Polyiso Roof Insulation

When it comes to selecting the best overall insulation product for roof and wall systems, Polyiso is the product of choice. No other foam insulation has the perfect combination of features so important for long-term performance. These features provide excellent initial installation costs, as well as attractive life-cycle payback rates, which can be easily calculated by using the EnergyWise Roof Calculator Online (NRCA/PIMA). Ask your Atlas Sales representative for a demonstration.

Polyiso insulation is the only foam insulation that can be used in almost all types of roof systems without the need for a thermal barrier. Polyiso’s high-temperature stability prevents melting when mopped with hot bitumen. Polyiso is unaffected by properly applied construction adhesives, and many membrane manufacturers specify its use without the need for a cover board in single-ply adhered systems.

All Atlas ACFoam® polyiso insulations are QualityMark^cm certified, giving consumers an easy way to identify quality products that meet or exceed listed LTTR-values. Atlas recommends ACFoam® Roof Insulation only for roofing applications installed by a qualified contractor. FM Approvals has approved the use of ACFoam® as a component in Class 1 insulated roof deck construction. ACFoam® has also been tested and Classified by Underwriters Laboratories as a component of an insulated roof deck.

Typical Commercial Roof System Design Criteria

Several design criteria require the designer’s consideration when determining the components of a roof assembly. The following checklist is not exhaustive but should assist in the design process:

Geographical location (climate)

Building usage (temperature and humidity)

Type of roof deck

Code requirements

Slope and drainage

Desired thermal requirements

Insurance requirements (fire and wind)

Environmental factors

Roofing materials

Manufacturer’s requirements

Benefits of Roof Insulation

Because of its ability to resist heat transfer, roof insulation conserves energy and increases occupant comfort. It also provides important roof system benefits:

Helps reduce CO2 Footprint

May prevent interior condensation

Provides a suitable substrate for the roof membrane

Reduces deck movement by stabilizing temperatures

CGF Faced Products are Highly Resistant to Mold Growth

Key component of fire rated roof assemblies

Compatible with system components, including adhesives

Dimensionally stable

Improves energy efficiency in buildings

Here are some quick links to help navigate the Atlas polyiso product offerings:

Flat Roof Insulation	Tapered Insulation	Nailable Insulation
Gemini™ Pre-Cut	Facer Technology	Energy Conservation
Polyiso LEED Potential	Atlas City	Return on Investment

Lifecycle Assessment

Besides its many well-known benefits, including serving as an appropriate base for roof membranes, improving occupant comfort, reducing potential for condensation, and reducing operating expenses, ACFoam also provides a positive Life Cycle Assessment, a key measure of sustainability. Based on a cradle-to-grave assessment, ACFoam greatly reduces fossil fuel use and associated carbon emissions. Energy savings and carbon reductions greatly outweigh the marginal embodied energy needed for the creation, use, and disposal of the material. For more information, check out Bayer's recent study on polyiso Life Cycle Assessment.

Awards

Atlas polyiso products and the trade association representing the industry, PIMA, have received many environmental awards. These include the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council’s (SBIC) 2003 “Best Practice” Sustainability Award and the U.S. EPA’s Climate Protection Award for the association’s leadership in promoting energy efficiency and climate protection.

In 1999 the U.S. EPA also awarded Atlas the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for “leadership in CFC phase-out in Polyiso insulation and in recognition of exceptional contributions to global environmental protection.