Why Continuous Insulation is Important

Sep 12, 2019 | Continuous Rigid Insulation, Featured

Introduction to Continuous Insulation

Continuous insulation is the concept of using specialized products to improve the thermal containment of buildings, which helps them meet energy codes. Standards exist for both residential and commercial buildings, and it would seem straightforward to simply cover all gaps with enough insulation. Indeed, this is a requirement most builders would consider common sense. There are more factors to consider than just the obvious concerns over how much space to cover, though. The purpose of this blog post is to provide a concise explanation of continuous insulation for those who are unfamiliar with the concept, as well as provide a refresher on the technicalities to experienced builders. For specific details, reference TSN’s white paper on energy codes and CI.

Importance of Continuous Insulation

CI is a requirement put forth by the powers that define a well-insulated structure. Effective insulation is more than a requirement however, as there are numerous inherent benefits of a tightly-sealed building envelope:

  • Reduces heat loss caused by thermal bridging, thus increasing the energy efficiency of the building. Spaces stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
  • Protects against intruding water and the erosion of support structures, extending the building’s lifetime.
  • Prolongs the durability of steel parts by reducing the temperature differentials within stud cavities.

Essentially, CI improves a building’s design by both increasing the longevity of the structure as well as making it more energy-efficient. Together these result in money savings, particularly in the long term. Moreover, porous insulation and mold present serious health risks are which can be drastically mitigated by CI. It can not only serve as a selling point to catch the attention of energy or money-conscious buyers but also imperative for contractors looking to avoid potential liability down the road.

Intuitively, the degree which a building must be insulated is largely determined by the climate the construction takes place in. The milder the climate, the less insulation coverage is considered necessary.

Achieving Continuous Insulation

In the simplest terms, the purpose of continuous insulation is preventing thermal energy from entering or escaping a building. Objects or surfaces between insulating materials with a higher thermal conductivity than adjacent surfaces are known as thermal bridges. These bridges create a path of least resistance for heat transfers, reducing the overall thermal resistance of the building. Ideally, thermal bridges will be identified and eliminated in the original construction of the building to maintain CI, but often they are not, and measures must be taken to remove them. Objects that are known to cause thermal bridging such as studs made of steel and wood should be visually inspected. Once thermal bridges have been identified, builders can apply one or a combination of measures to eliminate them:

  • Specialized fasteners, washers, and anchoring systems made of non-conductive materials can be used to fasten insulation and reduce thermal conductivity. These components attach to rigid insulation to tighten the “air barrier” reducing leaks in the building’s envelope.
  • Water-resistive barriers, or WRBs, are installed between the studs and the siding to prevent moisture damage. One such example is flashing, a material that is installed onto specific objects like chimneys, vents, and windows that are susceptible to water penetration.
  • Adhesives like tapes, sealants, coatings, and polyurethane foam come in varying forms of flexible matter, which can be deployed with precision into at-risk spaces. These materials can form both water and air resistant seals in tighter spaces where fibrous insulation isn’t feasible.
  • Board stock materials are usually a form of hardened plastic foam that attaches outside a building’s framing, adding an extra layer and filling any gaps left by the insulation materials installed between the studs.

In addition to the various attachment systems presented here, there exist many opportunities for engineered approaches and adaptations of existing systems. One such system is The Steel Network’s (TSN) ThermaFast® Continuous Rigid Insulation Framing. As a pre-engineered system, it is designed to handle the loads required by many cladding types such as brick, stone, and any lighter cladding type. The framing has numerous depths ranging from 1-4”, to meet a building’s varying insulation needs. On the ThermaFast track components, there is a continuous strip of 1” thermal tape, reducing the thermal conductivity of the connection, thus minimizing its function as a thermal bridge. Different installations require a different amount of insulation—a table of R-values is available on TSN’s website.

External Links

*You are reading the blog version of this article. Click Here for the Whitepaper.

Request a Design Assist:

[contact-form-7 id="4708" title="Custom Clip Design"]