California Building Code Insulation Requirements

When it comes to building codes across the nation, California’s Title 24 can be some of the most thorough. Understanding California’s building codes is key to an efficient construction project that will be fully code-compliant and will pass inspection and commissioning. Learn more about California’s building code requirements for insulation so you will be prepared.

What is Title 24?

Most discussions concerning the California building code start by mentioning Title 24. Used as the basis for construction in California, the California Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are designed to ensure new and existing buildings achieve energy efficiency and preserve outdoor and indoor environmental quality. Title 24 applies to the construction of, additions and alterations to, residential and nonresidential buildings except for jails and prisons. This progressive set of building codes and standards often leads the nation in requirements for energy efficiency.

How Did Title 24 Start?

The Warren-Alquist Act established the California Energy Commission (CEC) in 1974, which ultimately developed and adopted the energy efficiency standards that became Title 24. The codes are updated over time, typically every three years, to incorporate new energy efficiency technologies and construction methods. 

Title 24 Requirements

Almost all construction in California must adhere to the requirements laid out in Title 24. A lack of knowledge of the standards does not qualify as an excuse for not adhering to them and will result in delays and increased costs on construction projects. Certain requirements or measures within Title 24 are either mandatory or prescriptive.

Mandatory Requirements

These requirements must always be met for a construction project. They can not be traded off. These requirements set the baseline for construction in the state of California.

Prescriptive Requirements

The predefined efficiency requirements may supersede mandatory requirements. The requirements can be different for new construction, additions, and alterations. Prescriptive requirements allow for more flexibility.

Two Paths for Compliance

Seeking compliance under Title 24 offers two common approaches: the prescriptive approach and the performance approach.

Prescriptive Approach

Most common for alterations and non-residential construction projects, this approach is very simple. The prescriptive approach allows for no trade-offs. The construction project must match the standard building baseline.

Performance Approach

A much more flexible approach, the performance approach does allow for trade-offs. All mandatory requirements must still be met and CEC-approved software must be used in the design process. Homes and buildings designed under the performance approach must have lower energy design ratings than the standard building design, meaning they must be more energy efficient than the standard building.

Title 24 and Insulation

Insulation plays an important role in Title 24 due to the impact insulation has on an overall building’s energy efficiency. Title 24 sets the minimum amounts of insulation in terms of U-factor. The U-factor is a measure of the heat transmission through a given thickness of material. The U-factor is simply the inverse of the R-value (1/R).

Mandatory Requirements for Insulation

All insulation must be certified to California Quality Standards for Insulation Materials by the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Certain insulation materials are not allowed in California that are allowed in other parts of the U.S. Foam insulation made from formaldehyde is restricted under Title 24. Fire retardants must all be exposed on surfaces and installed according to code.

Roof and Ceiling Insulation

Title 24 requires that insulation be placed in direct contact with the infiltration barrier. If using a ventilated attic design, this makes the ceiling drywall the infiltration barrier. 

When insulation is at the roof, no openings or vents into the unconditioned space are allowed between the ceiling and roof. The maximum U-factors listed in Title 24 for roof and ceiling assemblies are:

• Roof and ceiling - metal building: 0.098

• Roof and ceiling - wood framed and other: 0.075

Wall Insulation

The insulation requirements for wall assemblies are included in Title 24 as well. The maximum U-factors allowed for walls under the mandatory requirements are:

• Walls - metal buildings - 0.113

• Walls - metal-framed walls - 0.151

• Walls - heavy mass walls - 0.690

• Walls - light mass walls - 0.440

• Walls - wood-framed walls and other - 0.110

Rmax’s Polyiso Insulation and Title 24

When building in California, using the right products makes achieving compliance a much simpler process. Products like the Rmax Durasheath® building envelope insulation are not only compliant under the California Code of Regulations, but also provide sufficient R-values to satisfy Title 24. Rmax polyiso products are designed as easy to work with rigid foam boards.

