By ROCKWOOL. 

Complex skyscraper design wins awards using ROCKWOOL insulation. 

The Absolute World skyscraper complex is made up of five towers in the Absolute City Centre located in Mississauga, Ontario. Absolute World 1&2, known as the condo couple, are two of the tallest skyscrapers built in a North American suburb. Affectionately called the “Marilyn Monroe” due to its curvy aesthetic, the Absolute World 1 stands 50 stories tall and has received a lot of attention due to its award-winning design. 

Curtain wall assembly  

• Framing  

• Spandrel Panels  

• 2” ROCKWOOL Curtainrock® 80 

• 1” ROCKWOOL Curtainrock® 80  

• Floor (Concrete) Slab 

• Flashing 

• Caulking 

ROCKWOOL products used  

ROCKWOOL Curtainrock® 80 is a rigid mineral wool board insulation designed for curtain wall and perimeter fire containment system applications. The product was used in a back pan system as a component of the perimeter fire containment system listing, primarily because it meets CAN/ULC S114 for noncombustibility (ASTM E 136), as well as CAN/ULC S102 (ASTM E84, UL 723) reporting zero flame and smoke, and because of its constant thermal resistance value. 

ROCKWOOL ROXUL Safe® is a semi-rigid mineral wool batt insulation approved for use in fire rated joints, through penetrations and in perimeter fire containment systems that is UL and Intertek approved in fire rated designs. This product was installed as intended in the approved listing in between floors to help prevent fire and smoke penetration between units.  

ROCKWOOL AFB® is a lightweight, semi-rigid batt insulation specifically designed for steel and wood stud interior wall and floor applications. It was used as an interior insulation for additional sound absorption to create a quiet living environment.  

Benefits of ROCKWOOL insulation  

ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation is noncombustible, sound absorbent and moisture resistant. It provides a long-term stable thermal performance, is dimensionally stable,, non-corrosive, and will not promote mold, mildew or fungi growth. ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation is environmentally sustainable, with various products available with Declare labels, HPD and EPD documentation, and can help to earn LEED credits.

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL

By Cass Jacoby. 

The BIM – a future-friendly solution for better buildings and a more progressive built environment that is supported by ROCKWOOL 

Project management across the architecture, engineering and construction industries is a challenging feat. A single project can have so many complex, moving pieces with many levels of communication and information sharing that needs to happen between clients and teams. 

Traditional forms of communication that leave room for miscommunication and inefficiencies simply aren't streamlined enough for the job. This process can easily impact workflows, timelines and approvals, plus lead to late-in-process changes, errors, or additional expenses that can add considerably to the project budget. Project management needs communication that moves the project forward rather than complicating it.  

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is poised to revolutionize this process and lead to better buildings. This resource is on the fast track to becoming the gold standard of the industry. 

What is Building Information Modeling? 

Building Information Modeling or BIM is a digital process for creating and managing information across a project’s lifecycle. From design to delivery to maintenance, this process is designed to simplify project management.  

How? One of the key ways is by giving a digital description of every aspect of the built asset. It might include details such as plans, designs, drawings, modeling data, components and component data, performance data, costing, lifecycle info and more. That way a model always has all the information from every team working on the project and is updated at key moments as the project progresses. 

When you consider the army that it takes to build a building, the genius of this system is clear: one place to have all specifications, schedules, performance requirements, cost plans, drawings, performance modelling info, etc. keeps everyone on the same page. 

This digital space is called the Common Data Environment (CDE), and it allows everyone to have shared access to up-to-date information about the proposed building or structure.  The BIM process and its CDE streamlines the sharing of information for an easier, quicker and more accurate exchange of information. 

Benefits of the BIM 

BIM benefits everyone involved in the project, allowing for better coordination across teams and a clear Rosetta stone for the project. 

Construction and fabrication benefits 

• Synchronize design and construction planning 

• Improved time estimation and better time management 

• Discover design errors and omissions before construction (clash detection) 

• React quickly to design or site problems 

• Use design model as a basis for fabricated components 

• Better implementation and lean construction techniques 

• Synchronize procurement with design and construction 

Post-construction benefits 

• Better manage and operate facilities. 

