Today’s building professionals recognize that a well-planned building envelope leads to greater energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Motivated by energy challenges and green building mandates, they share a newfound enthusiasm for wall and roof performance.
Insulated metal panels (IMP), for example, help optimize a building’s performance, beginning with the envelope, so a building can achieve LEED goals and net-zero energy targets identified by the U.S. Department of Energy commercial building initiative.
Focusing on enclosure performance, including durability, air tightness and moisture and thermal control, IMPs provide an aesthetically appealing and highly sustainable solution to architectural, commercial/industrial and cold storage markets.
Sustainable Designs Begin with the Envelope
A critical first step to a high-performance, net-zero energy building begins with the envelope, followed by energy conservation measures that include daylighting, HVAC systems, lighting and controls.
Among the most important envelope criteria are building shape and orientation; service life and durability of materials; quality assurance in the construction phase; energy efficiency during building operations; and resistance to air and moisture intrusion. IMPs contribute positively in all of these categories because of a continuous rigid insulation core that provides high R-values and unsurpassed airtightness.
According to the Metal Construction Association’s publication, “Insulated Metal Panels: Proven Performance Meets New Needs,” under normal circumstances, insulation placed within a building’s stud cavity can be as little as 33 percent effective. In contrast, IMPs can provide up to 95 percent thermal efficiency. Engineered as factory-assembled, single-component systems, IMPs are designed to reduce construction time and site-related environmental impacts. With all types of IMPs, the factory controlled, uniform insulation thickness provides continuous insulation that leaves no gaps, seams or thermal bridges in the enclosure and accounts for the high thermal efficiency of IMPs’ core.
IMPs have R-values that range between R-4 and R-48 and a durable metal shell, which protects the building for its entire service life. In addition, the rigid insulation prevents the energy efficiency loss caused by insulation compression. And because the insulation is located on the outside of the building structure, it prevents heat transfers through the framing.
Testing and field results show IMPs contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability in a number of ways, most notably:
- Energy efficiency. IMPs have a core of continuous, rigid insulation for industry leading R- and U-values with superior airtightness performance.
- Recycled and recyclable. The exterior skins contain a substantial amount of recycled content, and the panels themselves are ecyclable at end of life.
- Faster construction times. IMPs are simple to detail and attach, reducing schedule times and installation errors.
- Life-cycle benefits. IMPs last as long as the service life of a typical commercial building. The durable panels also reduce operation costs for energy and maintenance and offer multiple end-of-life reuse options.
- Building certification and green targets. IMPs potentially contribute to LEED certification programs and the path to net-zero energy targets.
Preparing for the Future
The continuous, structural integrity of IMPs leads to consistent lifetime thermal performance and associated reductions in energy use, operational costs and carbon footprint. A well-insulated, low-leakage envelope provides a foundation for all other energy efficiency strategies. By reducing the heating and cooling loads that must be handled by other systems, the cost of making those systems efficient is decreased. In addition, an efficient envelope will be in place throughout the life of the building, while other systems are often replaced at some point in the building’s life.
Installing efficient building systems, beginning with the building envelope, followed by energy conservation measures and renewable power generating systems, represents an ideal approach for creating net-zero buildings and a sustainable future.
Louise Foody is the marketing manager at Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, Deland, Fla. For more information, visit www.kingspanpanels.us.
