What to Know About Building Code Insulation Requirements

Building codes are used to make sure that buildings are built safely and energy efficient. A local jurisdiction’s building codes set the minimum for how well a building must be constructed. Building codes can evolve as information changes or new materials become available. Understanding the requirements for insulation keeps you adhering to the code and can save you time and money.

Building Code Standards

Building codes are adopted by local towns and cities and can vary all across the nation. These codes are typically adopted from standards published by knowledgeable organizations in the industry. Some municipalities adopt new standards into their building codes much quicker than others and are something any building owner should be aware of.

What Organizations Create Standards?

Some of the most popular organizations for creating standards are:

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

• North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

• International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

As these organizations publish standards, local jurisdictions review their building codes and decide what new standards they want to adopt into their building codes. 

Standards That Affect Insulation

Some standards that are often used in building codes to set requirements for insulation are ASHRAE 90.1, NAIMA 202-96, and ASTM C 665. 

NAIMA 202-96, for instance, is a certification that insulation manufacturers use to ensure that their products comply with the minimum requirements of that standard. Inspectors from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) make quarterly unannounced visits to the factories that produce certified insulation. The inspectors review quality control procedures, records, and randomly test products to ensure the insulation meets the requirements of the certification.

Standards like ASHRAE 90.1 prescribe what types of insulation must be used when building different kinds of buildings. These standards define items like “continuous insulation” and break down the amount of insulation required for different climate zones in the U.S. These standards help ensure that everyone is speaking the same language when it comes to insulation and building standards.

What Insulation Meets Code Requirements?

Certified products help you know whether or not a certain product will meet code requirements. Insulation is not always produced in the same way for use in all different applications. For example, NAIMA 202-96 Certified Metal Building Insulations are fiberglass insulations intended for use in metal buildings, specifically. While they can sometimes be used in different applications, certifications help you know that a product will meet the requirements of a given standard.

Breaking Down ASTM C 665, Including Types and Classes

ASTM C 665 is an additional certification used for mineral fiber blankets that quickly lets you know if an insulation type will be acceptable. ASTM C 665 breaks insulation down into Type I, Type II, and Type III.

ASTM C 665 Types

Type 1

Blankets without membrane coverings. Unfaced insulation.

Type 2

Blankets with a non-reflective vapor retarder membrane covering one principal face. Classes A, B, and C are typically kraft-faced.

Type 3

Blankets with a reflective vapor retarder member covering one principal face. Class A, B, and C, foil-faced. 

ASTM C 665 Classes

Additionally, there are three different classes (A, B, and C) that describe how membranes are faced on the insulation.

Class A

Membrane-faced surface with flame spread of 25 or less. For use in exposed applications meeting building code requirements.

Class B

Membrane-faced surface with flame propagation resistance critical radiant flux of 0.12 W/cm2 or greater.

Class C

Membrane-faced surface not rated for flame propagation resistance (for use in non-exposed applications only)

A building code will prescribe what is minimally acceptable, allowing you to find a material that meets or exceeds the requirement then easily. Ultimately, building codes provide a minimum for thermal effectiveness, fire resistance, and moisture resistance that all new buildings must adhere to.

Polyiso Exceeds Expectations and Achieves Strict Code Compliance

Because of polyiso’s exceptional performance, it often exceeds the requirements laid out in building codes making it an easy choice for code-compliant construction. Notable building codes polyiso achieves are ASHRAE 90.1, NAIMA 202-96, and ASTM C 665. 

And while the great benefits of polyiso have been understood and employed for roof installations, Rmax polyiso is also the superior choice for walls and below-grade applications. Let’s take a look at what makes polyiso so effective:

Thermal Conductivity

The higher an insulation’s R-value, the better it is at insulating. Polyiso boasts an impressive 6.5 R per inch value that demonstrates its low thermal conductivity. Meeting the minimum R-value required by code requires a thinner wall when using polyiso over other insulation types.