• Integrate with facility operation and management systems. 

Additional benefits of the BIM process might also include: 

• A greater understanding of customer requirements so teams can deliver accurately on client needs. 

• Better collaboration. 

• Access to information up to 25 per cent faster, vastly improving efficiency, saving time, reducing timelines and potentially costs. 

• Better cost control/predictability. 

• Faster approval cycles. 

• Improved safety. 

• Designs can be completed more accurately prior to construction. 

• Minimize errors and avoid wasting time and money. 

• Project teams are able to better support the business outcomes of its customers through goal-oriented designs. 

• Contributing to customer success rather than basic customer satisfaction. 

• Better designed and constructed buildings that provide better performance, durability and resilience and better value. 

• A more responsible process that balances project objectives with those that contribute to a more progressive built environment that respects people and the planet. 

What is a BIM object? 

The Building Information Model is made up of a group of building components which are known as BIM objects.  When you explore or click on a different part or component of the 3D representation, you’re able to access information about it. A BIM object includes information on the product, product properties, geometry of the product’s physical characteristics, visualization of data and functional data.  

ROCKWOOL BIM objects and resources 

ROCKWOOL BIM objects can be found via ROCKWOOL’s BIM Solutions Finder which allows logged-in users to view downloaded models and to search for BIM objects by product type or building element. ROCKWOOL BIM objects are also available through the popular industry resource BIMobject.com 

When it comes to ROCKWOOL insulation products and corresponding BIM objects, there is a huge data set available and may include mechanical properties like compressive strength, density, elasticity or dimensional stability, thermal properties, acoustic and fire performance data. 

Other information that can be available in BIM objects include certifications, lab tests, installation date, life cycle phase, service life duration, service life type, model reference and label, manufacturer, production date, serial number, information on sustainability and cost. 

Conclusion 

The industry continues to change as BIM-based building design and construction grows and intersects with new technologies, new delivery methods and new business models. The way that we, as an industry, collaborate and communicate is reflective of this change. Thus, it is wise for construction companies to strategically position their technology with BIM as a way to stay competitive and empower teams with better information. 

ROCKWOOL supports BIM, especially as it delivers on goal-oriented design and complements ROCKWOOL efforts toward helping achieve more durable, resilient, safe, efficient and sustainable buildings that benefit people and the planet. 

Read more about the BIM and BIM objects and get more information on how you can use this digital process to better your buildings on ROCKWOOLS website.  

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.

By Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS President 

In looking at the safety of any building, the walls are a defining point of protection.   

According to ROCKWOOL, a manufacturer of stone wool insulation, “Effective metal stud wall insulation can minimize the risk of fire spreading.  This is especially important when a metal stud wall is installed adjacent to a designated escape route.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.35 million fires in the United States. These fires caused 3,800 civilian fire deaths and 14,700 reported civilian fire injuries.  The property damage caused by these fires was estimated at $15.9 billion.  On average, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the U.S. every 23 seconds in 2021.  

These statistics show that the threat of fire should always be top of mind for home and building owners.  Unwanted fires can have many additional consequences including property damage, business interruption, environmental pollution and of course, the worst, bodily damage.  Specifying materials that are fire resilient overall is critical. 

Stone wool insulation has become one of the top options for fire safety in the built environment. It is created by spinning molten rock and minerals with steel slag to create a cotton-candy-like wool product.  Pressed into rolls and sheets, stone wool creates an incredibly effective insulation with outstanding fire-resistant properties.  

Again, according to ROCKWOOL, their insulation is fire resilient by nature with no added chemical flame retardants.  Capable of withstanding temperatures of over 1,000-degrees Celsius, it works to contain fire and prevent its spread. At the same time, it does not contribute to the emission of significant quantities of toxic smoke.  The natural basalt rock and recycled slag composition of stone wool exhibits a number of unique and valuable characteristics, including its ability to resist fire. 

