Building owners and designers are increasingly confronted with a crucial challenge: how to maintain comfortable indoor environments when the outdoor temperatures are hot enough to melt crayons left in the sun.

Those crayons were in Las Vegas, where the temperature reached 120 degrees in July – three degrees higher than ever recorded since record-keeping started in 1937. Nearby, Death Valley, which holds the world record for the highest temperature ever recorded at 134 degrees, reached 130 on the thermometer outside the park’s visitor center.

You don’t have to be in Sin City or the desert to be concerned with extreme temperatures and increasing energy costs as in the first week in July at least 10 U.S. towns and cities broke or tied their hottest temperatures ever recorded with Raleigh, North Carolina reaching 106 degrees, beating records back to 1887.

As June set records for the warmest month ever in locations from Caribou, Maine, and Bridgeport, Connecticut to Winslow, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas the building industry is looking to beat the heat with insulated metal panels (IMPs), which offer a superior solution for keeping buildings cool, energy-efficient, and comfortable, even in the most sweltering conditions.

Let's explore the world of IMPs and discover why they're the cool choice for your next building project.

The IMP Advantage: More Than Just a Pretty Facade

Insulated Metal Panels manufactured by Green Span Profiles in America are not your average building material. These high-performance sandwich panels consist of two corrosion-resistant steel facings with a polyisocyanurate insulating foam core.

What sets them apart in the battle against extreme heat?

• Superior Insulation: IMPs boast impressive R-values, measuring thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. IMPs typically offer R-values ranging from R-16 to R-42, significantly outperforming traditional metal roofs.
  
  
• Continuous Insulation: Unlike other systems that may have gaps or thermal bridges, IMPs provide uninterrupted insulation across the entire surface, ensuring consistent temperature control.
  
  
• Reflective Surfaces: The outer metal facing of IMPs can be engineered with high solar reflectance index (SRI) values, bouncing away a significant portion of the sun's heat before it can penetrate the building.
  
  

It’s important in this equation to understand R-values, which are defined by energy.gov as “an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value -- the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density.”

Green Span Profiles IMPs, for example, offer an approximate R-value of 8 per inch, which translates to R-40 protection with a 5-inch thick panel.

Keeping Your Cool: How IMPs Beat the Heat

When the mercury rises high enough to turn your cerulean, aquamarine, and periwinkle Crayons into a puddle of blue, IMPs spring into action, employing multiple strategies to keep your building cool and comfortable.

Here’s how IMPs keep your building envelope cool:

• Reduced Heat Gain: IMPs act as a formidable barrier against the scorching sun. Here's how:
  • Reflective Exterior: The outer metal surface reflects a significant portion of solar radiation, preventing heat absorption.
  • Insulating Core: Any heat that penetrates the outer layer is stopped in its tracks by the foam core, which dramatically slows heat transfer.
  • Cool Interior: The inner metal facing maintains a comfortable temperature, reducing the load on your HVAC system.

• Airtight Performance: Heat isn't the only enemy – warm air infiltration can also wreak havoc on your cooling efforts. IMPs offer:
  • Precision Engineering: The interlocking design of IMPs creates an almost impenetrable seal against air leakage.
  • Reduced Thermal Bridging: Unlike traditional construction methods, IMPs minimize the paths for heat to travel through the building envelope.

• Thermal Mass Benefits: IMPs aren't just passive defenders; they actively work to regulate temperature:
  • Heat Absorption: During the day, the insulating core absorbs excess heat, keeping the interior cool.
  • Gradual Release: At night, when temperatures drop, this stored heat is slowly released, reducing heating needs in cooler hours.

Regular Metal Roofs Can’t Compete with IMPs

While traditional metal roofs have their merits, they simply can't compete with IMPs when it comes to heat management.

For starters, Let's look at long-term cost savings and the durability and maintenance of each:

• Long-term Cost Savings:
  • IMPs: Initial higher investment offset by substantial energy savings and reduced maintenance
  • Regular Metal Roofs: Lower upfront costs but higher long-term expenses due to energy inefficiency and potential for more frequent repairs

• Durability and Maintenance:
  • IMPs: Resistant to moisture, mold, and corrosion; easy to clean and maintain
  • Regular Metal Roofs: Prone to condensation issues and may require more frequent maintenance

Now, let’s compare IMPs and traditional metal roofs on seven key features:

Each feature explained: 

• Solar Reflectivity: Both IMPs and traditional metal roofs can reflect some sunlight, but IMPs typically have a higher solar reflectance due to their painted finishes. This helps to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the roof.
  
  
• Insulation: IMPs are composite panels with a metal exterior, an insulating core (usually made of polyisocyanurate or mineral wool), and a metal interior. This built-in insulation creates a significant thermal barrier, reducing heat transfer from the outside to the inside of the building. Traditional metal roofs have no insulation and allow heat to transfer more easily.
  
  
• Thermal Performance: Due to their high solar reflectance and built-in insulation, IMPs offer superior thermal performance compared to traditional metal roofs. They can help to keep buildings cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
  
  
• Heat Transfer: IMPs have a low rate of heat transfer, meaning they resist the transfer of heat from the outside to the inside of the building. Traditional metal roofs have a high rate of heat transfer, allowing heat to readily pass through to the building interior.
  
  
• Impact on Indoor Temperature: IMPs can help to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round by reducing heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Traditional metal roofs can contribute to overheating in the summer, especially in hot climates.
  
  
• Energy Efficiency: The superior thermal performance of IMPs translates to significant energy savings. Buildings with IMPs typically require less energy for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Traditional metal roofs can be less energy-efficient, potentially increasing cooling costs in hot climates.
  
  
• Cooling Costs: IMPs can significantly reduce cooling costs in hot climates by reflecting sunlight and reducing heat transfer into the building. Traditional metal roofs may increase cooling costs, as they can absorb and transfer more heat.
  
  

The Bottom Line: Stay Cool, Choose IMPs

As extreme heat becomes increasingly common, the choice of building materials has never been more critical.

Insulated Metal Panels offer a superior solution for keeping buildings cool, energy-efficient, and comfortable in even the most challenging climates. By combining reflective surfaces, superior insulation, and innovative design, IMPs outperform traditional metal roofs in every aspect of heat management.

For building owners and designers looking to beat the heat while reducing energy costs and environmental impact, the choice is clear. IMPs aren't just a cool option – they're the smartest choice for a sustainable, comfortable future.

Contact Green Span Profiles today and discover how our cutting-edge Insulated Metal Panels can transform your next project into a comfortably cool building, no matter what high temperatures come.