Polyiso also provides exceptional strength and dimensional stability which makes it great for use as continuous insulation. More standards are beginning to require continuous insulation layers on buildings because they outperform cavity insulation techniques. When buildings are built with cavity insulation, the studs in the wall act as thermal bridges allowing heat to “leak” around the insulation and through the studs. Continuous insulation avoids these issues by applying a continuous layer of unbroken insulation on the outside of the building’s walls, just behind the exterior cladding.

Fire Resistance

Polyiso is a type of plastic known as a thermoset. Unlike other insulation types, when polyiso is exposed to fire and intense heat it chars instead of melting. Polyiso makes for a highly resilient insulation material that can help limit damage in case of a fire. As standards raise the minimum fire ratings that insulation types are allowed to have, polyiso will be in a great position to meet and exceed those requirements.

Moisture Resistance

Polyiso comes in a rigid foam board format, and it can be laminated to foil facers during manufacture. The foil face provides a built-in vapor barrier for reducing the amount of water vapor that can be transmitted through the insulation. Some insulation types are very permeable to water vapor and require additional costly vapor barriers to be added to the wall during construction to ensure the building meets code requirements.

Utilize the Best Performing Polyiso Insulation with Rmax

Rmax polyiso is high-performance insulation available throughout the USA at a competitive price. Using quality materials ensures a well-finished building and avoids headaches worrying about being code compliant. To learn more about Rmax polyiso’s extensive building code approvals, reach out to our team of insulation experts today.

EPS vs XPS Insulation and a Better Alternative

When deciding on which insulation type to use, it can be difficult to figure out the differences between all the options on the market. Knowing what makes each insulation type special will help you make an informed decision. Insulation is one of the most important parts of your building, so it is a decision you will want to get right.

The Importance of Insulation

Insulation is incredibly important to a building’s performance and longevity although it often does not get the credit it deserves. The main role of insulation is to slow down the transfer of heat into and out of the building. By slowing down this rate of heat transfer, the building’s HVAC does not have to use as much energy to keep the building comfortable.

In addition to energy efficiency, some other benefits of insulation are:

Noise Reduction

Buildings with little or no insulation tend to be very loud. Insulation reduces the noise from loud sounds outside and prevents sound from being able to echo off the building’s walls internally. Without insulation, noise can reverberate throughout the building. Insulation acts to dampen these sounds, keeping them from getting louder and making your building more enjoyable to be in for all occupants. 

Fire Resistance

Code requirements require insulation to pass a minimum fire rating test. Buildings with insulation make it harder for a fire to spread throughout the building. Not only can this reduce structural damage in case of a fire, but it will also reduce the likelihood of fire-related injuries to building occupants.

Thermal Comfort

Insulation helps to slow down heat transfer into and out of the building, and also keeps the temperature in a building more consistent. Without proper insulation, a building is more likely to have hot and cold spots throughout. Thermal comfort keeps occupants more productive and reduces the variability in how your HVAC equipment operates.

EPS and XPS: What’s the Difference?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) are both popular forms of insulation and while similar, they do have their differences.

Composition

XPS is made via an extrusion process, resulting in a closed cell structure and a smooth layer on the top and bottom sides of the board. The closed cell structure of XPS prevents water penetration into the insulation and gives XPS enhanced strength and durability

EPS is made using beads of foam instead of an extrusion process. The beads are placed into a mold and then heated to fuse them. Since voids can occur between the beads, the insulation is not a closed cell board and is less resistant to water.

Thermal Conductivity

One of the key parameters for any type of insulation is its thermal conductivity. XPS and EPS are both popular insulation types because they both have low thermal conductivity. EPS has pockets of air trapped inside the foam board, so XPS typically outperforms EPS. High-density EPS is closer in performance to XPS, but XPS still usually performs better.

Compressive Strength

For some applications, the insulation’s compressive strength becomes very important. Concrete floors, flat roofs, foundations, and cold storage all put more stress on the insulation. XPS is typically stronger in compression than EPS, requiring thicker,  higher-density versions of EPS to match XPS insulation’s performance.

Water Vapor

Often a deciding factor for when to use XPS versus EPS is the ability to resist water vapor diffusion. Water vapor can travel through insulation and into the building. The closed-cell nature of XPS makes it much more difficult for this to occur. In wetter locations, XPS is usually selected over EPS.

