Continuous insulation, why you should have it
D
o you want to reduce the risk of condensation and humidity in your buildings? Increase the energy efficiency of
Continuous insulation is defined as “in-
greatly increases the building’s en-
sulation that is continuous across all
ergy efficiency
your systems and keep the heat inside?
terior, exterior, or is an integral part of
With the right insulation product, you
any opaque surface of the building en-
can address all these aspects with a
velope.” Moreover, it can be used with
single product.
a variety of wall systems and cladding
Why you need it
materials.
Continuous insulation can serve several
Effective insulation systems slow down
structural members without thermal
• P roperly sealed joints minimizing air
bridges other than fasteners and ser-
movement, which reduces infiltration
vice openings. It is installed on the in-
and leaks
heat movement and reduce moisture
Furthermore,
transfers at an affordable cost.
can be placed on the interior or exterior
The importance of good insulation
continuous
insulation
side of the wall, thus meeting climatedependent moisture vapour control code requirements. Finally, it is possible
• Lower risk of condensation and moisture infiltration
important functions in a high-performing wall system, including continuous thermal insulation, moisture vapour control, and water and air barriers. These features provide the following benefits:
Insulation products limit heat ex-
to use continuous insulation alone to
change between the inside and outside
meet energy code requirements without
• Increased thermal performance
of a building in order to make it more
any cavity insulation, for the ultimate
• Lower operating costs
efficient. For the highest thermal per-
“warm wall” design.
• Reduced air infiltration and exfiltra-
formance, the construction must be designed to have high thermal resistance (R-value). It is a proven fact that con-
Continuous insulation of a building comes with several benefits:
tion • Decreased risk of water condensation and moisture penetration
tinuous insulation is the most effective
• Elimination of thermal bridges, which
method to generate energy savings, as
increases the overall performance of
• Efficient installation
it eliminates thermal bridges through
the wall assembly
Decreased air leaks, increased energy efficiency
steel, wood, and concrete structures.
• Money and energy savings, which
Air leaks are a common problem in a building envelope. They’re essentially the result of uncontrolled air movement and can cause several other problems: • Condensation • Moisture • Mould growth • Lower air quality inside the building
Understanding water condensation When it comes to condensation, it is important to know that warm air can hold more water vapour than cold air. When warm air cools, the relative humidity percentage increases and can 38
Ops Talk • Fall 2017
