Commercial insulation demand has grown as the overall construction market has improved since economic recovery began over the past few years. Growth of this insulation segment has been fueled by changes in building codes for increased energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one-third of the energy used in commercial buildings is devoted to heating and cooling. Insulation can help achieve greater energy savings by reducing heating and cooling loads as well as manage indoor climate temperature, reduce condensation in mechanicals (HVAC ductwork, pipe), dampen noise pollution and create a more environmentally sustainable building. Recent requirements to bring repurposed or renovated buildings up to new code standards also represents a big opportunity for suppliers and distributors of insulation.
Construction methods to provide continuous insulation performance for proper building enclosure require different approaches to insulating new and existing buildings. Insulation is being specified and installed as part of a building envelope system which requires further education aimed at architects, consultants and contractors about selecting and installing the right system including not only insulation but underlayment, weather resistant barriers, flashing and tapes, adhesives and coatings. Developing specifications for complete systems will create opportunities for all companies supplying the commercial insulation market.
Competition between insulation types, primarily fiberglass and a range of plastic foams, has intensified to meet these energy efficiency code changes. These products alone or in combination with other products represent solutions available to reduce heating and cooling costs and deliver LEED credits throughout the entire building from foundation up to roof, gaining attention among both the A&D community and property owners.
“End market changes also have great impact on the supply of commercial insulation. Shifting product trends will force decisions on resources at the manufacturer level while the changing product mix to meet the range of options available will require distribution to rebalance its portfolio to meet product needs for developers and contractors”, according to Ken Jacobson, a Partner at Principia Consulting. “Manufacturers will need to provide more education on how their products perform to meet code and deliver value to the architect, contractor and property owner.”
Principia is launching its latest edition on this industry segment titled Commercial Insulation 2016 which provides a vital baseline analysis for forecasting and business planning for current and new industry participants. Using 2015 as its launch point, the report analyzes demand drivers and trends by material, application, construction type, market sector, region, distribution channel and supplier, providing forecasts through 2018. It also analyzes trends in current products, new product developments and technologies, and competitive materials, helping companies anticipate customer needs, plus insights into:
- Up-to-date market size and forecast
- Voice of Customer feedback on usage and preference trends
- Channel dynamics and trends impacting demand
- Market share review for leading producers
- Strategic insights into the growth segments of commercial insulation
Subscribers also have access to Principia’s proprietary market model and forecast tool. This powerful web-based tool is designed around best practices of data visualization and usability. The online platform enables users to log in from any desktop or mobile device to access all of the data from the report, with the added ability to instantly customize the data views and integrate with their own information.
Commercial Insulation 2016 launches in the first quarter of 2016 and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2016.