ANSWER

It will save you money. You will have a superior structure when you incorporate INSULAR components. The steel and EPS are fully recyclable. When you consider the waste on the typical job site, you can see the value of using INSULAR as costs are skyrocketing for landfill dump fees.

The following are excellent reasons for using INSULAR Building Systems:

Recently a five man crew, who had never seen INSULAR, installed 234 LF of 9’ wall in less than 7 hours.
Another crew installed 1,250 LF of 18’-21’ high INSULAR walls in five days.

Extensive structural testing has been performed by independent laboratories under ASTM E 72, C-518-76, E 96-80, E 119, E 90, E 413 to evaluate the structural integrity of the panels and to obtain building code compliance. INSULAR regularly performs the following tests on all sizes of the panels: Axial Compressive Load Tests; Racking Shear Load Test and Transverse Load Tests.   Hurricane Test: In August of 1998, a standard 5 ½” x 4’ x 8’ INSULAR wall panel assembly, reinforced on the exterior side with 24 gauge, G-90 galvanized metal studs closely spaced, was subjected to a series of test protocols required by Miami-Dade County, Florida, at the Hurricane Test Laboratory, Inc. in Riviera Beach, Florida. Three different specimens of INSULAR wall assemblies passed with flying colors.   THERMAL ENERGY PERFORMANCE: INSULAR wall panels are ENERGY STAR™ compliant.

The INSULAR panel provides not only structural integrity, but excellent insulation properties as well. The EPS component of the panel is solid (except where wire chases are incorporated) and does not provide voids or allow air movement through the walls. The unique design and utilization of the steel structural members within the panel provides for a thermal break across the panel.

In "stick-built" walls, each stud is a thermal conductor from one wall surface to the other. Quoted R-Values are only for the properly installed insulation between the wood studs. (Look at any thermal photo). Due to the low permeability properties of EPS (water resistance or ability of panel to breathe), ever-present moisture does not affect the R-Values or thermal performance. The unique design of the panel and the use of EPS as a component provide little or no R-Value drift or loss and results in a stable thermal performance for the life of the structure. Conventional types of batt and blown-in insulation may lose up to 50% of effective R-Value due to compression, dust and moisture retention. Even Urethane foam loses its R-Value over time. The R-Value of EPS remains the same in year 20 as on day 1.

The thermal insulating properties of expanded polystyrene are well known. In addition, INSULAR panels are designed with thermal breaks throughout. The steel studs are designed so as not to create a thermal bridge from inside to outside of the panel. Even the shiplap joints preserve the integrity of this thermal break. As determined by the Thermal Resistance Test (ASTM C 518-76 Aged R-Value):

US Metric @ 40F @ 75F Water Vapor Transmission
2 3/4” (70 mm) R-13 ; U or (k)=0.07 R-12 ; U or (k)=0.08
3 1/2” (89 mm) R-16 ; U or (k)=0.06 R-15 ; U or (k)=0.066 .6 Perms
4” (102 mm) R-18 ; U or (k)=0.05 R-17 ; U or (k)=0.058
5 1/2” (140 mm) R-24 ; U or (k)=0.04 R-23 ; U or (k)=0.04 .5 Perms
7 1/2” (190 mm) R-34 ; U or (k)=0.03 R-32 ; U or (k)=0.03

Due to the following factors:

Reduction of air infiltration
Elimination of thermal bridges
Effect of the interior and exterior cladding
Effect of ship lap joints; the effective R & U-Values may be 34% over theoretical. E.g. A 3 1/2” wall panel with no penetrating metal with exterior and interior finish is effective R-22; 5 1/2” wall panel with no penetrating 2 x 6’s with exterior and interior finish is effective R-33 (k-value .030). 7 ½” is effective R-45.6 (k-value .023)

The R-Value only tells half the story for various materials used in wall assemblies and is not a measure of the thermal efficiency of a house. (Wood studs have an R-Value of approximately R-1 per inch and steel studs actually act as a heat sink). Rather, it is a measure of the resistance to heat loss by conduction, convection, and radiation of various materials. Heat loss occurs in other ways -- through cracks, poorly fitted windows and doors, and other forms of air infiltration.

A conventionally framed house using batt insulation may experience considerable air infiltration. The INSULAR panel, due to its design and use of material, is extremely effective in limiting these forms of heat loss.

An INSULAR home tested with the standard blower door pressure of 50 PASCAL’s was determined to have 35% lower air infiltration than a comparable wood frame house. Owners of INSULAR buildings have verified significant savings in utility bills when proper installation procedures are followed and the panels are utilized to their fullest extent. Example: A 180,000 SF senior living facility in Florida is saving thousands of dollars each month. Energy costs have been verified at $0.025 per SF of living area. A 28,000 SF single-family residence is recording energy costs of $0.018 per SF of living area.

In a study conducted by Energy scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory* the stated R-Value of virtually every product on the market evaluated in the “real world” of thermal breaks such as, corners, windows, and doors and stud walls was drastically reduced . . . EXCEPT Structural Insulated Panels. For example: A 2” x 6” stud wall 24” on center with R-19 fiberglass batts tested out with an R-Value of 13.7. A Structural Insulated Panel wall tested at R-21.7. That means that the Structural Insulated Panels out performed a 2” x 6” stud wall by 58%. *ASHRAE Journal March 1996, Christian and Kosny.

SOUND PERFORMANCE:

Panels have been tested (ASTM E90, E413) as a wall system with gypsum wall board: 3 1/2” panel STC 37, party wall STC 51, double 3 1/2” panels with 2”air space STC 57. Other materials may be used on panels for other STC ratings.

PRECISION-QUALITY:

INSULAR panels are manufactured in a controlled factory process. Each panel is inspected, measured and labeled. This assures In-Plant Quality Control along with third party inspection services (RADCO) and (OMEGA POINT LABS), in order to be in compliance with ICC Evaluation services and building codes.

CONSTRUCTION ADVANTAGES:

Properly designed structures utilizing INSULAR panels speed up construction with resulting savings in labor costs and construction loan interest. There is also reduced site material waste, better site litter control, and reduced security requirements. When an INSULAR wall is erected, it is a structural load bearing rigid composite panel that provides structural framing, insulation, sheathing, and a vapor barrier in one high-tech step.

OTHER ADVANTAGES INCLUDE:

Light weight. Easy to handle
Fast Assembly. Compare 64 sf. of exterior load bearing wall assembled using self-tapping screws vs. 12 pcs. of wood, 6 batts of insulation, vapor barriers, corner bracing, 2 sheets of exterior sheathing, approx. 100 fasteners to produce 64 sq. ft. of wood load bearing wall. INSULAR panels eliminate an insulation day on the building schedule.
Dimensionally Stable. Walls are straight and true and will not shrink, twist or move the way wood does. Eliminates call- backs for nail pops and door adjustments.
Damage resistant. Because the EPS material between the studs is solid it makes it difficult to break the gypsum board. Conventional interior sheathing is easily damaged causing air infiltration problems and repair callbacks.
Quality. Finished walls are straight and flat. Appearance of exterior siding and interior drywall is significantly improved. Installing chair rail is actually a pleasure. Drywall installers prefer INSULAR because they have flat walls with a 3” target instead of a 1- 1/2” stud.

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