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Rainbarrier? Continuous Insulation

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Why RainBarrier? Mineral Wool as Continuous Insulation

Thermafiber? RainBarrier? continuous insulation products are designed for exceptional performance in rainscreen and exterior cavity wall construction applications. With a full portfolio of ci products and a wide range of compressive strengths, Thermafiber? RainBarrier? mineral wool insulation has a solution available for many fa?ade types while being compatible with various mechanical attachment methods and air barrier systems. All RainBarrier? products are non-combustible, fire-resistant, vapor permeable, and are easy to fabricate & install.

Thermafiber? RainBarrier? Continuous Insulation Guide PDF | 3.1 MB

Newly Launched High Compressive Strength Products

The Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? High Compressive portfolio uses ThermaCrimp? technology to make the highest compressive strength mineral wool ci on the market.

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Meeting Demanding Standards and Changing Codes

Continuous insulation is insulation that is continuous across all structural members without thermal bridges other than fasteners and service openings. It is installed on the interior, exterior, or is integral to any opaque surface of the building. Benefits of continuous insulation include:

Reduces thermal bridging and increases overall R-value. Thermal bridging is a type of heat loss which occurs when heat flows through the building envelope via a continuous path, such as through wood or, more commonly, highly conductive steel framing members. Thermal bridging affects whole wall R-value.
Simplifies installation of continuous air and water barriers. By creating continuous insulation, the air and water barrier can also be installed in the exterior wall cavity with minimal interruption.
Reduces moisture concerns. Continuous insulation reduces the possibility of condensation within the wall when warm, moist air is prevented from reaching a dew point temperature.

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Rainbarrier? Product Comparison

	RainBarrier? 45	RainBarrier? HD	RainBarrier? HC (80)	RainBarrier? HC Plus (110)	RainBarrier? HC Max
Type	Semi-Rigid Board	Semi-Rigid Board	Rigid Sheathing Board	Rigid Sheathing Board	Rigid Sheathing Board
Properties
R-Value	4.3 per inch	4.3 per inch	4.2 per inch	4.2 per inch	4.2 per inch
Vapor Permeable (ASTM E96)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Compressive Strength (ASTM C165)	N/A	N/A	475 lbs/ft²	720 lbs/ft²	1296 lbs/ft²
Meets ASTM C612	IA, IB, IVA	IA, IB, IVA, IVB	IA, IB, IVA, IVB	IA, IB, IVA, IVB	IA, IB, IVA, IVB
Attachment Methods
Cladding attachment around insulation: Brick Ties Girts (metal or thermally short) Channels Clips & Rails (metal or thermally short)	Preferred	Preferred when ASTM C612 Type IVB is required
Cladding attachment outboard of insulation (i.e., throughput fasteners, nails, screws)			Preferred when using light-weight cladding	Preferred when using medium-weight cladding	Preferred when using heavy-weight cladding

Newly Launched High Compressive Strength Products

The Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? ci High Compressive insulation portfolio is designed to be used in continuous insulation applications where the cladding and cladding attachments are fastened outboard of the mineral wool insulation. In this application, only fasteners penetrate through the insulation, eliminating almost all thermal bridging and meeting the ASHRAE 90.1 definition of continuous insulation. Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? ci High Compressive insulation uses ThermaCrimp? technology to make the highest compressive strength mineral wool ci on the market. This proven technology can be used behind any cladding type - including combustible and open-joint assemblies.

Tech Bulletin PDF | 2 MB
Specification DOC | 139 KB

RainBarrier? ci HC (80)

RainBarrier? ci High Compressive (80) is designed for use behind light weight cladding - including combustible and open-joint assemblies.

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RainBarrier? ci HC Plus (110)

RainBarrier? ci High Compressive Plus (110) is designed for use behind medium weight cladding types - including combustible and open-joint assemblies.

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RainBarrier? ci HC Max

RainBarrier? ci High Compressive Max is designed for use behind heavy weight cladding types - including combustible and open-joint assemblies.

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Semi-rigid Products

Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? 45 and HD mineral wool insulation are designed to fit between cladding attachments elements, such as masonry ties, girts, and clip & rail systems. The pliability and flexibility of these products enable these products to form around most attachment elements without the need for cutting or notching.

Thermafiber? RainBarrier? continuous insulation provides thermal insulation, fire resistive characteristics, and acoustical control while efficiently draining water from a wall cavity system. All Thermafiber? RainBarrier? products are non-combustible and compatible with common wall ties, adhesives, and air barrier systems.

Specification PDF | 139 KB

RainBarrier? 45

Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? 45 mineral wool insulation product is a preferred product for most semi-rigid applications.

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RainBarrier? HD

Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? HD mineral wool insulation is a high density board providing additional thermal performance when ASTM C612 Type IVB is required in the specification.

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Project Spotlight

Owens Corning? Thermafiber? RainBarrier? continuous insulation can be found in some of the most advanced buildings being constructed today. Here are just a few projects that showcase the comfort, safety and sustainability of RainBarrier? mineral wool insulation.

Photo of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Expansion (SFMOMA) - San Francisco, CA

Product Portfolio PDF | 2.9 MB

Bullitt Center - Seattle, WA

Product Portfolio PDF | 5.1 MB

Photo of University of Washington Bothell's Discovery Hall

University of Washington Bothell, Discovery Hall - Bothell, WA

Product Portfolio PDF | 1.5 MB

Photo of University of Michigan's North Quad

University of Michigan, North Quad - Ann Arbor, MI

Product Portfolio PDF | 2 MB

Photo of ProMedica Health and Wellness Center

ProMedica Health and Wellness Center - Toledo, OH

Product Portfolio PDF | 3.4 MB

News

Walls and Ceilings Online Dismantling Mineral Wool Myths

Performance and compressive strength combine to make mineral wool a good choice for rainscreen systems.

Architect Magazine Next-Gen Mineral Wool CI Expands Envelope Design Options

Explore its unprecedented compressive strength.

Building Enclosure Online Mineral Wool Drives Performance Across the Building Enclosure

Continuous Insulation Offers More than Thermal Attributes

Architect Magazine Surprising Facts About Mineral Wool (You Probably Don't Know)

Take this 30-second quiz to discover how mineral wool does far more than contain fires.

Building Enclosure Online Mineral Wool: Viewed Through the Lens of Compressive Strength

In this podcast we examine the performance benefits of mineral wool as a continuous insulation, and thoughts on specifying the proper compressive strength.

Listen Now

graphic depiction of an enclosure solution

Building Enclosure Solutions

Owens Corning? Enclosure Solutions offers one of the largest portfolios of commercial insulation products for walls, roofs, and below-grade foundations. Engineered with Owens Corning technical expertise and supported by Building Science, Owens Corning? Enclosure Solutions deliver buildings that perform without compromising design.

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