Insulation: Evolution of a classic product

Insulation manufacturers are changing the landscape by offering new products that meet demand for ease-of-use and high energy efficiency. Residential Design + Build magazine spoke with four manufacturers about their product offerings and where trends are headed. Continue reading as they share their thoughts.

CertainTeed Corp.

Industry: “In general, the insulation industry is moving toward products that can increase energy efficiency and enhance a home’s resulting indoor air quality, while improving installation and reducing environmental impact. Fiberglass is one of the better choices in that effort, given that fiberglass is proven, affordable, lasts the life of a structure and saves much more energy than is required to produce it,” says Rob Brockman, senior marketing manager, CertainTeed Insulation.

Product offering: “CertainTeed offers a robust lineup of fiberglass insulation products to meet the needs of various applications of sustainable insulation: Basement Wall blankets; Building Insulation batts and rolls; DryRight with MemBrain smart vapor retarder technology; EasyTouch Encapsulated batts and rolls; High Performance batts; Masonry Wall; and NoiseReducer sound attenuation batts,” Brockman says. “[CertainTeed also offers] loose-fill solutions from the innovator of Premium Fiberglass blowing insulation: Optima blow-in insulation system; InsulSafe SP Premium Blowing Wool; SpeedyR Tabless batts; TrueComfort blow-in insulation; and UltraComfort blowing insulation.”

Where it is going: “It’s not only about certified green product claims and specific attributes. Those features will keep products in the running but it is going to be critical to architects, builders and homeowners that the organization manufacturing green products is taking the larger picture into account and walking the talk,” Brockman says. “Insulation needs to do more than just provide thermal and acoustical performance in the wall cavities of homes. The building and design community can help build an environment of change by using products that promote sustainability beyond the regular attributes.”

Johns Manville

Industry: “The biggest changes in fiberglass insulation products for residential new construction have been years in the making. There have been dramatic shifts in the following areas such as binder technology and the combination of foam and fiberglass,” says Stephen Crouch, residential market manager for insulation systems, Johns Manville. “Several years ago, the world of building insulation was black and white; builders either installed spray foam or fiberglass. Today, the lines are blurred and we are seeing more builders adopt foam and fiber glass systems,” Crouch says. “Builders now recognize foam as a critical element of the insulation package, especially when air sealing is required or when condensation is a concern. “Builders recognize the value of foam/fiberglass hybrid systems; hybrid systems deliver the air-sealing performance of foam and thermal performance of fiberglass at a lower cost than other systems. Builders install either fiberglass batts or loose-fill fiberglass over spray foam to completely fill the cavity with insulation,” Crouch says.

Product offering: “Johns Manville offers a full line of formaldehyde-free fiberglass building insulation products for both residential and commercial new construction. Some of our key differentiators in the industry are: JM ComfortTherm Encapsulated batt insulation, JM Spider custom insulation system with adhesive, Indoor Advantage Gold Plus Formaldehyde Free certification and MR Faced mold resistant batt insulation,” Crouch says.