Other Rmax products that comply with the California Code of Regulations include:

• Rmax ECOMAXci® 

• Rmax ECOMAXci® FR Air Barrier 

• Rmax ECOMAXci® Ply 

• EVOMAXci

• Rmax® Pro Select Polyiso

• Rmax ThermaBase-CI™

• Rmax Thermasheath®

• Rmax Thermasheath®-SI

• Rmax TSP®

• Rmax TSX-8510

To learn more about why Rmax polyiso products should be your first choice when building in California, reach out to their team of specialists today!

The Best Insulation for Exterior Walls

Insulation in commercial exterior walls is key to a building's energy efficiency, longevity, and comfort. Choosing the right type of insulation can save money and result in a better overall building. Keep reading to learn more about the best types of insulation for commercial exterior walls. 

The Importance of Insulation

Insulation has a multitude of benefits for a building including higher energy efficiency. While proper insulation reduces a building’s heating and cooling loads (and therefore the energy bill), insulation also makes a building more durable and occupants happier.

Building Reliability

Proper insulation installation results in a wall structure with little leakage and low thermal conductivity. Inferior insulation not only wastes energy but can reduce the reliability of the entire wall assembly. 

Condensation can form inside the wall of exterior commercial walls with insufficient or improperly installed insulation. This condensation can lead to rot or deterioration that reduces the life of the building and can be costly to repair. This damage is often hard to detect too, making repairs more expensive when the problem is finally discovered.

Well-installed insulation also helps to keep critters and pests out. When wall assemblies are properly installed with insulation, it is much harder for pests to make their way through holes and openings into the building. Pests in walls can do as much or more damage than condensation.

Occupant Comfort 

Keeping a building's occupants comfortable is key to keeping them happy and productive. Insulation not only reduces the amount of energy a building uses to control the temperature, but also keeps the temperature consistent throughout the building. Reducing hot and cold spots makes the entire building more pleasant to occupy and reduces the load on the building’s HVAC system. 

Another benefit of commercial exterior insulation is the reduction in noise. External noise has a harder time passing through exterior walls with Insulation. Sounds from inside the building are also dampened due to the insulation.

Energy Efficiency

The primary reason for insulation in commercial exterior walls is to reduce the amount of energy a building consumes. Keeping the interior of a building at a different temperature than the outside requires energy to move that heat around. Without insulation, the heat will flow right back into or out of the building. Insulation helps to slow this flow of heat and reduce the amount of energy the HVAC system consumes.

What Are the Most Common Types of Insulation?

Many different types of insulation are available on the market. Choosing the right insulation for a commercial exterior wall depends on price, desired performance, and the type of building where the insulation will be used. Some of the most common types of insulation are:

Spray Foam

Different from many of the other types of insulation available, spray foam uses specialized equipment to spray a layer of high-performance foam directly onto the building’s interior surfaces. The foam is very sticky and expands on contact with the walls and roof surfaces. As the foam expands and hardens, a high R-value foam is left behind. The foam is waterproof, mold-resistant, and great at filling air gaps as it expands and hardens.

Fiberglass Board

One of the most popular options for commercial buildings, fiberglass boards are made by stacking together many layers of fiberglass and compressing them into a board shape. These boards are installed in wall cavities and provide a decent level of thermal performance.

Fiberglass Blanket

Instead of coming as a rigid board, fiberglass is also available in blanket or batt insulation. Often sandwiched between pieces of cardboard, the blanket is made from many layers of fiberglass. The fiberglass does not provide much structural support, so installation can be more difficult, but it is a very economical choice. Because fiberglass blankets tend to droop, one potential concern is that over time the blankets will shift and the R-value of the building’s walls will decrease over time.

Rock Wool

Made from high-density mineral wool, rock wool insulation is routinely used to insulate small spaces and high-temperature pipes. Rock wool is often added to boost insulation in certain areas. Another benefit of rock wool is that it helps to dampen sounds acoustically, and makes spaces more enjoyable to occupy.

Loose-Fill Insulation

For covering a large area with insulation in a short amount of time, blown-in or loose-fill insulation is hard to beat. Specialized equipment is used to blow the insulation into the space. The insulation is made from cellulose or fiberglass and can cover hard-to-reach areas quickly and effectively.

