Phenolic Foam Roofing Insulation Problems

Phenolic foam insulation was a short lived innovation developed in the early 80s in response to the energy crisis driven demand for greater insulation efficiency.

Phenolic foam roofing insulation problems. Phenolic foam insulation used to be available in board form but today is only sold as a type of foamed in place insulation. Firestone building products expands comprehensive portfolio with genflex seam2seam epdm sa gacopatch tube and firestone pvc the new solutions add to robust roofing and building products set to provide a more complete offering for contractors and roofing professionals nashville tenn. Four types of rigid insulation are fastened to a steel deck. Images 1 through 5.

September 17 2020 firestone building products llc fsbp an industry leader providing trusted. Bda keuringsinstituut kiwa nv the test assembly covered with a roofing membrane. Phenolic insulation exposed to humidity or direct moisture such as roof leaking creates sulphonic acid. Many people have concerns about the spray foam roof insulation problems that it may cause.

The first inkling there might be a problem with phenolic foam roof insulation came during the late 1980s and early 1990s when roof systems that were less than 10 years old began to fail. The reason is that phenolic dust once introduced to moisture can become very acidic and damage surrounding materials. Clockwise from upper left. The underside of the steel profile deck with a fastener after the test.

The phenolic foam roof insulation turned out to have a critical flaw. Currently july 2014 membrane roofing manufacturers will not issue a warranty on new roofing on buildings which had phenolic insulation. Eps mineral wool polyurethane and phenolic foam insulation. Phenolic insulation and the building envelope is another article outlining the issues with this insulation with color photographs.

Is it really an issue or are the advantages outweighing the disadvantages. It offers many advantages including excellent density and an r value of 4 8 per inch of thickness which forms an effective barrier against heat transfer and thus helps you save energy around the house. From the august 2004 issue of iibec interface the technical journal of iibec formerly rci inc. The energy saving trust estimates that the average uk home can save as much as 300 per year simply by adding insulation to the loft or roof.

As regulations required higher r value insulation in roofs a demand arose for material which offered both fire resistance and high r value while not requiring a full roofing re. In most cases the recommendations. When it was installed over a lightly primed painted metal deck any water in the roof. Phenolic insulation has low flame and smoke reaction to fire.