In looking at the importance of wall insulation and how it can feed a fire, ROCKWOOL insulation stands out since it will not burn or release toxic gases or smoke when exposed to high heat.  It helps delay the spread of fire and may provide the precious extra seconds occupants need to escape.  ROCKWOOL insulation products are often used in dedicated fire protection systems for buildings and industrial equipment. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or at www.rockwool.com. 

By ROCKWOOL. 

ROCKWOOL is helping reduce carbon one home at a time, providing energy retrofit solutions that meet ambitious carbon reduction goals. 

The Climate Mobilization Act of 2019 includes legislation that mandates buildings larger than 25,000 square feet in New York to aggressively cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. With goals to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent in 2050, energy retrofits are already underway to meet these requirements. While many buildings are set to reach their carbon reduction goals by 2030, the challenge of massively renovating multi-family buildings without displacing anyone and still maintaining the historic building façades remains.  

One recent project on Albemarle Road in NYC is providing a roadmap for other historic buildings of its kind to model. 

Project overview 

The 83-unit, 6-story co-op building on Albemarle Road in Brooklyn is typical of others in the area. Built in 1938, it has an original brick façade that adds to its historic charm. It has steam heat, window AC units and no mechanical ventilation. The co-op owns 29 rental units in the building which are typically renovated when there is a change in tenancy.  

This particular unit is owned by a Passive House enthusiast; he planned an aggressive energy retrofit of the recently vacated corner apartment before taking possession, in part to show what will be possible with buildings like theirs for others to model. Though this single unit renovation is not eligible for Passive House certification, the architect and construction teams used Passive House targets to guide this retrofit. 

The goal 

Efficiency, sustainability, and occupant wellness were primary considerations for the apartment’s renovation plan, and in order to comply with Local Law 97. Adhering to Passive House standards was a key objective for the project, all while maintaining the historic integrity of the building as a whole. 

The challenge 

Older buildings like this one on Albemarle Road frequently present a challenge when the goal is to improve the apartment’s envelope. Preserving the original brick façade was critical in maintaining the building’s historic integrity and charm but changing the interior wall assembly in order to improve thermal efficiency could significantly modify the hygrothermal behavior (the movement of heat and moisture) of the existing structure. 

 As originally built, these uninsulated brick walls would dry after wetting, due to the rain for instance, in part from the heat loss of the apartment. The addition of interior insulation would reduce that heat transfer, leaving the brick or other masonry with higher moisture levels for longer periods of time. It was also important, therefore, to use strategies and materials that would not damage the original structure on the dwelling’s interior. 

Solutions 

The construction crew began by stripping the old interior walls right down to the exterior brick. It was carefully inspected for cracks or other damage, and then prepared for the new enclosure system by applying a vapor-permeable liquid-applied water-resistive barrier to make the wall water- and airtight. 

ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products were specified for several different applications in the retrofit, mainly because they are non-combustible but also for their vapor-permeable nature. These features were especially important because of the moisture challenges presented by the old brick façade.  

The crew applied a layer of continuous insulation using ROCKWOOL Cavityrock®, then a smart membrane, installed as a secondary air barrier, and then framing using metal studs; metal studs allowed for a narrower finished assembly to minimize the loss of space inside the home but still allowed space for running electrical wiring, etc.  

One and a half inches of ROCKWOOL AFB® semi-rigid cavity wall insulation was installed between the studs before the walls were finished with drywall. ROCKWOOL Comfortbatt® was also installed in the floors and ceilings to add additional thermal comfort as well as protection from fire and sound transmission between units. 

Choosing ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products for each application means that the residents of the newly renovated apartment on Albemarle will have greater piece of mind knowing their space is comfortable, energy efficient, quiet, and safer in the event of a fire. The neighboring units will benefit as well from the sound and fire protective features of the ROCKWOOL stone wool products. And the water-repellent properties of stone wool mean that there is less risk from water damage or mold.  

