More R-Value Without More Roof Thickness

Often, seemingly small changes can have a significant impact on other aspects of a project. Such is the case with commercial buildings and the pursuit of greater sustainability, energy efficiency, and performance. One example is the increasing R-value requirements for roofing applications – a great way to improve thermal efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings. That said, these higher R-value requirements can have downstream impacts on supporting products, building conditions, and material handling that can sometimes make the added complexity seem disproportionate to the benefit.

Thicker roof insulation can require taller curbs and parapets, complicate transitions at doors and equipment, increase fastener lengths required for membrane or insulation attachment, and make detailing around penetrations more difficult. It can also increase the amount of insulation required on the jobsite, resulting in more truckloads, staging, and material handling.

We shouldn't look to minimize or stop the progress toward more energy-efficient buildings but rather look to innovative products that help address the challenges associated with simply increasing insulation thickness on the roof.

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SOLUTION

Carlisle SynTec Systems’ new ThermaThin 7 Polyisocyanurate Insulation provides a thermal resistance of R-7 per inch, compared with R-5.7 per inch for standard polyiso, allowing architects to achieve the required thermal performance with less insulation thickness. For example, an R-30 insulation value can be achieved with approximately 4.3 inches of ThermaThin 7, compared with approximately 5.2 inches of standard polyiso. The reduced profile can help minimize the need to raise curbs and parapets while simplifying detailing around penetrations and transitions. The thinner assembly also allows for shorter fasteners and can reduce the amount of insulation material shipped to the jobsite. Carlisle estimates that each shipment of ThermaThin 7 provides approximately 3,200 additional square feet of insulation compared with standard polyiso, potentially reducing the number of deliveries required for a project.

ThermaThin™ 7 provides a solution for meeting the ever-increasing thermal performance requirements of commercial roofing systems while retaining the familiar installation characteristics of conventional polyisocyanurate insulation. There are no additional installation steps or complicated detailing requirements needed to begin specifying and utilizing ThermaThin 7 on your next project.

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SPECTIP

Specify Carlisle’s ThermaThin 7 Polyisocyanurate Insulation in the Division 7 Section for the project’s roofing membrane section:

• EPDM Membrane Roofing – Section 075323
• TPO Membrane Roofing – Section 075423
• PVC Membrane Roofing – Section 075419

Or include in Division 7 under Thermal Insulation in Section 072100.

Require insulation to provide a minimum thermal resistance of R-7.0 per inch in accordance with the manufacturer's published product data. Specify the required insulation thickness based on the total assembly R-value required by the project and applicable energy code.

Example Specification Language:

Roof Insulation: Carlisle SynTec Systems’ ThermaThin 7 Polyisocyanurate Insulation, providing a minimum thermal resistance of R-7.0 per inch, with thickness as required to achieve the specified assembly R-value. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's written instructions and applicable Carlisle SynTec Systems requirements.

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For more information about ThermaThin 7, check out these resources:

ThermaThin 7 Product Page
ThermaThin 7 Brochure
ThermaThin 7 Product Data Sheet