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OPTIM-R Vacuum Insulation Panels
Next generation VIP insulation with R-28 for roofing applications
The high-rise building on Fifth Avenue in New York was built in 1931 as an Art Deco-style office building. 34 stories tall with floor sizes ranging from 3,500 to 27,000 square feet, Ely Jacques Kahn designed the building to look as if it was leaning away from the viewer to make it seem taller. In 2017, the historic skyscraper was due for a roofing remodel on one of the floors to improve the building’s performance.
Squibb Buildiing on 5th Ave.
Project Overview
Project Name: Boutique Building Green Apartments
Location: West New York, New Jersey
Building Owner: Paramount Group, Inc
Products: OPTIM-R® (Vacuum Insulation Panel), GreenGuard® Type VII 60PSI XPS Insulation
Application: Roof Retrofit
Accommodating Design without Spending Millions
Data from 2015 indicated that New York City buildings were responsible for 67 percent of citywide greenhouse gas emissions. In a citywide effort to combat further environmental damage, the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) updated its energy efficiency standards for new construction and remodels to also apply to existing buildings. All new roof applications would need to meet stringent local codes for the building’s energy performance. However, adding insulation layers to the building envelope posed considerable challenges and costs to the building owner.
“There would have been three or four major renovations that would need to be done to the roof,” says Andrew Wilson with Kingspan, who worked with the building owner on the project.
“The biggest change was probably the railing details. In New York, you have to have your railing details a certain height, so, when they add additional insulation needed to meet the current code of R-30, the railings would be too shallow, which means you’re not compliant with regulations for railing details.”
Repairs to the roof’s terrace brought up additional issues. Three door entries led to the building’s terrace, and any new insulation added would raise the roof’s paver system. All of the door thresholds would then need to be raised, which meant contractors would need to address all flashing on the roof.
In addition to the extra renovations, any nearby rental space in the building would need to be cleared out.
“The biggest concern for the client,” says Andrew, “was that they would have to take the renters out of that building during the renovation because there was going to be heavy work done. So they would have to move them out of there, losing that space for six to nine months, which is a huge loss of income for them.”
Kingspan OPTIM-R Vacuum Insulated Panels
Kingspan OPTIM-R is a next-generation insulation that features rigid vacuum insulation panels (VIP) with a microporous core, which is evacuated, encased, and sealed in a thin, as-tight envelope. Ideal for roofing, balconies, and terrace systems.
Meeting Code Requirements with Solutions that Save
Paramount Group needed a different solution that was going to cost them less time and save on total project costs. Kingspan Insulation had been involved in several local renovations and was approached by Paramount Group to bid on the project. Kingspan won the bid, thanks to their newest, next-generation insulation product: Kingspan OPTIM-R®.
Kingspan developed its high-performing OPTIM-R® line of insulating boards for projects like the Squibb Building that need creative solutions when space is a factor. These rigid vacuum insulation panels are comprised of a microporous core sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. The panels offer outstanding R-values and an ultra-thin insulation solution, perfect for retrofit applications where a lack of construction space or depth is an issue.
By insulating the Squibb Building with OPTIM-R®, the only update needed to get the building’s roof to code was adding on Kingspan’s product. Because OPTIM-R® was so thin, the client saved weeks in construction time as the insulation wouldn’t affect the railing details or raise the roof pavers which would require replacing the flashing or thresholds of the doors. And because they didn’t have to do the extra renovations of fixing railing or roof pavers, they didn’t have to ask the renters to relocate while the insulation was installed.
"The installers could do it during the day while the offices were still working because it was only cutting or laying the OPTIM-R® and GreenGuard® insulation or putting waterproofing down,” explains Andrew. “In the end, we ended up surpassing the required R-30 and reached R-38 with the new build-up.”
GreenGuard® Type VII 60PSI XPS Insulation Board
Type VII XPS Insulation Board closed–cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) with a minimum compressive strength of 60 psi, produced with blowing agent blend for GWP of less than 50. Designed for, cold storage floors, parking decks, and more!
Since there was no need to conduct extra renovations, the project time was cut down considerably, making it easier to hire contractors for the job.
“When there’s a labor shortage you want to cut down as much as you can on install to get that building done. It gives them time to put their better guys on it, and give that better reputation to that client,” says Andrew. “For the installer or the roofing contractors, to them, the time savings is a huge benefit as well.”
By selecting OPTIM-R®, Paramount-Group gained a higher-performing building without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations or losing valuable business. They had a total cost savings of over $1.2 million and saved over 3 months in construction time.
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Kingspan Insulation: Squibb Building
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