Providing advanced thermal protection for the structures in which we live, work, and play is proving to be even more crucial than ever considered. According to a 2023 article on Euronews, research suggests that reaching net zero emissions could prolong people’s lives significantly and that properly insulated walls help to limit indoor air pollution that negatively impacts the health of occupants inside.
How can builders use innovative insulation solutions to help achieve these aims while also saving on costs, building more efficiently, and meeting the evolving energy codes designed to create a more sustainable built environment?
Polyisocyanurate insulation, renowned for its closed-cell composition, serves as a linchpin in bolstering energy efficiency for residential, multi-family, and commercial buildings. Its rigid form with closely bonded cells acts as an air barrier and provides moisture resistance, which is critical in keeping internal structural components and occupants healthy. When combined with integrated control layers and a structural layer, the material crosses into what can only be categorized as the future of building science. In this regard, few products afford builders the same benefits that integrated insulated sheathing materials do, and few manufacturers offer the breadth of high-performance polyiso solutions manufactured and sold by OX Engineered Products.
Proven Polyiso Performance with OX-IS
Weatherization systems, especially those incorporating closed-cell polyiso insulation such as OX-IS panels, have proven to be instrumental in optimizing energy efficiency and indoor comfort. These systems eliminate thermal bridging in both wood and metal wall studs, preventing the movement of heat and energy through the structure. This is especially vital during the peak of summer or the frigid depths of winter when temperatures are at an extreme.
Weatherization systems that utilize polyiso insulation provide much higher R-values compared to alternative products such as spray foam, XPS foam, or other open-cell insulation solutions. In fact, OX-IS is offered in three thicknesses ranging from 0.50" to 1.70" and provides thermal R-values of 3, 6, and 10.
OX-IS fortifies the entire wall system when taped, seamed, and flashed according to the installation instructions. By featuring an integrated structural layer along with air and water-resistive barriers, OX-IS eliminates the need to make multiple trips around a structure to complete the installation. Once installed, an OX-IS wall is a tighter wall. This leads to a better blower door score, enhancing HVAC system performance and reducing long-term energy costs.
Affordably Meet Stringent Energy Codes
Structural continuous insulation wall panels allow builders to affordably tackle code changes and meet the most current IECC insulation requirements. These weatherization systems also help ease specification planning for project teams looking to achieve ENERGY STAR® or the requirements for the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) standards.
Where should builders look to get up to speed on what’s expected of them with regard to insulation and a building’s thermal performance?
Start with International Energy Conservation Code section R402.1.2, which is dedicated to a building’s thermal envelope. Understanding the options available to a builder, including different continuous insulation thicknesses and options for R-values, helps to ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
Adhering to these code standards through the implementation of all-in-one weatherization solutions can help builders earn significant money back for building sustainably through the 45L tax credit program, applicable to both residential and multi-family builders.
In particular, builders of single family homes that meet the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes V3.1 (moving to V3.2 in 2025) program’s 2021 IECC prescriptive envelope standards are eligible for a federal tax credit of $2,500 per home.
On a parallel path, builders who adhere to the ZERH program can earn up to $5,000 back in tax credits per build.
In addition, builders should be cognizant of local and regional rebates extended by utility providers, which may offer substantial cash incentives contingent upon meeting these ENERGY STAR standards or achieving a high HERS score with significant Kilowatthour (KwH) savings. In these instances, adding a layer of continuous insulation to exterior walls will improve the performance of the home and translate to a rebate check with a bigger number on it. In an era of rising material and labor costs, these financial returns can impact a builder’s bottom line.
Sealing the Deal with Proper Installation
For contractors and builders, correct installation is paramount to harnessing the full potential of polyiso insulation systems. Following the manufacturer’s specifications—which includes seam taping and flashing at critical points such as windows and doors—ensures a watertight seal. Using OX seam tapes with the organization’s weatherization systems allows builders to obtain a 30-year system warranty for the home. In addition, experts on the OX team can provide on-site job training for builders, framers, and construction managers, and even coordinate to have local code officials in attendance. This has proven to be invaluable in achieving the desired results of long-term energy performance for structures nationwide where OX-IS and other OX building envelope solutions are installed.
A Win-Win for Owners and Builders
In the long term, the benefits of incorporating polyiso insulation and weatherization systems into a construction project are substantial. The elimination of thermal bridging fortifies the building's thermal envelope, reducing the load on heating and cooling systems. This translates into significant energy cost savings for owners. Not only do owners save, but builders can stick with 2x4 stud construction and still achieve code compliance without having to switch to a heavier, more expensive 2x6 wall. Finally, builders stand to gain financially through various rebate programs such as the federal 45L tax credit and local incentives tied to energy efficiency certifications and HERS ratings.
The adoption of polyiso insulation and weatherization systems represents a step in the right direction toward achieving the most energy-efficient, sustainable building practices. With its impressive performance attributes and compatibility with evolving industry standards, polyiso is poised to play a central role in the construction landscape of the future.