About Polyiso Insulation

Polyiso is one of the Nation’s most widely-used and cost-effective insulation products and has been cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its responsible impact on the environment. Polyiso is a closed-cell, rigid foam board insulation used primarily on the roofs of offices, health facilities, warehouses, retail and industrial manufacturing facilities and educational institutions. Because of its high thermal performance in the home building market, it is product of choice for energy-aware homebuilders and consumers.

Click on image for larger view.

Its many attributes include:

• Highest R-value per inch of thickness
• Moisture resistant, water repellent panel
• Resistant to solvents used in construction adhesives
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Superior performance in fire tests – polyiso meets the strict standard of both FM Class Approvals 1 (FM 4450) and UL 1256
• Service temperature range from -100F to +250F
• Long Term R-value (only roof insulation with third party certification)
• Recycled content
• Zero ozone depletion potential
• Virtually no global warming potential
• Nationwide availability

Polyiso Cavity Wall Insulation

Commercial buildings require a “cavity wall” of air space and insulation to provide protection from weather and fire. Since the required thickness of insulation affects the cost of construction, more and more builders and architects are choosing polyiso cavity wall insulation because of its superior R-value.

Foil-faced polyiso insulation has the highest R-value per inch so the design U-value of the cavity wall system can be achieved with minimum thickness allowing the overall footprint of the building to decrease thereby considerably reducing the cost of construction. The thickness of the polyiso insulation required due to its excellent R-value allows increased air space between the inner and outer wythes allowing the cavity to function at a higher level to more efficiently remove water to the outside. The foil-face on the polyiso insulation is an impermeable material which enhances long term thermal performance.

Polyiso Sheathing Insulation

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling costs comprise more than 44% of the energy consumed in a single family home. As many design professionals are well aware, choosing energy-efficient insulation can be one of the most effective ways to save energy and money.

Click on image for larger view.

Typically, polyiso insulation is used to insulate the entire wall (including the framing, which accounts for at least 20% of the total wall area and often is uninsulated), thereby significantly reducing heat loss through both convection and conduction. Additionally, properly insulating a structure with polyiso can decrease condensation in the walls, potentially lowering moisture-related problems.

When properly specified and installed, polyiso sheathing insulation can be one of the best values available for residential construction. Its benefits can include:

• A residential wall system with a high R-value-increasing the energy efficiency of the home and significantly reducing heat loss.
• A reduction in air infiltration and exfiltration-increasing the overall performance of the wall and reducing heat loss.
• A reduction in the risk of water condensation/intrusion-increasing thermal and structural performance and reducing builder call backs.
• Insulation over the entire framing members reduces the loss of energy from the home.
• Increased home builder confidence with an assurance that the builder is providing a quality product.
• Increased home buyer/owner confidence-assurance of a quality home with state-of-the-art energy efficient construction techniques.

Third-party studies, conducted since the 1970s on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy Star® Homes Program have consistently concluded that energy-efficient homes earn a higher resale price than average homes. These dwellings are also less expensive to heat and cool.