Thick requirements, thin solutions

By Jenny Yu.  

Evolving energy codes drive roofing professionals to rethink how they meet performance demands. 

As energy efficiency requirements continue to tighten across the United States, roofing contractors are facing a new set of challenges, from increased insulation demands to fewer code exceptions. Wes Sherrer of Versico Roofing Systems spoke with The Coffee Shops™ about how the evolving landscape is reshaping how contractors meet these challenges.  

The core of these changes is updated energy codes aimed at reducing overall energy consumption. “At the federal level, energy consumption continues to be a big concern,” Wes stated. “One of the ways codes evolve is by increasing R-values so that buildings and our built environments use less energy to maintain comfort than what they may have in the past.” 

While federal guidelines set the baseline, states are setting even more stringent standards while also removing historical exceptions. “We continue to see states adopting stricter and stricter energy codes, which is driving changes in the way we're insulating buildings,” Wes explained. “While states used to allow a lot of exceptions, now even residential buildings are starting to require continuous insulation where they've not in the past.”  

These kinds of shifts are creating new challenges for contractors. Higher R-value requirements typically mean thicker insulation materials, which can be difficult to accommodate, especially for buildings with height restrictions. “A larger amount of panels and thicker material means more trucks, more coordination on the job site, more modifications to the existing structure,” Wes said. “Ultimately, it drives higher costs if they can even accommodate the R-values. Some get stuck where there's not a reasonable solution for them to meet the requirements of a project and what code is asking.” 

These challenges are further magnified in urban environments where roof space is at a premium and increasingly used as occupied space, like rooftop pools, gardens and porches. Another layer of complexity Wes noted was thermal shunting, where fasteners and other materials allow heat or cold to transfer through insulation layers quickly. Together, these create an opportunity for more innovative solutions.  

That’s where the Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) comes in. “We've created this problem, and vacuum-insulated panels are a great solution to it,” Wes shared. The ADVANC-R® Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) is a high-performance insulation panel designed to deliver exceptional thermal efficiency in a slim profile. With an industry-leading R-66 at the center of the panel, ADVANC-R VIPs are a great solution for re-roofing projects with height limitations and other complex scenarios. “You can essentially meet code requirements without the cost and disruption of significant structural changes.”  

Learn more about Versico Roofing Systems at their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit their website to explore their ADVANC-R Vacuum Insulation Panel solution.