Building codes require minimum levels of insulation in order to conserve energy and make your home more comfortable. With InSoFast EPS foam insulation panels for exterior walls, you’ll enjoy increased R value, decreased air infiltration, and better overall vapor management.
Fiberglass Insulation or InSoFast EPS Panels?
With traditional wood framing and fiberglass insulation, each wood stud represents a thermal short circuit where moisture-filled, heat-transferring air can pass through the barrier. The stud area accounts for 15% to 25% of the wall surface and significantly reduces the R-value of the fiberglass.
The advantages of choosing InSoFast continuous insulation panels instead of fiberglass include:
Thermal bridging: InSoFast panels qualify as continuous insulation (CI) because the integrated, non-conductive polypropylene studs are fully encapsulated by the insulating material, eliminating the potential for thermal bridging to occur. The interlocking grooves also create a tight seal at the intersection of each panel.
Moisture and R-value: Mold can grow on moist fiberglass, and moisture can lead to rot and decay of the wood-framing between it. Fiberglass loses as much as 80% of its R-value when exposed to even low moisture levels (especially common in below-grade applications). InSoFast panels maintain a constant R-value when exposed to moisture and will shed liquid water due to the engineered moisture control channels built into the panel.
Ease of installation: Installing traditional fiberglass insulation is complicated and is not a DIY kind of job. The tongue-and-groove connections within InSoFast panels allow them to be installed with no gaps, and alignment notches make installation virtually foolproof. Most installations can be completed with a minimum of tools and supplies, including a utility knife, hand saw, caulk gun and construction glue.
InSoFast Exterior Insulation
The InSoFast EXe 2.5 Panel is an R-10 continuous insulation (CI) weather screen assembly that is optimized for exterior usage and maximizes energy efficiency and moisture management. Their continuous R-value of 10 outperforms traditionally framed R-15 batt walls.
The 2 ½-inch thick panels feature dual-sided ORSC, Section R703.1.1-approved rain screen and drainage technology that allows multi-directional air flow and helps ensure that no moisture penetrates the wall assembly.
When you need to increase your R-Value beyond R-10 code minimums while maintaining the engineered benefits of continuous InSoFast panels, use either our 2-inch thick UX 2.0 panels or EX 2.5 panels over the base panels to develop an InSoFast PLUS wall, which increases the R-value from R-8.5 to R-21.
InSoFast panels can be installed over your existing weather resistant barrier or house wrap. They serve as a secondary weather resistant barrier that is well-suited to absorptive claddings such as stucco or stone and provide a much-needed capillary break from wood framed walls and sheathing.
Siding can be attached directly to the panel’s embedded stud framing. The polypropylene plastic studs have the same structural strength of 20-gauge steel studs but, unlike metal, do not conduct heat and will not disrupt the home’s thermal protection.
When retrofitting some older structures, you won’t have to remove existing wood siding or trim boards and can incapsulate old lead paint siding instead of wasting time, energy and expense on abatement.
InSoFast panels are designed to incorporate multiple complex architectural functions in a single, hassle-free design. “Five Exterior InSoFast Projects You Should See” provides the details of five inspiring exterior projects.
Call us today at (888) 501-7899 to learn more about R-value and InSoFast EPS foam insulation panels for exterior walls. You will also find many informative videos and resources on the InSoFast website.
