When purchasing your next Post Frame Building, careful consideration should be taken toward deciding which type of insulation to use.  Whether you are building a Warehouse, Garage, Horse Barn, Storage Building or even a House, the first line of defense for comfort and energy efficiency is always the insulation.  This being the case, adequate insulation for each specific building should be included during the construction process.  This helps to avoid the additional labor required to retrofit later.

With a Steel Roof, it is recommended that there be a reflective vapor barrier to reduce, if not eliminate, the natural condensation that will occur underneath.  The reflective Aluminum facing on the insulation will prevent up to 97% of radiant heat from entering or leaving the building, depending on which product is used. 

Without a reflective barrier, the Sun’s rays (radiant energy) warm through the outer layer of steel, and become HEAT in the building. When this heated air meets cooler air in the building, it creates condensation and forms droplets on the underside of the roof metal and framework.  In the winter the opposite happens when the interior air warms the roof metal, which is also in contact with the extreme cold outside air causing “rain” inside the building.  Not only can this “rain” cause property damage, in worse case scenarios, excessive condensation can rot the framing lumber.

There are many manufacturers in the insulation market that sell products which are very similar, and depending on who you talk to, one is always better than the next. We wanted to explain our primary product line, so that you can make an informed decision for your next Advanced Post Frame Building.  While many builders use similar products for the same purpose, great care should be taken to ensure safety and fire rating when installing insulation materials in your post frame building.  Some products claim excellent Fire Ratings, yet do not hold up in testing.  Any of this information should be available from the manufacturer’s website, or with a simple phone call to their main office.

Our basic insulation for post frame buildings is Single Bubble rFOILTM, from TVM Building Products.  This product consists of a single layer of polyethylene bubbles sandwiched between two layers of pure aluminum rFOILTM, for an R-value of 5.3, and carries a ten year warranty.  This is a cost effective and easily installed product, recommended for ceilings and walls in Post Frame Buildings.  With 97% radiant heat reflection, and excellent vapor barrier protection, it provides adequate insulation and a bright interior for most garages and Agricultural buildings.  rFOILTM is not affected by moisture or humidity, carries a Class 1/ Class A fire rating, and inhibits fungi, bacteria, and rodents.  Testing results and additional information can be obtained from www.tvmi.com.

The next step up would be Solarguard, from CGI Silvercote. While very similar to rFOILTM in appearance and application, there are a few major differences.  Solarguard high performance insulation consists of a ¼” fiberglass core bonded to one layer of 99% pure aluminum and one layer of durable, white scrim-reinforced facing material, for an R-value of 7.6.  Only Solarguard reflective insulation has been tested to the nation’s most stringent and most current Thermal and Fire standards, and has achieved a Class 1/ClassA Fire Rating.  Additionally, Solarguard meets all requirements for reflective insulation as required by the 2000 International Building Code (IBC).  Testing results and additional information can be obtained from www.silvercote.com.

For complete building insulation applications, such as Commercial Garages, Office Buildings, and Homes, we recommend P-2000 Insulation Systems from Perka.  P-2000 consists of anywhere from ½” to 2” of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS foam) laminated with a layer of 99% pure aluminum and a layer of acid-tested, scrim-reinforced, white facing.  This is a revolutionary product that “challenges the R-40 insulations of the world of yesterday”, by forming an Impermeable Barrier that is not affected by moisture, humidity, or temperature changes.  P-2000 Super 1” is hydrophobic, meaning that it’s almost impossible for it to be penetrated by moisture.  Moisture Penetration can cause a permanent loss of R-value to products such as fiberglass batt, and after repeated penetration, the insulation is practically useless.  When installed correctly, P-2000 can be covered with drywall, or left exposed for a nice, white, shiny finish that is also very easy to clean.  The best thing about P-2000 is that we know that “IT WORKS! www.p2insulation.com.

Advanced Post Frame Systems, Inc. is happy to announce that we now carry, in-stock, all three of these products for your convenience.  We are the only supplier in Delaware that carries P-2000.  Also, we are one of the only builders in this area to use the Foil/Foil Single Bubble (most builders install foil/white double bubble) as a bare minimum barrier.  If you have any questions regarding the information in this article, please feel free to call us at 800-500-POST, or stop by our office in Bridgeville, Delaware and see for yourself.