Rmax Polyiso, the Superior Choice

While many of the insulation types discussed have unique features, Rmax polyiso is an industry leader for a reason. Rmax polyiso boasts an impressive R-value per inch over 6, meaning less insulation is needed for a commercial building to hit the required R-value. Rmax polyiso is strong, lightweight, and easy to use making it an easy choice for commercial exterior walls. 

To learn more about Rmax polyiso, reach out to our team today.

Can Polyiso be Used for Exterior Wall Insulation Boards?

For more than 35 years, Rmax has been creating insulation solutions based on the latest building science. Our full line of high-quality, polyiso-based wall and specialty insulation products for commercial, residential, and industrial applications deliver maximum R-values and minimum environmental impact with efficiency in installation, cost, and design.

Rmax insulation has been designed and tested to provide building envelopes with superior insulating protection while meeting the newest codes and requirements. Rmax products are leaders in both performance and environmental sustainability. Rmax offers polyiso products to meet the needs of any application.

Rmax’s engineered products and solutions allow for ultimate efficiency through multiple design options, ease of construction, and reduced energy usage. This leads to a better building envelope while adding to the bottom-line through both material and labor savings - making Rmax an excellent choice for commercial and residential applications. Whatever the application, Rmax is there to deliver performance and quality!

Leaders in Continuous Insulation

Continuous insulation (CI), as defined by ASHRAE 90.1, is:

“Insulation that is uncompressed and continuous across all structural members without thermal bridges other than fasteners and service openings. It is installed on the interior, exterior, or is integral to any opaque surface of the building envelope.”

Instead of cavity insulation that fills the voids between studs, continuous insulation wraps the exterior of a building in a continuous layer of insulation that covers any “holes” where heat could have otherwise leaked through the building envelope.

Increased desires for energy efficiency and overall better building practices have pushed standards to require CI in more applications. Rmax polyiso can meet the increased material requirements needed in a continuous insulation product. High dimensional stability, resistance to chemicals and mold, and facers that provide built-in air and vapor barriers are just some of the features that make Rmax polyiso exceptional. As leaders in creating insulation based solutions, Rmax is on the forefront of delivering insulation to meet new and varied needs.

Polyiso’s Evolution

Once a product used almost exclusively in wall construction, polyiso has evolved into a product with attributes that allow it to be applied to a variety of different applications.

Originally made using ozone depleting blowing agents, polyiso has continued to evolve and improve in both performance and environmental sustainability. Now produced with a high percentage of recycled materials, Rmax polyiso is a green solution for building projects.

Polyiso is not just a green solution during manufacturing. The benefits continue for the life of the insulation. Because of polyiso’s incredible thermal performance, Rmax polyiso reduces the energy consumption of buildings where it is used for the life of the building. This decrease in energy usage is just another part of polyiso’s green lifecycle.

Fire and Water

Part of what makes Rmax polyiso special is the characteristics the insulation panels have outside of their thermal performance. Rmax polyiso can take on both water and fire. With properly treated joints, polyiso panels can function as a water-resistive barrier that results in labor savings and a tighter building envelope. Polyiso can withstand moisture exposure without being damaged or losing its performance characteristics which sets it apart from many other insulation types.

An interesting phenomenon occurs when Rmax polyiso is exposed to fire. Instead of melting like other insulation types, Rmax polyiso chars and hardens. Unlike other insulation types, Rmax polyiso does not require a tradeoff between energy efficiency and building safety. With Rmax polyiso, you get the best of both worlds.

The Rmax Polyiso Advantage

When used in wall assemblies, polyiso brings great advantages to building construction. With great strength and dimensional stability, Rmax polyiso is easy to work with and installation is a breeze. Built-in facers also allow Rmax polyiso to be easily tailored to the application where it is being used.

Common construction applications for Rmax polyiso include:

• Stud walls

• Cavity walls

• Masonry walls

• Exterior stucco

• Re-siding

• Vaulted-ceilings

• Attics and crawl spaces

• Limited roofing

With all of the certifications and ratings that come with Rmax polyiso, you can rest assured that the polyiso will be up to the test no matter how it is used.

