How are commercial roofs insulated?

Commercial roofs are insulated with the insertion of a layer of material between the building and the roofing membrane--or top layer--of the roof. This material resists thermal transfer to help a building keep its heat inside. The name for this kind of thermal efficiency in insulation is known as the R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating performance.

Commercial roofing contractors in Vancouver have several options available when it comes to commercial roof insulation. Some forms are not compatible with certain types of roofing systems. One core factor in deciding which is most suitable for a particular application is knowing what thermal efficiency is required for a specific building.

The more common types of commercial roof insulation with R-value

• Spray Foam 7.2

• Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) 6.8

• Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) 5

• Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)4.6

• Mineral Wool/Fiberglass

Spray Foam is a type of polyurethane and has a high R-value of 7.2.  Polyurethane itself is moisture resistant and provides structural strength and high fire-resistance. Its spray-on form allows it to conform to any shape and seal all openings.

Polyiso is short for polyisocyanurate. It comes in the form of rigid foam boards and boasts an R-value of 6.8. The advantages of polyiso include high fire-resistance, low water-absorption and high compressive strength--making it great choice for protecting the roof from foot traffic and hail. It can be used in hot asphalt roofing systems, is economical and one of the top choices for flat roof buildings.

Extruded Polystyrene, called XPS, has an R-value of 5. It is often used on Inverted Roofs and is susceptible to hot asphalt.

Expanded polystyrene, called EPS is made from the same base as XPS, but is manufactured differently from that point on. It carries an R-value of a stable 4.6 which doesn’t degrade over time like others do. It is a popular option because it is lightweight and can be cut to fit on-site. EPS is compatible with a number of commercial roofing systems including single-ply, BUR and mod-bit.

If you have questions about insulating your flat roof/low slope roof building, contact a commercial roofing contractor in Vancouver to go over the best option that would be right for you.

Laurentian Roofing is your roofing contractor for all Vancouver's Lower Mainland. We take every roofing request seriously. Give us a call at 604-345-7663.