Polyiso: the Better Alternative

Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) provides a superior alternative to both EPS and XPS insulation. Polyiso is a completely different kind of plastic, a thermoset instead of a thermoplastic. When exposed to high heat, XPS and EPS soften and melt. Polyiso, on the other hand, simply chars.

The structure of polyiso tends to be stronger than XPS or EPS due to the bonds of its chemical makeup.  Polyiso has a three-dimensional network of bonds or cross-linking, that gives it both strength and high-temperature durability. This durability helps polyiso keep its shape and high performance better than XPS and EPS.

Polyiso is higher-performing insulation with thermal conductivities better than XPS. Even with exceptional performance, polyiso is still comparable in cost with XPS and EPS, based on its lower price per R-value per inch. Polyiso matches or exceeds the performance of both XPS and EPS including being more sustainable for the environment, having higher thermal performance, greater fire resistance, thinner wall profiles, and better moisture management and air infiltration reduction.

Find the Best in Polyiso with Rmax

At Rmax, our mission is to take the best polyiso insulation available and maximize its performance even further. When choosing the insulation for your building, reach out to our experts at Rmax today to learn more about why Rmax’s polyiso wall insulation is the best choice.

Everything You Need to Know About Commercial Building Insulation

Commercial building insulation is a critical building component for both energy efficiency and building longevity. Insulation works hard to keep your building comfortable and to reduce energy consumption. Knowing the options lets you decide when selecting the right insulation.

What is Insulation?

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.

Why is Continuous Insulation So Important?

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.

Energy Efficiency

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.

Occupant Comfort

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.

Moisture  Control

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. 

Fire Resistance

When specifying continuous insulation in a commercial building, wall components must be tested together and meet NFPA 285 (National Fire Protection Association) requirements. 

Improve the Bottom Line

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.

What are the Most Common Types of Continuous Insulation?

The three most common types of continuous insulation are:

1. Polyiso

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.

2. XPS

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.

3. Mineral Wool

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.

Polyiso: the Superior Choice

Polyiso reigns supreme on many fronts. Rmax polyiso blends high performance, ease of use, and competitive prices into one product, making it the superior choice for most commercial building applications.

Typically, polyiso has been used for roofing insulation and is the industry standard; however, it is now the leading choice of architects and designers for exterior wall continuous insulation because of its superior thermal and fire-resistive properties. Additionally, foil-faced polyiso can serve as the building’s primary air & water-resistive barrier, eliminating the need for wraps and liquid-applied sprays, which reduces material & labor costs and provides less environmental impact. Rmax is pushing the envelope with polyiso to create a complete insulation solution for builders, attaining the same great insulation results found in roofing installs with walls.

Fire Resistance

As a thermoset, polyiso irreversibly cures when exposed to high heat. Since it is permanently rigid and cannot return to liquid form, polyiso is an excellent choice for high-temperature applications. Under fire conditions, polyiso chars where other types of insulation can melt and drip.

Rmax Polyiso, the Commercial Insulation of Choice

Rmax polyiso provides a well-rounded profile of performance characteristics and cost that makes it an excellent choice for commercial insulation applications. For a long-lasting, high-performing building, use insulation you can count on. To learn more about why Rmax polyiso outperforms other options, reach out to our experts today.

Why insulate the exterior side of the foundation wall?

All building foundations come in contact with the ground. Wherever a building is located, water, temperature, air, and soil on the foundation can impact the performance and integrity of the total structure. Continuous polyiso rigid foam insulation effectively reduces foundation energy loss and protects against moisture problems.

ADVANTAGES OF INSULATING
EXTERIOR VS. INTERIOR SIDE OF THE WALL

• It does not reduce the usable building space

• Completely continuous for optimal energy efficiency

• Mass of foundation within the insulated building envelope

• Warm wall solution minimizes condensation on the interior side of the wall

• Protects the waterproofing

• Eliminates freeze/thaw on structural elements

• Easiest install

Supply chain woes? Don’t compromise on the long-term benefits of building energy efficiency.

Posted By PIMA

To solve today’s supply chain challenges, should we ignore the building energy code? No, accepting less today in return for higher costs tomorrow is no strategy at all.

