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.
Polyiso insulation offers the most extensive range of code approvals for insulation use in roof systems. It remains the only foam plastic insulation product for direct application to steel deck to earn FM Approval for Class 1 Roof Systems.
An often confusing issue is whether a “Class 1 roof” is the same as a “Class A roof”. The distinction between these types of roof classifications becomes even more critical when the roof system contains foam plastic insulation, such as polyiso, polystyrene or polyurethane. Note, all Class 1 roof assemblies are Class A roofs, but not all Class A roof systems meet Class 1. For example, while roof assemblies containing polystyrene insulation can meet Class A, there are no roof assemblies with direct-to-deck polystyrene insulation that qualify as a Class 1.
The designation of “Class 1” can be granted only by FM and reflects the successful testing of the whole roof assembly using FM 4470. According to the scope of FM 4470, “because the fire performance of a roof cover depends in part upon the substrate materials to which it is applied, it is therefore necessary to evaluate the roof assembly as a whole, including the cover and auxiliary items necessary to build-up a roof assembly.” For more information: Commonly Asked Questions About Class 1 and Class A Roof Assemblies
Class A, B or C is a measure of the external spread of flame on a roof surface. A number of fire test laboratories including Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and FM Global (FM), conduct this test using either the ASTM E 108 or UL 790 Standard. The best rating achieved is Class A, which is described by UL as “effective against severe fire exposure.”1
Sloan, D. E. (2005, May). The UL story: part 1. Professional Roofing. Retrieved on July 25, 2005, from the World Wide Web: (http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?A_ID=641)
The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® has brought all sectors of the building industry together to develop a voluntary, national standard in the development of “high-performing, sustainable buildings.” PIMA supports this approach, and was one of the first trade associations to join USGBC when that organization opened its doors to industry groups.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Polyiso insulation is an ideal choice for LEED building designs because it offers:
Highest Thermal Efficiency – Polyiso is the most thermally efficient insulation available in the marketplace, as determined using Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) values, a 15 year time-weighted R-value. In addition, members of PIMA initiated a third party certification program – Quality MarkCM – to validate these thermal values. Quality MarkCM is a voluntary program administered by FM Global, one of the nation’s most dependable testing organizations. Well-insulated buildings reduce fossil fuel use thereby reducing air pollution.
Zero Ozone Depleting Potential – All PIMA polyiso manufacturer members produce rigid foam board with third-generation, zero ozone-depleting blowing agents. All polyiso products are now HCFC-free and CFC-free.
Zero Global Warming Potential – All PIMA polyiso manufacturing members produce rigid foam board with zero global warming potential blowing agents. This quality is critical as the impact of climate change, or global warming, is acknowledged as a worldwide environmental concern.
Recycled Content – Virtually all polyiso insulation is manufactured using recycled material. The percentage of the recycled material by weight depends on the individual manufacturer and the thickness of the product. Many facers on polyiso products contain up to 100% recycled materials.
Using polyiso insulation may gain credits under three of LEED's six rating categories: Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Innovation & Design Process. Here are some suggested opportunities to incorporate polyiso in a LEED building design, using the LEED checklist:
Energy & Atmosphere
Minimum Energy Performance: Prerequisite 2
Thermally efficient polyiso facilitates compliance with ASHRAE 90.1-1999 and local energy codes.
Optimize Energy Performance: Credit 1
Polyiso provides the highest thermal resistance per inch of material and can economically contribute to achieving one of the LEED levels of optimized energy performance.
Materials & Resources
Building Reuse: Credit 1
Polyiso can be and often is reused when building renovations include recover roof applications or partial tear offs in which only the membrane is removed.
Construction Waste Management: Credit 2
If the total percentage of reused materials in a project does not meet the minimum levels stated in Materials and Resources, Credit 1, Building Reuse, these reuse activities may be applied to this credit.
Recycled Content: Credit 4
Depending on the product manufacturer and thickness, polyiso can be used toward one of the levels of recycled materials credit.
Local/Regional Materials: Credit 5
PIMA’s six manufacturing members have polyiso insulation plants across North America, so for most projects a credit can be obtained for using materials manufactured within 500 miles of a job site.
Innovation & Design Process
Innovation in Design: Credit 1
Polyiso insulation is the only zero-ozone depleting, zero global warming, high-performing foam with Quality MarkCM independently certified Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) values. Since ozone-depleting insulations are also available, such as extruded polystyrene, credit for using materials that are HCFC-free (like polyiso) may be granted for innovation in design.
Based on consensus standards in both the United States and Canada, Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) is a scientifically supported method to calculate the 15-year, time-weighted average R-value of roof insulation. Most polyiso manufacturers have adopted the LTTR method as the exclusive means to measure thermal performance of permeable-faced polyiso roof insulation.
Polyiso manufacturers, who belong to the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, have certified LTTR-value products verified by the QualityMarkcm Program. Click here to view the LTTR Fact Sheet.
The PIMA QualityMarkcm Certification program is a voluntary program that allows polyiso manufactures to obtain independent, third-party certification for the Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) values of their polyiso insulation products. Polyiso is the only insulation to be certified by this unique program for its LTTR value. The program is administered by FM Global and was developed by the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA), the trade group which represents polyiso manufacturers. Click here to view the QualityMarkcm Brochure.
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.
Click here for Technical Bulletin 401: “Polyiso Insulation in Masonry Cavity Walls”
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.
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.
Insulation is one of the most critical components of a roof, providing much-needed thermal performance in today’s energy conscious world. Polyiso’s unique benefits, strength and versatility allow it to adapt to a variety of roofing applications.
Highest R-value per inch
Outstanding installed cost advantages
Only roof insulation with third-party certification of thermal performance
Only high-thermal foam to meet both FM 4470 and UL 1256
As gas and energy prices increase, polyiso can cut building owners’ utility bills and help reduce pollution. A recent independent study (Barrels of Oil Study) found increasing the amount of polyiso insulation used on a roof by one inch beyond ASHRAE standards can save millions barrels of oil and reduce energy costs by billions. Using polyiso insulation saves money for contractors and building owners.
In addition to its energy-efficiency and environmental savings, polyiso cuts construction costs because of its adaptability with a variety of roof systems. Another study found polyiso insulation can save tens of thousands of dollars in installed costs when compared to other roof insulation materials. (Polyiso Insulation Cost Study). In fact, builders can increase the thickness of polyiso and improve the R-value of the building and still save money on first-cost installation when compared to minimal levels of extruded and expanded polystyrene.
Unlike other insulating materials, the R-value-per-inch of polyiso increases with thickness because of the unique closed-cell structure of the rigid foam boards. Because of its superior R-value and durability, buildings that use polyiso have lower heating and cooling costs.
Most polyiso manufacturers have adopted the LTTR method as the exclusive means to measure thermal performance of permeable-faced polyiso roof insulation. Polyiso manufacturers, who belong to the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, have certified LTTR-value products verified by the QualityMarkcm Program.
Based on consensus standards in both the United States and Canada, Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) is a scientifically supported method to calculate the 15-year, time-weighted average R-value of roof insulation. Most polyiso manufacturers have adopted the LTTR method as the exclusive means to measure thermal performance of permeable-faced polyiso roof insulation.
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