Owens Corning highlighted its building science knowledge and expertise during the American Institute of Architects (AIA) A’22 Conference on Architecture, June 23-24 in Chicago. Architects and contractors visited the Owens Corning booth (908) to explore the future of commercial building design, fire safety, energy efficiency and sustainability. 

The first in-person AIA Conference on Architecture since 2019, the gathering provided an opportunity to share building science research and new solutions informing the future of commercial buildings. 

“Owens Corning is committed to supporting architects and contractors in achieving high-performing, sustainable commercial buildings,” said Todd Fister, president of Owens Corning’s Insulation business. “Building and construction across sectors and regions has continued to evolve, and as codes and trends advance in support of environmental sustainability efforts, building science and material innovation are informing the future of the industry.”

The A’22 Owens Corning exhibit included:

Immersive Booth Experiences

Visitors interacted with a neon wall illuminating fire-resistant building materials, a comparative moisture resistance display of extruded (XPS) versus expanded (EPS) polystyrene, and a thermal station demonstrating performance of cellular glass and XPS. Eco-inspired beverages were served at the sustainability oasis, where visitors can learn about approaches to help reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. 

A Legacy in Life Safety

Helping to allow more time for building occupants to escape a burning building is the first priority of Owens Corning^® Thermafiber^® products, which represent more than 50 years of experience in developing and testing perimeter fire containment solutions. Around the globe, these products are included in iconic buildings, including One World Trade Center in New York City and Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. Owens Corning^® Thermafiber^® products were the first insulating materials to earn the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act designation, which helps protect architects and building owners from liability resulting from an act of terrorism. 

The Future of Design

As codes have made continuous insulation (ci) a de facto element in achieving higher levels of thermal performance, open joint assemblies and unique facades have posed design challenges. With Thermafiber^® RainBarrier^® Dark™, ci can be camouflaged into the façade or even serve as a design element. This innovation completes the Thermafiber® RainBarrier® ci offering, spanning a range of compressive strengths and performance attributes. Introduced in late 2021, this insulation has been welcomed by design professionals and was named number four on Building Design + Construction’s Top 75 building enclosure products. 

The Future of Sustainability

A growing number of U.S. states and all Canadian provinces have adopted environmental regulations limiting the global warming potential (GWP) of materials used in commercial buildings. Introduced in 2021, FOAMULAR^® NGX™ (Next Generation Extruded) has a low Global Warming Potential blowing agent which demonstrates a greater than 80% reduction in embodied carbon¹. FOAMULAR^® NGX™ was awarded the Manufacturing Leadership Award in 2021 for its outstanding achievement in material science innovation supporting environmental sustainability. 

The Future of Efficiency

Despite improvements in the thermal performance of today’s commercial enclosures, some areas have posed persistent challenges. Thermal bridges – paths where heat can escape the enclosure – account for much of the performance gap between a building’s expected energy performance and its actual performance in operation. Composed of cellular glass, FOAMGLAS^® PERINSUL™ SIB Cellular Glass Structural Insulating Block is a long-lasting, high-compressive-strength, rigid insulating block that helps reduce thermal bridging and supports continued thermal performance in hard-to-insulate areas, such as beneath exterior masonry veneer walls.

Continuing Education

The Owens Corning Insulation Solutions Suite provides technical resources and thought leadership on the science behind high-performing buildings. Designed for architects, engineers and contractors (AEC) who are charged with designing, constructing and evaluating commercial enclosures, the Insulation Solutions Suite content platform considers material science and the codes and communities a building serves. The ever-expanding content hub includes resources relevant to moisture, fire, acoustics, thermal, and environmental sustainability.

Learning Lounge Preview

During the A’22 Architecture Expo, Owens Corning is presented eight educational sessions for architects and contractors in the AIA Learning Lounge (708 LL). Presentations blended technical content with examples of real-world building applications. 

Sessions on Thursday, June 23 included: 

• Advanced Testing Demonstrates Design Flexibility of Mineral Wool Continuous Insulation (10 a.m.)
• Detailing 201: Maintaining CI and WBRs at Transitions (11:45 a.m.)
• NFPA 285 Exterior Wall Fire Testing, Design and Compliance (1:30 p.m.)
• Perimeter Insulation: When Structure Conflicts with Thermal Performance (3 p.m.)

Sessions on Friday, June 24 included: 

• Pre-Cast Concrete: Energy Efficiency and Quality Without Compromising Creativity (10 a.m.)
• Reducing Fire Risk at the Perimeter of High-Rise Structures (11:45 a.m.)
• Advanced Testing Demonstrates Design Flexibility of Mineral Wool Continuous Insulation (1:15 p.m.)
• Vegetative and Protective Membrane Roof Assemblies: What Lies Beneath (2:30 p.m.)