped protected by a plastic wrap, plastic bag or both. This factory packaging is intended for handling the polyiso in the manufacturing plant and during transit; it should not be relied upon as protection at jobsites or other outdoor storage locations unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer. 

Material delivery should be carefully coordinated with the roof application schedule to minimize outdoor storage. When short-term outdoor storage is necessary, whether at grade or on the roof deck, the following precautions should be observed: 

• Bundles should be stored flat above the ground utilizing included feet or on raised pallets. If possible, the bundles should be placed on a finished surface such as gravel, pavement, or concrete rather than on dirt or grass.

• Unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer, cover the package and pallet with a waterproof cover, and secure to prevent wind displacement. 
  

Note: Polyiso insulation is fully cured and fit for installation upon delivery. No additional storage time is required.

Handling 
Exercise care during handling of polyiso insulation to prevent breaking or crushing of the square edges and surfaces. Remove the polyiso bundles from trucks with proper equipment. Other means of mishandling, such as pushing pallets off the edge of the truck or “rolling” the pallet across the roof deck, must be avoided. 

Product Application 
Polyiso should always be installed on dry, clean roof decks in dry conditions. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding product application to ensure performance to the intended design life of the roofing system. Apply only as much polyiso roof insulation as can be covered by completed roofing the same day. 

Construction Traffic 
Avoid excessive traffic during roof construction of or on a completed roof surface. Although polyiso has been designed to withstand limited foot traffic, protection from damage by construction traffic and/or abuse is extremely important. Roof surface protection such as plywood should be used in areas where storage and staging are planned and heavy or repeated traffic is anticipated during or after installation. 

Some designers and membrane manufacturers specify the use of cover boards as a means of protecting the insulation. If specified, installers should ensure that the cover board used is compatible with all components of the roofing system, is acceptable to the membrane manufacturer, and meets specified fire, wind, and code requirements. 

Polyiso roof insulation, like other roofing materials, requires a proper understanding of storage, handling, and application to result in a properly constructed roof system. You can find additional technical information about polyiso roof and wall insulation at polyiso.org.

Tags:  building site  construction  handling  insulation  Polyiso  storage 

Justin Koscher Featured Educational Speaker at 2019 RCI International Convention & Trade Show Monday, March 18, 2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Posted By PIMA

PIMA President Justin Koscher along with Lorraine Ross of Intech Consulting, Inc. will present at the RCI convention to provide U.S. practitioners with answers, information, and guidance on how to harmonize the goals of building fire safety and energy efficiency. Information presented will be derived from consensus codes and standards, industry research and testing, and best practice guidance documents.

The tragic June 2017 fire at the Grenfell Tower in London has led British authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of building fire regulations intended to provide answers on how the fire occurred and what should be done to prevent a future tragedy. The Grenfell Tower fire has communities outside of England asking, could this type of fire happen here?

The presentation will:

• Highlight specifically how U.S. codes and standards create a system approach to controlling the use of foam plastic insulation products in commercial buildings of varying heights

• Detail resources that are available to help ensure buildings here in the U.S. are built and renovated to greatly reduce fire incidents and losses when fires do occur

• Present examples of approved assemblies in a variety of exterior walls that utilize foam plastic insulation for different construction configurations

• Provide guidance on how fire safety can be maintained throughout the design process and construction phases

Tags:  building codes  fire performance  insulation  NFPA 285 

NFPA 285

Posted By Nathan Pobre, PIMA

Improvements to the building envelope through the use of continuous insulation solutions have played a major role in mainstreaming high-performance construction practices that meet the requirements of commercial building energy codes. To meet the demands of today’s builds, architectural and design professionals must balance energy efficiency with whole building performance considerations, including fire safety. With respect to wall assemblies in Type I-IV Construction, understanding and properly implementing NFPA 285 can be a critical component for designing a compliant, high-performance building envelope.

NFPA 285 is a fire test standard that measures the flammability characteristics of exterior wall assemblies. More specifically, and according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), it “provides a standardized fire test procedure for evaluating the suitability of exterior, non-load bearing wall assemblies and panels used as components of curtain wall assemblies that are constructed using combustible materials or that incorporate combustible components for installation on buildings where the exterior walls are required to be non-combustible.” While the individual products used in the wall assembly carry product-specific fire tests, it is important that entire wall assemblies are tested to meet approved fire performance requirements and ensure the safety of the building occupants.

The NFPA 285 test is performed on both load-bearing and non-load-bearing wall assemblies. It requires a wall assembly mockup spanning two stories (18’ high) with a test room on each floor. A single window opening is provided in the first-story room where a test burner is located. This burner is ignited in order to simulate an interior room fire. A second burner located on the exterior side of the test wall further enhances the flames to the window header. The test simulates a common, real-world interior fire scenario that reaches flashover, breaches a window, and spreads upward along the wall face. The test examines fire performance of the entire wall assembly, including within the wall assembly. It’s important to note also that the test is conducted without any interior fire suppression system.

To pass the NFPA 285 test, flame propagation cannot occur on or within the wall assembly beyond a certain distance either vertically or laterally from the area of flame plume impingement. Thermocouples are placed throughout the wall assembly to measure temperatures. Exceeding defined temperature limits results in a test failure. Additional requirements include: 

• No flame propagation in second-floor room;

• The inside wall assembly thermocouples shall not exceed 1000°F rise during the 30-minute test;

• External flames shall not reach 10′ above the top of the window; and

• The external flame shall not reach 5′ laterally from the center line of the window. 
  

It is a common misconception that only foam insulation products trigger NFPA 285. While any wall containing foam plastic insulation in Types I-IV Construction must comply with the test requirements, the use of other wall assembly configurations may also need to pass NFPA 285. These assemblies can include those constructed with combustible claddings and weather resistant barriers.

Since 2000, NFPA 285 has been in the International Building Code (IBC) and has gained attention due to the increased diversity in exterior wall systems and greater compliance with building energy efficiency standards. To learn more about NFPA 285, please refer to the National Fire Protection Association.

Tags:  building codes  building envelope  fire performance  NFPA 285  Type I-IV