The durability of the insulation means that these older buildings can continue standing for generations to come without needing thermal improvements or upgrades. And last but not least, the thermal efficiency provided by the installation of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products also meant that the team was able to install a much smaller mechanical unit to support the new HVAC system, requiring less disruption to the footprint of the building. 

The Albemarle project is a perfect example for other architects, contractors, building owners and residents of New York City—or any other urban center looking to reduce its carbon emissions—in what is possible with a unit-by-unit approach to applying Passive House standards to retrofits like this. The compartmentalization of retrofits in multi-family buildings is a reasonable and effective solution for meeting aggressive carbon reduction targets. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL

By ROCKWOOL. 

ROCKWOOL attributes their shortened lead times to the opening of their factory in West Virginia. 

 As the demand for our stone wool insulation products continue to increase in the North American market, in 2021 we at ROCKWOOL decided to expand our production with a new manufacturing facility. After narrowing our location choice down to 10 states, we ultimately landed on Ranson , West Virginia to build the new factory. It was Ranson’s proposal that helped us make our decision. 

The Ranson Jefferson County facility is home to our second stone wool insulation manufacturing plant in the United States, following the facility in Marshall County, Mississippi which opened in 2014. 

ROCKWOOL has operated in North America for more than 30 years and 80+ years globally, with a consistent track record of safeguarding the safety, health and wellbeing of citizens in the communities living by the now 51 facilities where we operate. Beyond the location in Mississippi, we operate two other North American factories in Canada – located in Milton, Ontario and Grand Forks, British Columbia. 

The new factory in Ranson serves customers on the eastern seaboard and represents an investment of $150 million dollars, creating 150 new jobs. Working at ROCKWOOL, we provide meaningful career opportunities that contribute to improving the lives of people around the world. We also continue to drive growth by investing in our employees and have established a people-driven and inclusive culture that provides employees with a friendly and respectful atmosphere for growth and development. 

The facility was constructed on a 130-acre site and many community members have told us that the plant will be a benefit to the people of Jefferson County, bringing well-paying jobs that are close to home, an increase in positive downstream economic activity, additional tax dollars to support municipal programs and best-in-class environmental performance. 

We are investing in the future of Jefferson County. Learn about our commitment to community investment and sustainable production by downloading our ROCKWOOL Community Brochure. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL

By ROCKWOOL. 

The Ken Soble Tower project goal was to completely upgrade a post-war apartment to achieve Passive House standard, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 94%. 

The Ken Soble Tower is exemplary of the way that low-energy retrofits are revolutionizing how we think about upgrading our buildings. Both green and cost-effective, this building retrofit helps reduce carbon in urban areas, proving that it is possible to improve upon an existing building while adding in the many benefits that come with eco-friendly buildings. 

The goal 

Built in 1967 at 18 stories and 80,000 square feet, the Ken Soble Tower had been in a state of deterioration for some time as the oldest high-rise multi-residential building in CityHousing Hamilton’s portfolio. 

The goal was to retrofit the building to achieve EnerPHit certification, a branch of the Passive House (PassivHaus) standard designed specifically for retrofits. The building overhaul would include nearly every facet of the building from the building envelope, mechanical systems, electrical, plumbing and safety systems to interior upgrades to its 146 units to support aging in place, accessibility, comfort and overall improvement of the occupant experience. As public housing, cost was a key consideration, and the team set out to complete the retrofit at a fraction of the cost of a new build. 

The challenge 

The current building had significant challenges including a deteriorating envelope, lack of insulation, inadequate ventilation, and lack of thermal controls. While ERA Architects was originally going to re-clad the building with an entire wall assembly outside the existing brick, a visit to the ROCKWOOL booth at the Construct Canada exhibition changed everything. 

The solution 

After introducing the architect to the DuROCK PUCCS NC EIFS system incorporating ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation, the entire plan for the building envelope was revised. The resulting cladding design includes a six-inch thick stone wool EIFS system. ERA Architects liked three main things about the system: first, and most obviously, the non-combustibility (important given the vulnerability of the senior-aged occupants); second, the excellent moisture control offered by the stone wool and the unique, built-in drainage layer cut into the back side of the insulation; and third, the liquid applied water resistive barrier (LAWRB). 

