When it comes to construction of metal buildings, the selection of insulation in metal buildings cannot be understated. The reason is, efficient insulation improves energy efficiency and offers structural durability for buildings, but especially for metal ones.
And although a variety of options exists for insulation, one of the best options is metal building insulation panels.
When Are Metal Building Insulation Panels Used?
Metal buildings are known for their strength, but they have very little resistance to heat transfer. As such, metal building insulation panels are designed to help regulate the interior temperatures of metal buildings and can be found within metal commercial and industrial buildings.
Benefits of Insulating Metal Buildings
Insulation is more than just a requirement to meet building codes. Proper insulation leads to a building's greater energy efficiency, more comfortable interior, and increased reliability.
Energy Efficiency
The most common reason to insulate a commercial building is for increased energy efficiency. Insulation in a building's exterior walls slows the flow of heat into or out of the building. Slowing the flow of heat means the building's HVAC system does not have to work as hard to keep the temperature in the building comfortable.
With metal buildings, insulation is incredibly important because of metal’s great ability to conduct heat. Without insulation, it is very hard to keep a metal building’s interior at a different temperature from its exterior. Continuous insulation panels on a metal building’s exterior provide the ideal setup for metal building insulation by essentially wrapping the metal building in a blanket of insulation.
Increased Occupant Comfort
Insulation makes a building more comfortable to occupy in two main ways: more uniform temperatures and decreased noise. Having superior insulation in a building's exterior walls keeps the temperature consistent throughout the building and minimizes hot and cold spots. This uniformity in temperature keeps the HVAC system from having to work as hard too.
In addition to better thermal comfort, metal buildings have less noise when properly insulated. Without insulation, metal buildings can be notoriously noisy, with loud sounds echoing throughout. Insulation in a metal building’s exterior walls both muffles sounds from outside and dampens sounds from inside. Overall, building occupants are more comfortable inside well-insulated metal buildings.
Lower Maintenance
Moisture damage can wreak havoc on a metal building’s walls, slowly deteriorating them over time. Without insulation, water vapor inside a metal building can condense on the metal building’s interior walls. As that water condenses and pools, it can cause corrosion and deterioration to parts of the metal wall. Over time, this deterioration can become quite serious and expensive. Insulation prevents this type of condensation from occurring by keeping the metal building’s interior walls from getting too cold.
Where Should Metal Building Insulation Panels Be Used?
Metal building insulation panels should be used specifically in warehouses, industrial facilities, and agricultural buildings—those that are usually constructed out of metal.
However, because all these buildings have different purposes and can be constructed differently, it’s important to consider the environmental conditions, intended usage, and thermal requirements of the building before choosing an insulation.
Spray-foam Insulation vs. Rigid Insulation Panels For Metal Building Insulation
Two of the most common types of insulation for metal buildings are spray-foam and rigid panel insulation. Both types are meant to slow down the flow of heat into or out of a building, but each have their own pros and cons.
Spray-foam Insulation
Unlike rigid panels, blown-in insulation is loose and is blown into walls or ceilings using special machinery. The operator must be careful to ensure insulation is spread evenly and areas are not missed. The insulation is loose, and it cannot be faced, so components like vapor barriers have to be installed before blowing in the insulation. One of the benefits of blown-in insulation is that it can be easier to get insulation into hard-to-reach areas.
Rigid Panels
Rigid insulation panels are produced in sheets or boards that are strong and sturdy. The boards or panels can support their own weight and are easily installed into a wall or roof assembly. Rigid panels, however, often have built-in facers on one or both sides of the panel. These facers provide added benefits like increased insulation effectiveness, air barriers, and vapor barriers.
Types of Metal Building Insulation Panels
Here are some of the most common types insulation panels used in metal buildings:
Fiberglass Insulation Panels
Fiberglass panels are known for their thermal efficiency and cost-effectiveness. They offer a decent amount of insulation and are commonly used in various applications. However, there are several disadvantages to using fiberglass insulation panels that do not traditionally come with other insulation options.
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation Panels
XPS has a similar chemical makeup to EPS but is produced in a different way. With a slightly higher R-value, XPS is a better insulator than EPS. XPS is stronger than EPS and also comes in faced varieties. While XPS is better suited for metal buildings than EPS, XPS is made from a blowing agent with a very high global warming potential making it more impactful to the environment.
Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) Insulation panels
Polyiso has a superior R-value of over R-6 per inch. It is durable, lightweight, and easy to work with. Polyiso is a better insulator, a stronger material, and has less harmful impacts on the environment. When insulating a metal building, it is hard to beat the benefits of polyiso.
Which Type of Metal Building Insulation Panels Are the Most Effective?
The effectiveness of metal building insulation panels varies on factors like R-value, moisture resistance, ease of installation, and long-term performance. Each of these aspects can impact the performance of the building throughout its life.
Comparative analysis reveals that Polyiso insulation surpasses traditional options in terms of thermal efficiency, moisture resistance, and sustainable performance.
Benefits of Polyiso Insulation
Polyiso packs a huge punch as a material for metal building insulation panels. Here’s why:
Thermal Performance
Polyiso insulation offers high R-values for energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Polyiso has a higher R-value per inch than most alternatives meaning less Polyiso is required to achieve the same insulation rating as other insulation methods.
Moisture Resistance
By preventing condensation, Polyiso helps extend the longevity of metal buildings and reduces the likelihood of structural damage from moisture. Polyiso is also resistant to mold and mildew growth.
Environmental Sustainability
Made from eco-friendly materials, recyclable, and aligned with green building practices, Polyiso is a great tool for a more sustainable future.
Versatility and Durability
Polyiso is adaptable to various applications and ensures long-term performance. Polyiso can be used in below-grade applications or as part of a continuous insulation assembly which showcases how versatile the material can be.
Rmax: The Polyiso Experts
Rmax, a trusted manufacturer of Polyiso insulation, offers a range of products tailored for different construction needs. Whether for residential homes or large commercial projects, Rmax has a Polyiso solution tailored for that application. Polyiso’s versatility and Rmax’s innovation means there is always a solution for any building insulation need.
The choice of insulation material significantly impacts the efficiency and longevity of metal buildings. While traditional metal building insulation panels offer viable solutions, Polyiso insulation emerges as the superior alternative with its enhanced thermal performance, moisture resistance, sustainability, and durability. Architects, engineers, and builders seeking optimal building solutions should consider Polyiso insulation for their projects and explore the diverse range of Polyiso products offered by Rmax.
Choosing Rmax, The Best Metal Building Insulation
Rmax polyiso keeps metal buildings energy efficient, occupants comfortable, and structures reliable for years to come. When selecting the most effective insulation panels for a metal building, choose Rmax polyiso.
To learn more about why Rmax polyiso is the best choice for metal buildings, reach out to our insulation experts today.