SpecTips: Benefits of a Hybrid Insulation System

Save Time and Money with Two Different Carlisle Insulations

In times when raw materials are in short supply and building products are in high demand, there can be impactful shortages of basic building supplies. In 2022 there has been extremely high demand for polyiso insulation and other roofing-related building products. This rapid increase in demand created long lead times that delayed jobs and extended timelines.

To help jobs stay on schedule and to avoid project delays due to polyiso lead times, consider combining expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyiso to create a hybrid insulation system for your project.

Outside of reducing lead times, there are many benefits to utilizing EPS in a polyiso insulation system. By using EPS as fill, you can expect to save money on both material and labor because fewer panels are needed to achieve the same system thickness. This is because a single EPS panel can be made in thicknesses up to 40”. Similarly, thick EPS blocks can be made into tapered panels, providing the required roof slope without the use of multiple layers as would be required with polyiso.

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SPECTIP

Specify polyisocyanurate and expanded polystyrene (EPS) in either the Insulation or Roof Membrane specification section.

Coordinate with your Roof Membrane or Thermal Insulation specification section:
- Section 072100 – Thermal Insulation
- Section 075323 – EPDM Roofing
- Section 075419 – PVC Roofing
- Section 075423 – TPO Roofing

In PART II of the Insulation or Roofing Membrane specification section, select your insulation type, facer, compressive strength, and R-value required for each insulation to ensure the correct overall R-value of the hybrid system.

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Carlisle created an FAQ sheet to help contractors, architects, and other roofing professionals understand how to use polyiso and EPS together in a hybrid insulation system for single-ply roofs. Click here for the FAQ document.