Insulated Composite Backup Panels

Emerging, simplified wall construction system outperforms conventional systems
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Sponsored by CENTRIA
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP

Further, since they can be installed on the outside of at least part of the insulation, they avoid creating a thermal bridge. When installed in this manner, the panel penetration occurs within pressure-equalized joints so that air and water penetration is avoided. The panels themselves typically contain a factory-applied sealant which is “married” to or connects with a continuous bead of field applied non-skinning butyl sealant at the vertical panel joints. Hence, the entire perimeter of the ICBPs is provided with a continuous air and water barrier seal in addition to the non-permeable properties of the panels themselves. If installed in this manner, the panels can actually be field tested with an exterior water spray test. When subjected to 30 to 35 psi of water spray over at least 5 feet of joinery for at least 5 minutes, no visible leakage should occur through the panels. Once that test is completed, then the rainscreen is ready to install.

Many different rainscreen options can be installed over ICBPs including metal finish panels (left) and brick masonry (right) using appropriate connection techniques secured to ICBP clips.

Images courtesy of CENTRIA

 

Rainscreens are meant to be just that–a screen that keeps the initial forces of nature (rain, sun, wind, etc.) off the building. Rainscreens are not meant to be water tight, the back-up system is—in this case, the ICBPs. That means that any rainscreen of choice can be designed or specified for any given installation such as masonry, metal, terra cotta or other available products. Installation is made with connectors such as masonry ties or panel connectors that tie back in to the extended portion of the clip connectors of the ICBPs. Any water that penetrates the rainscreen simply runs down the face of the ICBP which is now the continuous drainage plane for that purpose.

As a manufactured product designed to be installed in a consistent and predictable manner, ICBPs have been tested for compliance with building and fire codes for rigid plastic insulation. In order to be commercially available, manufacturers will readily provide written evidence of passing that testing. Hence, it is entirely appropriate to specify submission of test results as part of the submittal process for any project where these panels are used.

The ultimate result of working with ICBPs is that the design and construction of a simplified wall system is achieved that provides excellent thermal efficiency, advanced moisture protection and vastly reduced potential for failure. They also use fewer components and less labor to install, thus increasing construction efficiency and making them cost effective.

A water spray test at specified pressures for at least 5 minutes along ICBP joints should yield no water penetration.

Photos courtesy of CENTRIA

 

Green Building Contributions

The green building movement in this country has given rise to quantifiable rating systems that seek to establish specific levels of achievement in the creation and performance of green buildings. The best known of these green building rating systems has been developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and known as the LEED® rating system. This is actually a family of ratings that applies to different building situations (e.g., new or existing buildings, core and shell, interiors) and in some cases building types (schools, healthcare, retail, homes, etc.).

All of the LEED rating systems have been subject to ongoing changes and updates since their inception, but the basic categories of defining green buildings have remained the same across the different versions over time. With that in mind, the contributions that ICBPs can make fall into several green building categories.

A completed exterior wall system using ICBPs can provide significant contributions to green building design and performance.

Image courtesy of CENTRIA

 

Optimize Energy Performance
As mentioned earlier, ICBPs can be specified in several thicknesses which relate directly to their insulating value. Commonly 2 inch thick panels rated at R-14 and 3-in. thick panels rated at R-21 are available. When installed outside the studs they are not subject to the correction factors of stud cavity insulation and therefore provide superior performance. When calculating actual wall assembly performance, nonetheless, the overall U-value of the entire assembly should be looked at. In most cases, wall assemblies with ICBPs will perform notably above the minimum required levels in ASHRAE 90.1 and other baseline standards to demonstrate contributions toward better energy performance of the building.

Materials and Resources

Steel building products are commonly manufactured from recycled content that is derived from pre-consumer and post-consumer sources. In the case of ICBPs the steel used can similarly contain recycled content from both of these sources. Since there will likely be a fair amount of panel material in a building, this could mean a significant contribution toward achieving high recycled content in the total building. Of course, the gauge of the steel and the size of the panel will influence the calculations, but the panels overall can commonly be calculated to achieve at least between 15 – 25 percent recycled content calculated by weight. The specifics should of course be verified with the ICBP manufacturer. At the end of the life of the panels or of the building, the ICBPs can potentially be removed and re-used in other buildings. Alternatively, they can be disassembled with the steel and insulation each being recycled into other products.

Beyond recycling, the single component nature of the panels limits or reduces scrap and construction waste on site. The standardized sizing also helps in this regard. Further, since ICBPs are manufactured in the USA that means regional material contributions are also possible.

Indoor Environmental Quality

ICBPs are pre-finished and require no additional painting or coating in the field. That means that the use of any VOC containing paints or coatings are eliminated. Further, low-VOC sealants can readily be specified for the panel installation thus contributing to maintaining a positive indoor environmental quality.

Innovation in Design

Because of the innovative nature of the ICBPs, some manufacturers have gone forward and received cradle to cradle certification for their products making them exceptional contributors to green and sustainable design. If such a product is specified, then this certification can demonstrate contributions to innovation credits. Additionally, these long lasting products demonstrate favorable life cycle analysis while their lightweight and simplified nature reduces transportation weight and embedded energy.

ICBPs are manufactured in standard interlocking profiles and in standard sizes to make installation easy and cost effective.

Image courtesy of CENTRIA

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in September 2012

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