Building codes and insulation requirements are a front burner issue for builders and contractors across Upstate New York. These requirements are designed to increase energy efficiency and lower utility bills, so it’s important for everyone to understand how they impact insulation systems.
Continuous exterior insulation is a great solution for meeting these demands. Here’s how it works:
ASHRAE 90.1
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 is a comprehensive energy standard for commercial buildings. It is used by most states to ensure that new construction is designed to conserve energy. The standard is updated every three years to reflect advances in energy efficiency technologies and products. ASHRAE 90.1 also provides a variety of options for improving the energy performance of existing buildings.
ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 is the most widely adopted commercial building energy code in the United States. It is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standard, which means that it was developed according to a rigorous process of openness, balance, and consensus. It is co-sponsored by IESNA and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
The latest edition of ASHRAE 90.1 was published in 2016 and contains several significant changes. It includes a new compliance path, called the Performance Rating Method, and a range of technical improvements. These include changes to the building envelope, lighting, and mechanical requirements, as well as new metric and modeling changes.
PNNL created a series of Performance Rating Method Reference Manuals to assist in the design of buildings to comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2016. These references provide consistency and detail to users of the PRM in Appendix G of the standard. These PRM RMs are available for download from PNNL’s website. In addition, ASHRAE 90.1-2016 was referenced in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)-2018 edition as an alternative compliance path. However, the IECC-2018 edition still references older climate zone data for many counties, which could cause a conflict with ASHRAE’s PRM.
NAIMA 202-96
Keeping up with building codes and insulation requirements is essential to staying on top of your industry. Standards like ASHRAE 90.1 and NAIMA 202-96 set the minimum for how well your home or business should be built and can help you stay compliant with local regulations.
NAIMA 202-96 is a resilient, flexible unfaced blanket insulation designed to be laminated with an NFPA 260 vapor retarder facing suited to the specific job application of metal building roof and wall systems. It provides excellent thermal properties that can decrease heating and air conditioning costs. It also has sufficient tensile and bond strength for easy handling by the laminator and contractor.
The insulating performance of NAIMA 202-96 is tested after it is laminated to the facing, and the nominal R-value obtained reflects this testing. The actual R-values achieved in the field depend on a variety of factors, including facings, air films, compression of insulation at framing members, conductance through fasteners, and other heat transfer paths unique to each installation. This is why it’s important to work with a reputable manufacturer who has third-party sampling and testing conducted by an independent lab, like Home Innovation.
Polyiso meets and often exceeds the building code requirements of ASHRAE 90.1, NAIMA 202-96, and ASTM C 665, making it an ideal insulation choice for your metal building project. This helps you stay compliant with local building codes and save money on energy bills.
ASTM C 665
This standard outlines requirements for mineral fiber blanket insulation used in metal buildings. Its primary goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for the occupants of these structures, and its requirements include testing the material for flame spread and smoke development as well as its fungi resistance. Additionally, the blankets must have a minimum vapor barrier.
The requirements of this standard are quite extensive. The manufacturer of the insulation must provide a detailed report, including test procedures and protocols, equipment specifications and calibra tions, the qualifications of all laboratory personnel exclusive o f personal identifiers, full test data, and proof of NVLAP certification. The manufacturer must also ensure that the blankets are tested in a climate-controlled lab and stored in weather protected conditions.
Some insulation types can be permeable to water vapor, which makes the addition of costly vapor barriers in building walls necessary. These vapor barriers help reduce the amount of water vapor that can pass through the insulation and prevent condensation in the wall. Other insulation options, such as Rmax polyiso, are made with foil faces that act as a built-in vapor barrier. Using these products can save you time and money while still ensuring that your project meets the minimum requirements set by the local jurisdiction. These standards are constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date on all of the latest information and requirements.
Regional Map
A regional map is a type of map that shows the political or administrative boundaries of a particular land mass. These maps can also show important cultural or economic features of a region, such as cities, roads, and landmarks. A regional map can help you understand the geographic and environmental requirements of your building project.
In the United States, there are five regions based on population and economic development. The Northeast region, which includes New York City and Boston, is the most populated of all regions. It is also the most economically developed. The Southeast is the next most populated region. The Midwest is the third most populated, while the Southwest and West are the least populated.
The 2021 IECC includes several changes to the climate zone map, and these zones have significant implications for a building’s insulation requirements. A residential or commercial structure built in a colder CZ must have more insulation than a similar one in a warmer climate zone.
To create a regional map, your data must have columns with the (correctly formatted) field type “State or Country.” Unlike a pin map, a regional map does not require you to select the location of your data points, but you can drill through them to see additional details about a single piece of data. A regional map also requires your data to have standardized state or country codes in the two-letter format.