Page 31 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

Exteriors / Roofing / Structure / Insulation / IAQ / Windows / Heating / Lighting / Appliances / Faucets & Fixtures / Finishes / Cabinets & Tops / Alternative Energy

Owens Corning ProPink Rigid Foam Insulation
High Performance
Conditioned Attic 29
System
Virtues Caveats
Approved for Zones 2B and 3B,
this solution consists of ProPink ■■ High R-value per inch ■■ Some brands may
One foam sealant, ProPink Boxed shrink over time
Netting and ProPink loose-fill ■■ Seals against air infiltration
fiberglass insulation. The system ■■ Producing synthetic foam is a
creates a conditioned attic, which ■■ Good solution for resource-intensive process
is more efficient when HVAC basement walls
equipment is located there.
http://bit.ly/1Gnpt8p

Icynene Classic Max

This open-cell spray foam
insulation from Icynene boasts
an R-value of R-3.7 per inch.
Its new low-VOC formula
allows for one hour re-entry
and re-occupancy after two
hours of active ventilation (at 40
ACH) following installation, so
construction schedules can be
shortened. Classic Max is 100
percent water blown.
http://bit.ly/1N8T3Xg

Cladding Considerations CREDIT: BUILDING SCIENCE CORPORATION Some claddings, www.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015
such as stucco
EXTRA-THICK LAYERS of exterior insulation can greatly and adhered
improve the energy performance of homes, but installation stone veneer, may
requires some special techniques. require additional
For thinner insulation, the cladding can often be attached support between
directly through the rigid insulation back to the structure. The the structural
practical limit of this approach is around 1-½” of rigid insulation, furring strips
due to the limited fastener lengths for many pneumatic nail guns. to facilitate the
installation. Wood
For thicker insulation, vertical wood furring strips can provide shingles require
a cladding attachment location. This approach also provides a a continuous nail
drainage and ventilation gap behind the cladding, which helps base, which is
manage water. To adequately support the cladding, the furring best provided by
strips should be attached back to the structure using #10 or installing another
larger wood screws that are sized to maintain a 1-¼” minimum layer of structural
embedment into the structural framing. sheathing directly
over the insulation
in place of wood
furring strips.

CELLULOSE 48 hours). The insulating value of cellulose is about the same as
Paper Trail blown fiber glass (roughly R-3.7 per inch).

Cellulose has a good green story to tell, especially from the MINERAL WOOL
manufacturing side. It’s made primarily with recycled paper, Nothing to Burn
typically newspapers, and most brands are treated with boric
acid as a fire retardant. Research on the health effects of boric Although mineral wool looks like fiberglass, it’s made from basalt
acid suggest that it is a minor irritant in small doses. Cellulose rock and slag, not glass. The resulting product, either batts or loose
can be installed wet or dry. If installed wet, it should be allowed fill, is non-flammable, requiring no chemical flame retardants.
to dry properly before covering with drywall (typically less than
continued on page 31