Building codes are pretty clear: if it’s not a 1, 2 or 3 family dwelling then it’s some form of commercial building. But while building codes separate residential from commercial structures the fact is, when it comes to insulation, both residential and commercial structures must satisfy the same requirements. They must be sufficiently air sealed and meet current government standards regarding energy efficiency. There are several methods of insulation that will result in a structure meeting these requirement and in this post we’re going to look at the most effective ones.
Commercial Building Insulation for Different Types of Buildings
When considering commercial building insulation you need to be sure of two things: that the building is properly sealed against air leakage and that the insulation meets current government standards. Here are the most common forms of commercial construction and which types of insulation would be best for each.
Wood
The number of wood framed commercial structures is relatively low because the potential for a nasty failure is greater the larger the wood structure gets. But even with something modest like a 4 storey wood hotel, if there was air leakage or insufficient insulation in the walls and a pipe froze and burst the potential damage both short and long term could be significant. Nonetheless commercial wood structures do get built and for most of them spray foam insulation should be sufficient.
Masonry
Masonry walls made of cinder block, brick or concrete are very durable and strong but do not provide insulation in and of themselves. Insulation must be added after the fact to bring them up to code. This insulation may be added either on the exterior or interior of the masonry wall. While it’s possible to use blanket insulation on a masonry wall spray foam is more common because it’s better at filling cavities and easier to apply.
Metal
Simply put metal buildings are affordable, take less time to build, are extremely versatile and easy to maintain. If they have a drawback it’s that they’re highly conductive. Without a generous layer of insulation the metal wall will allow enormous amounts of cold and heat to pass through to the building’s interior. Vinyl-covered blanket insulation is a common form of commercial building insulation in metal buildings although there are those who prefer polyurethane spray foam. However, if you are truly interested in creating a metal building there is a better way.
Insulated Panel Construction
Metal insulated panels will provide the ironclad strength you want from a metal structure as well as reduced build time and one more thing as well. Because they are prefabricated, single units with superior thermal insulation capabilities built in, there is no need to engage in after-the-fact retrofitting of blanket insulation or messy and expensive spray foam. Simply lock the groove joints together to create an airtight seal that forms a unified thermal envelope around the entire structure.
To learn more about commercial building insulation and the capabilities of Eco-Insulated Panels call us toll free on 1-855-838-9393. We’re here to help.