The inconvenient truth for critics of building energy codes is that compliance with current versions of the IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 serves as the most cost-effective mechanism for reducing building energy use and the associated carbon emissions generated from powering schools, office buildings and other commercial spaces. While today’s supply chain challenges are certainly frustrating, ignoring the energy code eliminates long-term improvements in building energy efficiency and saddles building owners with higher energy costs for decades to come.

Energy codes provide minimum standards for new and existing buildings. One way the codes help improve the performance of existing buildings is by requiring that roof replacement projects comply with code minimums for building envelope insulation. A recent study by PIMA and the consulting firm ICF International confirmed that energy code-compliant roof replacements are life-cycle economical under various conditions even when subjected to higher incremental installation costs and discount rates. For example, a primary school located in Climate Zone 5 (Chicago) can experience an estimated 9% savings in annual whole building energy use by installing a roof replacement with code-compliant levels of insulation. These savings will continue to compound year-over-year during the roof’s service life.

Simple, short-term solutions can be appealing in times of duress. In the case of building energy efficiency improvements, a short-term focus that sacrifices long-terms benefits is a bad deal for building owners. Check out the PIMA study for more information on how installing an energy efficient roof today is the right decision for your project or building.  

Excited to be part of the ABAA Education Webinar Event on December 30th!!

REGISTER for our, “Polyiso: The Next Generation Air & Water Resistive Barrier” CE webinar, available through ABAA Education Webinar Events.

FREE LIVE CEU WEBINAR - NOVEMBER 30TH!

This course is designed to provide an understanding of how better construction practices can increase building sustainability and longevity. Discover how polyiso insulation air and water-resistive barrier systems contribute to meeting energy code requirements and outperform traditional water-resistive barrier materials and construction methods. Learn about the science behind thermal, air, and moisture control, in projects of steel stud construction. Review building and energy code requirements relative to building envelope design and performance.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. Understand Building Sustainability and Longevity

2. Learn About the Science Behind Thermal, Air, and Moisture Control for Steel Stud Construction

3. Interpret the Code Requirements for Building Envelope Design and Performance

4. Discover How Polyiso Meets Requirements and Outperforms Traditional Methods for Optimum Control

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Sponsored By: Rmax

Presented By: Matt Stevens

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Matthew Stevens, CSI, CDT, REWO received his Master’s degree in Architecture from Texas Tech University and has over 20 years in the building industry. His experience includes architectural design, construction, consulting, training, and development roles. As the Commercial Envelope Specialist for Rmax, he works directly with architects and contractors to select the optimal insulation for their projects while meeting applicable building codes. Matthew is an active member that serves on the boards of several CSI and BEC chapters in Texas.

Why is Proper Insulation Critical During Building Roof Replacement?

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The Benefits of Energy Code-Compliant Roof Replacement

For U.S. Climate Zone 5 – Chicago, IL

Insulation, whether in a public or commercial building, has a tremendous impact on the energy efficiency, resilience, cost savings, and comfort of a space. While insulation can be an inconspicuous and sometimes overlooked building feature, it spans the entire surface area of a building’s roof and helps to protect other aspects of building performance.

Roof insulation is particularly important for building performance as the roof comprises the largest single side of most buildings. Recognizing the importance of an energy-efficient building thermal envelope, modern energy codes have set minimum requirements for insulation installed entirely above the roof deck.

For low-slope roofs with insulation entirely above deck, which is typical of public and commercial buildings, standards require that roof insulation be installed in multiple layers with staggered joints to reduce airflow through gaps and require that it meets the prescribed minimum R-value requirement for the building’s climate zone, space conditioning category, and roof construction type.

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Finding the Right Insulation for U.S. Climate Zone 5

When selecting the proper roof insulation for your building, it is critical to consider the climate zone for your location. Cities located in U.S. Climate Zone 5 are characterized as cold climates, which is defined as an area with between 5,400 and 9,000 heating degree days on a 65 degrees Fahrenheit basis.

