building envelope

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

Foundation Wall Insulation

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.  

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.


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


Sponsored By: Rmax

Presented By: Matt Stevens


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.




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.


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


Sponsored By: Rmax

Presented By: Matt Stevens


MattStevens.jpg

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!


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.

Codes, Standards & Performance...

Continuous Insulation Performance: Today’s Codes and Standards Achieve Energy Efficiency and Fire Performance.

Posted By PIMA

Building occupant safety is always a top priority and can be harmoniously incorporated into building designs that strive to meet elevated targets for other performance attributes, including energy efficiency.

A recent article by PIMA’s Marcin Pazera in Construction Specifier highlights the fire-safety measures required by today’s building codes (e.g. fire suppression systems, building egress requirements, fire-resistive assemblies, and construction material fire test standards) and the tools professionals can use to achieve a balanced approach to fire safety and energy efficiency in buildings.

The intersection of fire safety and energy efficiency within exterior walls of commercial buildings is a topic that is receiving well-deserved attention. Incorporating polyiso continuous insulation in the design for commercial walls can help design professionals achieve these twin goals. In his article, Mr. Pazera explains how today’s building codes use performance-based testing to establish minimum criteria for the fire performance of wall assemblies. In particular, the article highlights the compliance requirements for NFPA 285 – Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components – under the International Building Code.

You can read the article here.