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HOT TOPIC Codes and standards look set to improve consistency and boost insulation's thermal performance by Godfrey Budd T he growing demand for better thermal performance of the building envelope over the past few years has affected the insulation sector in a number of ways. Besides the development of new products and systems, building technology organizations, like ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers), are advocating higher R-values. There has also been increasing focus placed on the need for continuous insulation, partly by minimizing the presence of thermal bridges. For instance, ASHRAE's minimum above-deck roof insulation R-value requirements for commercial buildings, residential buildings higher than three storeys and semiconditioned industrial structures like warehouses in northern Ontario and most regions of the Prairie provinces rose from R-15 in 2004 (ASHRAE 90.1) to R-35 in 2009 (ASHRAE 189.1). The ASHRAE Climate Zones Map also indicates that in warmer regions, like southern Ontario, parts of B.C. and southern Alberta, the recommended R-value increased from R-15 in 2004 to R-30 in 2009. "More owners today are concerned with R-value. It's the easiest way to green a building and save operating dollars. But with low R-values, heating and air-conditioning can cost a lot more," says Tige Johnston, international market manager at Firestone Building Products. The range of initiatives in the sector also includes exploring the potential of facers in optimizing insulation products and systems. "Some are better for higher R-values, others for resistance to mould," says Johnston. Also, in selecting the most suitable facer, various factors must be considered – from the type of roofing system being installed to the amount of height or distance from the deck to the roof. Improving the installation process is often a consideration. Easier installation of an envelope component like insulation can reduce the frequency of mistakes and helps to ensure better thermal performance of the overall envelope. An insulation product that was introduced about 18 months ago has been designed to save the installer time and labour, and provide energy-efficient insulation. Called ISOGARD HD Composite, it consists of a half-inch of ISOGARD HD (high-density) cover board laminated directly to Firestone's standard ISO 95+ GL polyisocyanurate insulation. "Using the (ISOGARD HD) composite, it helps the installer use fewer series of offsets as he staggers the layers of roof insulation," says Ben Bilz, Western Canada sales manager at Firestone. Another recently launched product, in this case the Cascadia Clip, appears to be well and truly hitting its stride in the success stakes. "It's being used in all parts of Canada and now accounts for about 25 per cent of our business," says Mike Battistel, VP operations at Cascadia Windows & Doors. The Cascadia Clip, which is made of fibreglass, is a cladding support system for exterior insulated wall assemblies (but not EIFS). It separates steel girts from the back-up wall to avoid thermal bridging and the associated reduced thermal performance of the envelope. "Engineering firms have done modelling on the clip versus steel girt systems. All of them conclude that it doubles the effective R-value, compared to conventional steel [girt] systems that reduced a nominal R-20 to less than R-10 for the whole wall using conventional steel girts," Battistel says. The clip was used in an envelope retrofit that started last year, for a 13-storey residential building in Vancouver called The Belmont. The project followed a whole building systems approach with a cost payback analysis for each energy-efficiency measure applied. It is estimated that the need for electric baseboard heating would be almost entirely eliminated and that it would reduce total building suite heating costs from $18,000 to $2,000 per year. "The Belmont is part of a larger study to see if these retrofits and energy upgrades pan out as forecast," Battistel says. Cladding support components that include a thermal break could be set for considerable success, especially in light of the testimonial letters that the Cascadia Clip has been getting. Battistel explains that one testimonial from Sean K. Scott, senior project architect with SERA Architects in Portland, Oregon, says, "The Clips provided an effective thermal resistance of R-14 with only 3.5 inches of insulation. In contrast, a conventional steel support with the same amount of insulation would only have been around R-7 effective." In the project referenced by Scott, the clip actually saved money in reaching the mandatory performance level because less insulation material and labour were required. PUCC insulation board from DuRock Alfacing International is another product that has been charting success, in this case, in the EIFS sector. "PUCCs are one of our top-selling systems in Canada. They are suitable for all types of buildings, for both retrofits and new construction," says Jonathan Ursini, in charge of business development at DuRock. PUCC insulation board has drainage pathways cut into the insulation. "The geometrically-designed drainage cavity includes a 10-mm air space on the back side of the panel," Ursini says. The development of formal standards for EIFS, which have been in the works for several years, should help the sector as a whole and make life easier for manufacturers, says John Garbin, president and CEO Photo: To ensure a comfortable interior climate the building envelope features insulated concrete form walls and a spray-foam insulated roof. The Carling Residence, Northern Muskoka, Ontario. Tact Architecture Inc. Photographer: Terence Tourangeau Insulation p12-17Insulation.indd 13 october 2013    /13 13-09-13 3:33 PM

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