Substrates and conditions shall be examined with installer (Who will do the work) present, to check compliance with requirements for substrates and related work, and other conditions affecting performance.
Commercial Building Insulation Installation
Preparation
Substrates shall be cleaned of substances harmful to insulation or vapor retarders, including removal of projections capable of puncturing foil-faced vapor retarders, or of interfering with insulation attachment.
Building Insulation Installation General
- Insulation manufacturer’s written instructions for products and application shall be complied with.
- Insulation shall be undamaged, dry, and unsoiled at the time of installation.
- Insulation shall be extended in thickness indicated to envelop entire area to be insulated. It shall be cut and fitted tightly around obstructions, with voids filled with insulation. Projections that interfere with placement shall be removed.
- If water piping is located on inside of insulated exterior walls, location of piping shall be coordinated to ensure that it is placed on warm side of insulation, and the insulation encapsulates piping.
- A single layer of insulation shall produce thickness indicated in drawing or contract, unless multiple layers are required to make up total thickness.
Installation of General Building Insulation
- Insulation units shall be applied to substrates by method indicated, complying with manufacturer’s written instructions. If no specific method is indicated, units shall be bonded to substrate with adhesive, or mechanical anchorage shall be used to provide permanent placement and support of units.
- Joints between closed-cell (non breathing) insulation units shall be sealed by applying adhesive, mastic, or sealant to edges of each unit, to form a tight seal as units are pushed into place. Voids in completed installation shall be filled with adhesive, mastic, or sealant as recommended by insulation manufacturer.
- Vapor-retarder-foil faced units shall be set to warm side of construction, unless otherwise indicated. Ventilation spaces shall not be obstructed, except for fire stopping.
- Joints and ruptures in vapor retarder shall be taped, and each continuous area of insulation shall be sealed to surrounding construction, to ensure airtight installation.
Installation of Cavity Walls and Masonry Cell Insulation
- On units of plastic insulation, small pads of adhesives recommended by insulation manufacturer shall be installed, spaced approximately 610 mm on centre both ways on inside face, as recommended by manufacturer. Courses of insulation shall be fitted between wall ties and other confining obstructions in cavity, with edges butted tightly both ways. Units shall be pressed firmly against inside wythe of masonry or other construction as shown.
- Adhesive attachment of insulation shall be supplemented by securing boards with two-piece wall ties designed for this purpose.
Installation of Perimeter Fire-containment Systems
- Perimeter fire-containment systems shall be installed, to fill gap between edge of concrete floor slab, fire walls, penetrations through fire walls and where indicated on the drawings.
- Insulation shall be cut wider than gap to be filled, to ensure compression fit. Joint between insulation and edge of building material shall be sealed with caulking approved by insulation manufacturer, to maintain required fire-containment. No voids shall be left in completed installation.
Protection
- Installed insulation shall be protected from damage due to harmful weather exposures, physical abuse, and other causes. Temporary coverings or enclosures shall be provided where insulation is subject to abuse and cannot be concealed and protected by permanent construction immediately after installation.