WHETHER MANAGING EXTREME THERMAL CHALLENGES, MEETING ESCALATING CODES AND ACOUSTIC REQUIREMENTS, CI INTEGRATES BOTH PERFORMANCE AND AESTHETICS TO COMMERCIAL ENCLOSURES.
If you want to fully appreciate an insulating material’s capabilities, it is helpful to consider its performance in both everyday applications and extreme situations. Whether delivering thermal comfort in an arctic climate zone, meeting the most rigorous of code requirements for government buildings or supporting the design details of an urban-chic, open joint assembly, the choice of continuous insulation can influence occupant comfort, energy efficiency and even a building’s design aesthetic.
Lyle Axelarris PE is a building enclosure consultant with Design Alaska, one of the state’s largest design firms, and a Building Science instructor at the Boston Architectural College and the University of Washington. Residing in Alaska’s extreme climate for 20 years before moving to relatively balmy Michigan, Axelarris has witnessed shifts in how building professionals think about CI as a tool to mitigate thermal bridging, protect against condensation inside the wall assembly and, more recently, contribute to emerging design trends.