U.S. Climate Zone 5 - Cold Climates I Example City – Chicago, IL

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Potential Savings Estimates for Buildings in Climate Zone 5

During a roof replacement, installing additional roof insulation to meet the prescribed minimum R-value established by building energy standards for your region is estimated to yield cost savings and enhance overall performance for each of the building types modeled below. For buildings located in Climate Zone 5, current model energy codes require a minimum R-30 for roof insulation installed entirely above the deck.

In cold climate zones where building energy expenditure is often dominated by heating processes, an inefficient thermal building envelope can waste gas and electricity, generating unnecessarily high utility bills.

The estimated payback of using code-compliant levels of insulation at the time of roof replacement can help companies and building owners realize a faster return on investment, while also locking in long-term energy savings at no additional operation and maintenance cost for the life of the investment – typically 30 to 40 years. The result is greater cost savings, improved building performance, and downstream emissions benefits, as well as decreased risk and the likelihood of premature maintenance and repairs. When viewed as a long-term investment, code-compliant levels of roof insulation entirely above deck can help companies reach energy reduction goals while cutting costs and carbon emissions in the process.

This analysis was prepared by ICF. For more information on insulation and to access the full report, visit www.polyiso.org.

SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT TO EARN LU/AIA CEH!

This course is designed to provide an understanding of how better construction practices can increase building sustainability and longevity. Discover how polyiso insulation air and water-resistive barrier systems contribute to meeting energy code requirements and outperform traditional water-resistive barrier materials and construction methods. Learn about the science behind thermal, air, and moisture control, in projects of steel stud construction. Review building and energy code requirements relative to building envelope design and performance.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. Understand Building Sustainability and Longevity

2. Learn About the Science Behind Thermal, Air, and Moisture Control for Steel Stud Construction

3. Interpret the Code Requirements for Building Envelope Design and Performance

4. Discover How Polyiso Meets Requirements and Outperforms Traditional Methods for Optimum Control

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Sponsored By: Rmax

Presented By: Matt Stevens

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Matthew Stevens, CSI, CDT, REWO received his Master’s degree in Architecture from Texas Tech University and has over 20 years in the building industry. His experience includes architectural design, construction, consulting, training, and development roles. As the Commercial Envelope Specialist for Rmax, he works directly with architects and contractors to select the optimal insulation for their projects while meeting applicable building codes. Matthew is an active member that serves on the boards of several CSI and BEC chapters in Texas.

FREE CEU Webinar...Don't miss out!

Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EDT

This course outlines the danger posed By Mother Nature and the science, codes, testing and methods in which to build and combat these forces.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn About the Science Behind Thermal, Air, Vapor and water control for Steel stud construction

2. Understanding Rainscreens and How They Enhance Building Design

3. Discover How POLYISO and ACM/MCM Meet Requirements and Outperform Traditional Methods

4. Interpret the Code Requirements for Building Envelope Design and Performance

5. Examine How to Develop and Test a Solution for the Issues Presented

Sponsored By:

Rmax, A Business Unit of the Sika Corporation

Presented By:

Matt Stevens

AIA Course Number:

WRX07B

The multiple layers of fire-safety…

“NFPA 285 Engineering Judgments: A Practical Compliance Option.”

The North American Modern Building Alliance (NAMBA) has published an article in the June 2021 issue of Construction Specifier entitled, “NFPA 285 Engineering Judgments: A Practical Compliance Option.”

The article discusses code aspects regarding fire-safe construction and engineering judgments, and their use as a practical tool that can assist designers and building officials with assessing the compliance of exterior wall assemblies with the acceptance criteria of NFPA 285.

Click here to read full article

FREE CEU Webinar...Don't miss out!

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AIA Course Number: WRX08A

GBCI Course ID: 0920017060

Sponsored By: Rmax

Presented By: Matthew Stevens, CSI, CDT

Matthew Stevens, CSI, CDT, received his Master’s degree in Architecture from Texas Tech University and has over 20 years in the building industry. His experience includes architectural design, construction, consulting, training and development roles. As the Commercial Envelope Specialist for Rmax, he works directly with architects and contractors to select the optimal insulation for their projects while meeting applicable building codes. Matthew is an active member that serves on the boards of several CSI and BEC chapters in Texas.