Continuous Insulation

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Author Message Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 260 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 05:30 pm:    In our area, Zone 4, it is required for metal stud construction. Does anyone have an understanding of just how continuous it needs to be? Do shelf angles need to be pulled off the building so insulation passes by? Or, is there some leeway as long as an "average" is attained? Brian E. Trimble, CDT Senior Member Username: brian_e_trimble_cdt Post Number: 62 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 10:30 pm:    I'm not sure that the codes are that specific about how continuous is continuous. I think that in most cases it is the majority of the wall that requires ci. Shelf angles and wall ties are thermal bridges in the wall that must be dealt with separately. In my presentations on brick veneer systems I have been bringing up the idea of using a bracket system to minimize thermal bridging. AISC just came out with a new document to help address this (http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/March_2012/032012_thermal_bridging_March_insert.pdf). I think that even if this isn't specifically covered by the code under ci, I think it is a thermal bridge that should be addressed. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 245 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 09:16 am:    I understand that this even applies to curtain wall areas. How on earth is that supposed to happen? John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1395 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 04:35 pm:    Massachusetts has this requirement. For at least ten years the typical method has been to put rigid insulation outside of the sheathing (for a number of reasons besides the continuity). Typically shelf angles and other connections do penetrate this insulation. While this is a thermal bridge, it has not ever been raised as a code issue to my knowledge.