Elevating insulation

By Emma Peterson. 

Continuous insulation offers a more energy efficient and sustainable way to build roofing and wall systems. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth spoke with JR Babineau about continuous insulation. As the senior research manager for building sciences at Johns Manville, JR was well equipped to share not only what continuous insulation is but how it performs in roofing and wall systems.  

When traditionally working on roofs and walls, contractors would use what is called cavity insulation. JR gave an example of what this method entails, saying, “In North America, we build a lot frame construction, so that gives these convenient cavities that we traditionally put insulation in.” The difference that comes with continuous insulation is what it sounds like – continuous coverage. JR explained, “It's meant to cover all of the other structural elements that we would normally find in the building envelope.” 

Continuous insulation is not a new idea. Since the turn of the 20th century, contractors have used it when working with materials like concrete and cork. But in the last few decades it has grown more popular for other applications, like frame building, where cavity insulation used to rule. JR shared some thoughts on why it has grown so popular, saying, “The evolution of the energy codes has really pushed for more continuous insulation to be used for frame construction, especially commercial construction that is often done with steel frame.” 

So how does continuous insulation help contractors meet energy codes? It creates a more thermally secure building envelope than can be achieved with cavity insulation. JR explained, “As we work to get energy codes and our buildings to be better, we’re realizing we can’t just put more insulation in the cavities and leave the framing alone. We're really hitting that diminishing returns point there.” By covering everything, including that framing, contractors can create a far more energy-efficient space. JR summed it up, saying, “If we're going to put up a building with steel studs and steel framing and it's located somewhere like Denver where it's a cold climate, we lose a lot of heat through all that steel framing. Continuous insulation really just has to be part of the equation to successfully get that building to function properly.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the episode to learn more about continuous insulation and how it is making building envelopes more energy efficient.