In all, 50,000 square feet of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation was incorporated into the new façade, helping to realize the R-38 effective R-value required to achieve EnerPHIT certification. The EIFS system fit the need for cost effectiveness (the system helped reduce labor costs), ease of install, high-quality composition, a favorable sustainability profile as well the top-notch technical support, provided by ROCKWOOL and DuROCK. 

The upgraded building envelope with inorganic stone wool will also help contribute to better air quality, since mold was previously an issue. Additionally, it created a more resilient building, able to stand up to harsher conditions as a result of climate change in the region, effectively future-proofing the building and better protecting its senior residents. In fact, thanks in part to its tight and super-insulated building envelope, ERA Architects notes that Ken Soble Tower “demonstrates passive resilience to extreme conditions: In case of failure of active systems, the building will stay warm in winter for up to two days (compared to two hours in a typical building) and below dangerous heat levels in summer for up to four days (compared to half a day in a typical building).” 

Overall, Ken Soble Tower will now provide residents with improved comfort and control of their indoor environments while substantially reducing energy demand. At its peak, the total energy needed to heat or cool each unit will be equal to the energy needed to run three incandescent light bulbs (100W). The retrofit now positions Ken Soble Tower as a true asset as well as a proud and prominent landmark in Hamilton’s waterfront — fitting, as it now stands as one of the world’s largest EnerPHit certified projects. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL 

By Cass Jacoby.  

Building acoustics are worth thinking hard about! Join us for a conversation with a building engineer who inform us about a solution to mitigating sound: fibrous insulation 

Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Antoine Habellion, the head of technical for ROCKWOOL North America in the RLW, All About Roof and Wall Acoustics, for a conversation about how roof consultants and contractors can thoughtfully go about adding sound reduction to our buildings. 

Antoine previously worked in Paris, France as a building science engineer for ROCKWOOL France. Now he is part of the ROCKWOOL Building Science Team. “It is basically a team of building science specialists, which is dedicated to help designers, builders, consultants with their projects,” says Antonine. It is his job to address parts of the building we tend to forget — like sound.  

We don’t typically think about the ways that buildings work to protect us from sound. It is often something we take for granted, especially in spaces near highways or airports. “It makes a very big difference,” says Antione. “If you’re always exposed to noise, it can reduce productivity of course. But even more importantly, it can interfere with communication and concentration.” 

With stakes these high, it is of value for all contractors to learn about sound assemblies and how buildings work to mitigate sound. He says that a crucial element in going about something as complex and multi-faceted as soundproofing is to define a goal that you are trying to achieve. “You need to know specifically what you want to achieve, or at least get help from someone who can help you define what you need to achieve,” says Antoine. “Then looking for tested assemblies that exist already, which may meet that requirement.” 

Antoine tells RCS that designing an assembly that helps mitigate sound is largely about considering the factors of the job, choosing the right materials and proper installation. He notes that fibrous insulation, like stone wool, is ideal for insulating material from the roof to the façade and everything in between. ROCKWOOL, is volcanic rock that has been transformed into stone wool, and has insulation and acoustic performance capabilities to diminish noise.   

As building codes push for greater performance in the area of sound, these conversations only grow more pertinent. “I think there are very little buildings where acoustic doesn't matter,” says Antoine. “All the buildings which have occupants in them like extended period of times, of course, will benefit.” 

Read, Listen, or Watch this informative RLW about roof and wall acoustics today and start learning more about acoustics, sound and what fibrous insulation can do for a building. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com.

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.  

With the number of fires across the country it seems to be a year-round concern.  But late summer through fall is one of the worst times for wildfires. 

According to Fire Loss in the United States in 2018 NFPA.org, “In the United States, an estimated 1.3 million fires caused more than $25.6 billion in property damage, including $12 billion from wildfires, in 2018 alone.” And today according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, house fires are estimated to spread five to 10 times faster than 50 years ago due to increased use of synthetic materials.” 

