What insulation on commercial building?
From my office I have seen quite a number of buildings go up over recent years. Once the steel skeleton is up and the floors are poured, the exterior gets sheathed in with some colorful insulating sheets. One under way now is bright yellow, one last year was bright blue. From this distance it looks like foam board. I can’t read the writing on it. Later the insulation gets covered with an exterior skin to the weather.
Anyone know what’s typically used and what thickness this (apparently) foam layer is? What does any applicable energy code for a commercial building call for in terms of R value?
Replies
The yellow stuff is probably Densglass exterior gypsum board, and not insulation
ASHRAE Standard 90.1, various year versions (most recent being 2007), are generally the basis for local code requirements as far as I know. Around here (NYC), the 2004 version calls for about R-8 (varies by climate zones, also defined in 90.1). Not exactly stringent...
The sheathing is exterior gyp like Mark said. I do a lot of commercial work and fiberglass R12 or R19 is standard depending on wall thickness. I am on the west coast.
Funny story about yellow densglass. We had a five story condo job rocked up on the exterior and a lady called the city, very upset, and complained that the yellow was not the color shown of the building during the permit process.
Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.