Some compliances of Rmax polyiso:

• ASTM C1289 Type II, Class 2

• ASHRAE 90.1

• International Building Code (IBC) Section 2603, Foam Plastic

• DrJ 2202-02

• California Code of Regulations, Title 24 (BHFTI License T1523)

• Tested per NFPA 286 (ICC-ES AC12 Appendix B)

• Tested per NFPA 285 to comply with IBC Section 2603.5.51

• 1, 2, 3 or 4-hour Fire Rated Assemblies as shown in the UL Fire Resistance Directory.

Top Rmax Products and Their Applications

DURASHEATH® - continuous insulation for exterior walls.

ECOMAXCI® FR (REPLACES TSX-8500) - commercial exposed wall/ceiling applications.

ECOMAXCI® FR AIR BARRIER (replaces ECOMAXCI®) - continuous insulation for commercial exterior walls and use with the ECOMAXCI® wall solution.

ECOMAXCI® FR PLY - fir resistant continuous insulation for cladding attachments in commercial exterior walls.

ECOMAXCI® PLY (REPLACES ECOBASECI™) - continuous insulation for cladding attachments in commercial exterior walls.

EVOMAXCI™ - continuous insulation for use with the evo architectural panel system.

R-MATTE® PLUS-3 - a SIKA® residential insulation for wall/ceiling multi-applications. Available at local big box retail locations. 

THERMABASE-CI™ - structural continuous insulation for cladding attachments in residential exterior walls.

THERMASHEATH® - commercial or residential wall/ceiling applications.

THERMASHEATH®-SI - structural insulation for residential exterior walls

TSP® - durable glass fiber reinforced aluminum facers for commercial and residential applications.

TSX-8510 - commercial exposed wall/ceiling applications.

Benefits of Rigid Polyiso Foam Board

As one of the most widely used and readily available building products, Polyiso is a cost-effective insulation option for reducing building energy use and improving the overall service life of roofs and walls.  

What Is Polyiso Insulation?

Polyisocyanurate insulation is a rigid, closed-cell, continuous foam board insulation. The foam in the rigid polyiso boards is pressed together so tightly during manufacturing that air and moisture cannot get through the board when installed. Facers are added to the board to further increase the polyiso board’s performance characteristics. 

What Are the Benefits of Polyiso Insulation?

Polyiso provides many benefits outside of its excellent thermal characteristics:

• High R-value per inch of thickness 

• Excellent fire test performance 

• Extensive building code approvals

• Cost-effective continuous insulation (CI) solution

• Compatible with most wall and roof systems

• Dimensional stability

• Compressive strength

• Moisture resistance

• Thinner walls and roofs with shorter fasteners

• Long service life

• High solvent compatibility

• Compatibility with most solvents used in construction adhesives

• A wide range of service temperatures

• Zero ozone depletion potential 

• Recycled through reuse

• Virtually no global warming potential

• QualityMark™ certified LTTR values

Where Can Polyiso Be Used?

Polyiso is a highly versatile form of insulation that provides superior performance in both roof and wall installations.

Roof Applications

Compatible with nearly any commercial roof system, Rmax polyiso can be used with modified bitumen, metal, built-up, ballasted single-ply, mechanically attached single-ply, and adhered single-ply. Polyiso is used in almost 70% of all commercial roof construction because of its durability and excellent thermal performance.

Wall Applications

Polyiso is a popular choice for wall installations due to its ease of installation, durability, and thermal performance. Rmax polyiso’s integrated air barrier and vapor management layers reduce the labor involved during wall construction while resulting in a better finished building. With fewer thermal breaks, the overall wall’s composite R-value will be higher too. 

Polyiso works great in continuous insulation installations which are increasing in popularity. ASHRAE defines Continuous Insulation (CI) as “insulation that is continuous across all structural members without thermal bridges other than fasteners and service openings. It is installed on the interior, exterior, or is integral to any opaque surface of the building envelope.” As energy efficiency becomes more important and exterior continuous insulation becomes the standard, polyiso will be the insulation of choice for many of those installations.