Wildfires don’t only affect communities located in forested areas; they often spread to homes and businesses located on the edge of wildlands. Studies show that one in three houses and one in 10 hectares of land are now located in wildland–urban interface zones, and WUI zones are the fastest-growing land use type in the contiguous U.S. 

It is not just in the wild lands that fire is causing problems but, in every city, too.  According to the ROCKWOOL website, “After several large-scale hotel and nightclub fires in the mid-20th century that resulted in the tragic loss of life, fire safety and building design professional organizations created testing methods to rate materials based on how quickly they burn and develop smoke. Today, model codes developed by the International Code Council (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reference NFPA 285 as the test standard for exterior wall assemblies." 

ROCKWOOL continues to explain the development of NFPA 285, “It started in the 1970s in response to the increasing use of foam plastic exterior insulation in exterior wall assemblies to achieve compliance with increasingly strict energy codes. The test method evaluates how flames propagate on an exterior wall assembly subjected to a standardized fire exposure. It simulates a two-story wall assembly with an opening to simulate a window on the first-story wall, and the floors are separated by a floor assembly.  

The NFPA 285 assesses flame propagation in the following ways:  

1. Over the exterior wall surface 

2. Within the combustible core or components 

3. Over the interior surface from one floor to the next 

4. Laterally to adjacent compartments 

It is becoming more important than ever to look at the construction of buildings using noncombustible materials.  ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation has taken the lead providing information to help specifiers, contractors and building owners understand fire safety.   

“We’re here to help you better understand fire safety regulations in building codes, fire safety testing standards and design requirements for wildland–urban interface zones,” states Dave Lawlor, VP Sales for ROCKWOOL North America.  “Mitigating fire risk is key to designing homes, commercial spaces and multifamily residential buildings that provide safe places for families to live, work, attend school, shop and recreate.” 

ROCKWOOL is committed to reducing the human and economic loss associated with fire through long-term partnerships with fire safety organizations. They advocate for new fire safety technologies and stronger fire-safety regulations based on research and real-world experience.  

Learn more about ROCKWOOL’S fire safety advocacy work. 

Heidi J. Ellsworth is the president of RoofersCoffeeShop.

By ROCKWOOL. 

Research on a building that’s insulated with ROCKWOOL’s stone wool insulation finds its R-value is stable in cold and hot temperatures. 

Researchers performed a recent case study on the performance of ROCKWOOL’s stone wool insulation in the Chilliwack Building in British Columbia. The team from RDH Building Engineering Ltd. was studying this building as a part of a larger study on roof performance. Specifically, they were measuring the R-value, a measure of how well insulation reacts to heat, of the building’s insulation. 

A large-scale field monitoring study was implemented in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia with the intent of measuring the impacts and benefits of roof membrane color and insulation strategy on the long-term thermal and hydrothermal behavior and performance of conventional roofing assemblies. Three different two-ply SBS roof membrane cap sheet colors were installed over three different insulation arrangements for a total of nine unique test roof assemblies which were installed on an industrial building located in Chilliwack within the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada.  

Chilliwack is located in ASHRAE Climate Zone 5 and has a climate similar to the larger nearby metropolis of Vancouver, though as it is farther inland, it typically gets hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. The average annual temperature at the Chilliwack airport, located approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) from the site is 10.5°C (50.9°F), and the average July and January temperatures are 18.5°C (65.3°F) and 2.2°C (36.0°F) respectively (Environment Canada 2013). 

Sensors were installed within each of the roof assemblies to measure material and surface temperatures, relative humidity, moisture content, heat flux and dimensional stability of the insulation. 

Insulation arrangement apparent R-values 

Laboratory measurements were made of the apparent R-value/inch for each insulation product and then the results were used to determine the apparent R-values of the three insulation arrangements for this study, which are shown below. 

By measuring both new and aged samples of polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation, the long-term aging impacts on the thermal performance of the polyiso were also predicted.  

