NYSERDA Fastening Systems for Continuous Insulation

When insulating a steel-framed exterior wall in cold climates, it is usually necessary to provide continuous insulation on the exterior of the studs to reduce the effect of thermal bridging. As energy codes continue to become more stringent, the thickness of the continuous installation has increased. The increased insulation thickness, however, introduces several problems for building designers, such as window and door jambs needing to be extended, siding manufacturers’ warranties being voided when more than one inch of continuous insulation is used, and heavier siding products causing fasteners to fail under their weight.