Arguably, selecting insulation and cover boards is the most important decision when designing a roofing system because of the many benefits these products provide in terms of service life, building safety, and energy efficiency. This course explores the characteristics, advantages, and cautions of the primary insulation and cover boards on the commercial roofing market today, and then considers the installation methodologies that will optimize the building’s energy efficiency.
Learning Objectives
1. Evaluate three roofing insulation product types by describing the characteristics, advantages, and cautions of each type, and identify any environmental efficiency each provides.
2. Explain the evolution of cover boards, focusing on the characteristics of the cover board product types most commonly used today, and explain how cover boards combined with insulation increases energy efficiency.
3. Describe three methods for attaching roofing insulation and cover boards, and explain how they meet design and code requirements.
4. Demonstrate the importance of proper slope for drainage, and how tapered insulation systems can economically meet design needs for new and existing roofs.
5. Define R-values for insulation and cover boards, including the use of long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) values for foam insulation products.