While the roof assembly constructed with polyiso has a rated R-value of R-21.3, when exposed to cold (-10°C (14°F)) the performance of this roof assembly reduces to R-20 or potentially as low as R-16.5 depending on aging effects. When exposed to hot temperatures (60°C (140°F)) the apparent R-value is reduced to R-16.5 or potentially as low as R-14.0 depending aging effects. In the hybrid assembly, the use of a layer of stone wool insulation (in this case, equivalent to approximately 45% of the assembly R-value) over top of the polyiso significantly improves the effective R-value of the polyiso as it keeps it near optimum temperatures (which are similar to typical interior temperatures), and therefore results in a better assembly R-value in cold and hot conditions. The roof assembly insulated with entirely stone wool insulation has a more stable R-value (increasing at colder temperatures, but decreasing at hot temperatures from rated R-value), and is not susceptible to a loss of R-value with age. 

Field monitoring results 

Significant differences in the heat flux, interior and exterior surface temperatures were also found with respect to insulation strategy. An apparent thermal lag is observed within the stone wool insulation and hybrid insulation assemblies compared to the polyiso insulation. This finding presents dampened heat flux measurements, reduced cap sheet surface temperatures and lower interior surface temperatures, primarily when the roof is heated by the sun. This lag in temperatures can be beneficial from a thermal comfort, energy efficiency and membrane durability standpoint because it moderates peak temperatures and thereby reduces energy losses and gains and likely also reduces the rate of deterioration of the membrane by reducing chemical degradation and thermal movement. The assemblies with a white cap sheet also typically had less inward heat flux than the black and grey roofs. 

Overall, this study provides insight into the behavior of polyiso and stone wool insulated conventional roof 6 Burlington, VT 7 Duluth 8 Fairbanks Average assemblies with light to dark roofing membranes. In selecting the materials for a conventional roofing system, it is important to consider the effects of these different options on aspects of building and roof performance including apparent R-value at in-service conditions, building energy consumption and membrane durability. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL

By ROCKWOOL.

Wayne State University installs ROCKWOOL’s bitumen coated stone wool insulation to increase long-term thermal performance of the roof assembly.

The roofs of a number of Wayne State University’s buildings on campus were leaking. The research institution that boasts nearly 32,000 students had discovered they would need to re-roof or re-cover four of their buildings during an annual maintenance evaluation. They chose ROCKWOOL’s bitumen coated stone wool insulation as an upgrade, which resolved the water penetration issues and improved the long-term thermal performance of the buildings.

ROCKWOOL products installed

ROCKWOOL Toprock® DD Plus is a rigid dual-density stone wool board insulation, impregnated with a bitumen coating which is compatible with torch or mop applied membranes. ROCKWOOL exclusive dual-density Toprock DD Plus with a higher density top layer, provided a strong point load resistance and effective load distribution – adding durability to the new re-roof/re-cover assemblies. In order to meet the new ASHRAE standards, the addition of stone wool insulation was a cost-effective method for Wayne State University to both repair water penetration and improve the energy efficiency of all four buildings.

Additionally,  a rigid, uniform density, bitumen coated stone wool insulation was installed as a coverboard.

Benefits of ROCKWOOL insulation

ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation, has a long term stable R-value, is dimensionally stable, non-combustible, water repellent, non-corrosive, sound absorbent, will not promote fungi growth, contains no blowing agents or fire retardants, and is environmentally sustainable.

 ROCKWOOL insulations are created using naturally occurring, inorganic raw materials and materials with a high-recycled content. Stone wool insulation is noncombustible and achieves its thermal performance without the use of blowing agents. The products do not off-gas and are fully recyclable, therefore contributing to a sustainable environment.

ROCKWOOL is the better insulation

ROCKWOOL also offersa limited thermal warranty that guarantees 100% of the originally declared R-value on all of its commercial roofing insulation products for up to 30 years. When installed in accordance with ROCKWOOL instructions, ROCKWOOL maintains the originally declared R-value as published on the Technical Data Sheets for the extent of the warranty.

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com/contact.

Original article source: ROCKWOOL