Common Polyiso Facers

One great aspect of polyiso rigid boards is that they can be easily faced during manufacture to boost their performance. Sandwiched between layers of facing, polyiso becomes a truly high-performance composite material. Some common facer options include:

• Non-asphaltic, fiber-reinforced organic felt facers. Standard facers for roofing, these facers provide long-lasting performance and increase the insulation’s durability, chemical, and mold resistance.

• Foil facers. These facers work to increase the insulation's thermal performance, maintain dimensional stability, and decrease the likelihood of water absorption or water vapor transmission.

Is Polyiso Safe for the Environment?

Polyiso foam is made through a chemical reaction that mixes the components together with a fire retardant, a blowing agent, and small amounts of catalyst. Mixing these compounds together causes a heat-generating reaction to occur which boils the blowing agent, pentane. The boiling of the pentane causes the foam to expand and create gas-filled cells throughout the foam board. These gas-filled cells make polyiso rigid boards lightweight with low thermal conductivity.

One of the reasons pentane is used as the blowing agent for polyiso foam boards is because of its safety. Pentane has no ozone-depletion risk and has very little global-warming potential. In the past, blowing agents were used that damaged the environment, but those have all been replaced with more environmentally-friendly options.

Does Polyiso Have a High R-Value?

Polyiso has a high R-value per inch when compared to other insulation products, see the chart below. This allows Polyiso products to deliver more energy savings potential for buildings than other materials of the same thickness.

R-Value Per Inch Comparison

Polyiso has an R-6.5 and the highest R-value per inch when compared to other insulation.

What is LTTR?

Based on consensus standards in both the U.S. and Canada, Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) is a scientifically-supported method of calculating the 15-year, time-weighted average R-value of roof insulation. All Polyiso manufacturers in the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) have adopted the LTTR method as the exclusive means to measure thermal performance of permeable-faced Polyiso roof insulation. PIMA Polyiso manufacturers have certified LTTR-value products verified by the QualityMark™  Program. 

What is QualityMark™?

The PIMA QualityMark™ Certification program is a voluntary program that allows Polyiso manufacturers to obtain independent, third-party certification for the Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) values of their Polyiso insulation products. Polyiso is the only insulation to be certified by this unique program for its LTTR value. The program is administered by FM Global and was developed by the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) based on work done at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and CAN/ULC- S770. Click here to view the QualityMark™ Brochure.

Easier on the Environment and for Installation

Polyiso boards have superior R-values, so less material is needed to get the same amount of thermal performance when using polyiso. These characteristics make polyiso a better choice throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Easier on Shipping

High-density polyiso boards take up less room, making them easier to ship and move around. Polyiso boards take up less space, they are easier to ship on trucks, store in warehouses, and store on the job site.

Easier on the Job Site

The individual boards weigh less than other insulation types, so boards can be moved around much more easily. Less manpower is needed to move insulation throughout the job site, keeping projects moving ahead on schedule.

Easier on the Building

The significantly lighter weight of rigid polyiso boards lowers the overall weight that the structure itself must bear. Compared to gypsum boards, polyiso reduces the total dead load that the building sees, which can decrease costs from structural loads.

Easier on the Environment

Not only is polyiso now made from blowing agents that do not damage the ozone layer, but the overall global warming potential of polyiso is some of the lowest in the industry. Polyiso’s incredible performance also reduces the amount of energy the building needs to operate for the life of the building. Many of the raw components that go into the rigid boards during manufacture are recycled raw materials that further reduce polyiso’s impact on the environment. Polyiso is gentle on the environment throughout its lifecycle.

Whether for commercial, residential, or specialty construction, Rmax polyiso is ready to meet your application’s needs. High-performance insulation in a building’s roof or walls leads to decades of energy savings while being economical for construction and easy on the environment. Learn more about all Rmax has to offer by reaching out to our team of insulation experts today.

How to Best Insulate a Warehouse

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.

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.