Building utilizing insulation solution from Dow Corning aims to meet extreme energy-efficiency standard

Case Study: Kiln Apartments, Portland, Oregon USA

With the goal of becoming one of the THE SOLUTION most energy-efficient multifamily housing buildings in the U.S., the Kiln GBD Architects worked with Apartments building in Portland, Oregon, Dow Corning to specify Dow Corning® is pursuing the aggressive “Passive HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket, House” standard for energy efficiency. a thin-profile, flexible material that was The standard, which originated in cut to fit the sunshade attachment area Germany, often results in buildings 80 (See Figure 1). to 90 percent more efficient than the PRODUCT Featuring R 9.8 per inch insulation average home in the U.S. Dow Corning® HPI-1000 Building performance, Dow Corning HPI-1000 Insulation Blanket “The owner’s goal was to build a small Building Insulation Blanket reduces apartment project that pushed the limits heat loss and minimizes the potential for KEY PARTICIPANTS on the building envelope’s efficiency,” thermal bridging. Architect – GBD Architects, Inc. said David Posada, sustainability “Being able to meet or exceed the – David Posada, Sustainability manager at GBD Architects, Inc. “So we insulation value requirements in Manager enthusiastically accepted the challenge something so thin is tremendously Contractor – Lorentz Bruun and started working right away.” valuable when you’re dealing with Construction tricky details around a window – or – Eric Saunders, Senior Project THE CHALLENGE something attached to a window,” Manager One design feature of the Kiln Apart- Posada said. “Especially when you need ments is sunshade thermal shims that a much thinner assembly for aesthetics ABOUT PASSIVE HOUSE were installed like visors on the top edge and don’t have room for traditional The Passive House building of the building’s windows. Bolted to the insulation.” standard is one of the most wall, the 18-inch metal shades created rigorous energy standards in the thermal bridging challenges. world. Passive House buildings “The problem with the sunshades is that are virtually airtight and highly they are metal structures that extend out insulated, allowing them to be from the building and, therefore, leak a ® heated almost solely with solar lot of heat from the building,” Posada Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building and internal gains and cooled by said. “It works almost like a reverse ra- Insulation Blanket shading and window placement. diator, and there is a much larger amount These techniques result in up to of heat loss than from just a bolt.” a 90 percent savings in energy The stringent insulation requirements ® costs and good indoor air quality to meet Passive House standards made Figure 1. Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket as a thermal isolator to compared to conventional building minimizing heat loss in this area crucial. a stainless steel sunshade support. techniques. Because Passive House focuses on how much energy is used per square foot in a building per year, buildings must have Thin insulation materials that offer a high-performing, continuous building a superior R-value are becoming envelope. increasingly important in the building industry, particularly in colder climates and in areas with strict energy codes. “In colder parts of the country, it’s becoming more common practice to add continuous insulation on the exterior of the building, and contractors are struggling with how to attach siding onto layers of insulation,” Posada said. “It’s something the industry is really grappling with, and products like this help fit insulation into places where it wouldn’t fit before.” Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket can help architects and contractors comply with rigorous energy codes that are tightening specifications for insulation and thermal bridging. Using this material on the Kiln Apartments not only helped the project meet Oregon building codes that are more rigid than the national average, but also the more stringent Passive House standards. “Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket can be used anyplace where you need to prevent thermal bridging in a small space – especially the weakest link in building insulation: windows,” Posada said. “As more builders aim for LEED qualifications, they will need better ventilation and insulation value at windows.”

ABOUT DOW CORNING® BUILDING INSULATION BLANKET Effective building insulation requires complete protection, even at the tough connection points and transitions in building envelopes, such as where glazing systems meet cavity walls, where below-grade systems meet above- grade systems and where parapets meet roofs. Thin-profile Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket (10 mm thickness) is easy to install in difficult profiles, including curves and corners. Dow Corning HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket also is fire-resistant and hydrophobic, and it does not settle over time. It offers a significantly higher Photos: Front: AV22102, AV21967; Back: AV22104 thermal resistance – an R-value of 9.8 hr-ft2-F/Btu per inch HANDLING PRECAUTIONS 2 PRODUCT SAFETY INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR SAFE USE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS (USI-value = 0.58 W/m K per 25 mm thickness) – compared DOCUMENT. BEFORE HANDLING, READ PRODUCT AND MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS with conventional insulating materials. AND CONTAINER LABELS FOR SAFE USE, PHYSICAL AND HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION. THE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET IS AVAILABLE ON THE DOW CORNING WEBSITE AT DOWCORNING.COM, OR FROM YOUR DOW CORNING SALES APPLICATION ENGINEER, LEARN MORE: CONTACT US OR DISTRIBUTOR, OR BY CALLING DOW CORNING CUSTOMER SERVICE. LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY Dow Corning High Performance Building Solutions include The information contained herein is offered in good faith and is believed to be accurate. However, proven materials for structural and protective glazing, because conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control, this information should not be used in substitution for customer’s tests to ensure that our products are safe, effective weatherproofing, insulating glass, window and door and fully satisfactory for the intended end use. Suggestions of use shall not be taken as induce- fabrication, and building materials protection, as well as ments to infringe any patent. ® Dow Corning’s sole warranty is that our products will meet the sales specifications in effect at the innovations such as the Dow Corning Silicone Air Barrier time of shipment. ® System, Dow Corning Architectural Insulation Modules and Your exclusive remedy for breach of such warranty is limited to refund of purchase price or re- Dow Corning® HPI-1000 Building Insulation Blanket. placement of any product shown to be other than as warranted. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DOW CORNING SPECIFICALLY To learn more about Dow Corning High Performance DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICU- Building Solutions, visit dowcorning.com/HPInsulation. LAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY. DOW CORNING DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Dow Corning is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation. We help you invent the future is a trademark of Dow Corning Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Dow Corning Corporation. All rights reserved.

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