Warehousing in the U.S. is growing rapidly with an estimated 330M square feet of new warehouse space needed by 2025 just to keep up with demand.
Warehouses provide flexible space for businesses to operate in a variety of different ways. With their demand growing, building warehouses efficiently will become increasingly important. Understanding the importance of insulation is the first step toward building an efficient, long-lasting metal warehouse.
Typical Warehouse Construction
Warehouses are designed to be built quickly and to allow for flexible usage of the enclosed space. Warehouse design stays pretty simple, often with just four walls and a high roof. The walls are typically made from sheet metal mounted to steel I-beam flanges to create a large, enclosed open space that can be used for many different purposes.
Why is Insulation Important?
Insulation is an unseen yet critically important feature of any structure, whether residential, commercial, industrial, or warehouses. Let’s look at some of the features that not only make insulation critical but inform why focusing on insulation is one of the most important things a builder can do.
Energy Efficiency
Energy usage in large warehouses is incredibly important and can be very wasteful if the warehouse is not very efficient. Without effective insulation, the warehouse can be uncomfortable to work in or the energy bills will be incredibly high from trying to maintain a comfortable environment. If builders decide to go cheap on insulation materials and installation, the effects could be financially catastrophic.
Think about a 50,000 sq ft warehouse that needs some measure of climate control. Non-exceptional installation of average or sub-par insulation could amount to a massive energy bill over time, cutting hard into the bottom line of the warehouse. As most all warehouses are a part, or the core, of commercial endeavors, burning financial resources for the life of the building because insulation was underappreciated during construction could add up to a severe thorn in the company's side.
And energy efficiency isn’t insulation’s only task:
Moisture Issues
Condensation occurs when a surface is cooled below the dewpoint of the air. In colder environments without insulation, the inside of the metal walls can cool down below the dewpoint of the air in the warehouse and liquid water will form on the wall. The water will pool and drip down the wall and, over time, can cause corrosion, mold growth, and structural issues for the warehouse.
Rodent Protection
Another benefit insulation provides is protection from rodents and other pests. Insulation blocks pathways that these critters can use to get into a warehouse and cause havoc. Well-installed insulation will keep bugs and rodents out, protecting not only the product in the warehouse but the warehouse itself.
Ways to Insulate a Warehouse
Many options exist for insulating warehouses and many buildings use a combination of options to achieve the desired finished result. Insulation materials have R-values which measure the ability of the material to block the flow of heat. The higher a material’s R-value, the better it is at insulating. Here are some of the most popular:
Fiberglass
One of the most widely used insulation types, fiberglass batt insulation goes into a warehouse’s wall cavities between the studs. While it has a lower R-value usually between 2.9 and 4.3 per inch, fiberglass is usually applied in batts a few inches thick.
Spray Foam
Another easy-to-apply option is spray foam which is applied throughout the interior of the warehouse. Spray foam expands when it contacts the warehouse walls and fills any existing cracks or gaps. Spray foam makes an excellent air barrier and has an R-value of between 3.7 and 6.5 per inch.
Aerogel
Often seen in cold storage warehouses, aerogel packs an impressive R-value of 10 to 20 per inch. Aerogel is also lightweight and environmentally friendly but it can be expensive.
Continuous Insulation
Cavity, or internal insulation, is applied inside the warehouse between the studs, and continuous insulation is typically applied to a warehouse’s exterior. The benefit of continuous insulation is the unbroken plane of insulation that surrounds the entire warehouse. A warehouse’s studs and girts provide easy pathways for heat to “leak” around internal insulation. With continuous insulation, the warehouse is much more energy efficient.
Polyiso: The Best Warehouse Insulation
When it comes to warehouse insulation, polyisocyanurate (polyiso) is hard to beat. Polyiso mixes strength, thermal performance, and competitive cost into one product that is easily applied as a layer of external, continuous insulation.
Here are some of the many benefits of polyiso foam insulation:
High R-value per inch compared to other insulation products used in commercial and residential construction
An exclusive third-party thermal performance certification
Outstanding installed cost advantages and economical cost per R-value
The ability to achieve today’s code required R-values while minimizing space, material, and labor requirements without breaking the bank
Excellent performance in fire tests
Ease of use and peace of mind, as Polyiso products are designed for use in an expansive assortment of tested, approved, and code-compliant applications.
Polyiso is stable over a large temperature range (-100°F to +250°F) and can be used as a component in roof systems utilizing hot asphalt.
Polyiso has low density, good adhesion to facers, low water absorption, and low vapor transmission
Polyiso is not affected by oil-based waterproofing compounds, insecticides, or fertilizers when properly protected
Utilize the Best Polyiso Insulation Has to Offer with Rmax
Rmax is changing the game by engineering superior-performance polyiso insulation for warehouse walls. Rmax polyiso keeps warehouses energy efficient and comfortable for many years to come, positively impacting the bottom line and allowing businesses to reach their full potential.
To learn more about why Rmax polyiso is the right choice for your warehouse, reach out to our team today.