NORTH BROWARD & BOCA Blog

Insulating Commercial Buildings in Florida: 5 Things You Should Know

Commercial building codes are updated every three years, with Florida’s latest updated document published in 2020. Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca can help answer some of your most common insulation regulation questions in our newest article.

Building codes and standards are not only constantly shifting and updating, but they also can vary depending on your state, region, or even city. While it can seem extreme or tedious to those that are not familiar with the industry, these updates do more than just keep an apartment complex or row of business buildings on a consistent grid. They are in place for the benefit of safety, energy efficiency, the building’s lifespan, and more.

In order to avoid hefty fines and possible safety hazards, you and your team need to have the right information on hand. While these codes cover everything from roof solar reflectance to fenestration, insulation is heavily standardized to reduce health hazards and enhance the building’s envelope. As such, insulating a commercial building will take more than just laying down a few fiberglass batts! Here are five important answers you should have before insulating a commercial building in Florida.

How Often Do Regulations Change?

As mentioned earlier, your regulations will shift depending on the area. Variables can come in the form of historical district regulations, average energy consumption, and regional weather and natural phenomenon. The standard for updating building codes, though, is about every three years. For example, the seventh edition of Florida's building codes was published in 2020 while the sixth edition was released in 2017.

Where Can I Find Florida’s Commercial Codes?

Luckily, locating building code regulations is not an in-depth research project. The International Code Council is a great resource to use for reviewing and comparing codes, which is where the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation will direct you to see all of their most up-to-date documents. If you are concerned with your experience or equipment, it is important to know that you can reach out to a local insulation contractor to learn more about the insulation needs in your building.

Why Are There Residential and Commercial Differences?

There are significant differences between residential and commercial building regulations if you take a closer look at the documents. On the surface, it may seem like they essentially have the same function: they are both structures people may spend a significant time in. However, because of those deeper nuances of their specific uses, size, and building materials, insulation will be working harder in commercial buildings over its residential counterparts.

https://insulationinstitute.org/news-industry-issues/state-building-codes/

Where Do I Need to Insulate?

While the Department of Energy provides an in-depth look into where a residential home should be insulated, there is not a similar diagram for commercial buildings. However, unlike their code requirements, the placement of insulation in a commercial building should practically mirror the residential suggestions. Temperature regulation is the main function of insulation material. Consider a multi-story building that has different businesses and offices on each level; in order to keep the desired temperature of each area, efficient insulation coverage is crucial.

How Can Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca Help Me?

When a builder does not have experience in insulation installation, it is important to find a subcontractor that is not only familiar with your local regulations but has experience in finding the best material at the best cost. While keeping visitors or residents safe and comfortable should be the primary concern of your team, you should not have to worry about breaking the bank. Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca is not only certified and experienced but also willing to educate you and your team more about insulation importance and standards so you make the most cost-effective choice.

The Next Step

Once you know where to find your local codes and regulations and have a local industry expert available to fulfill these requirements, what are your next moves? First, find which insulation works best for your commercial building’s needs. It is important to note that you do not need to fill all of the walls, floors, and ceilings with the same kind of material or type. While you may have batts installed in the ceilings and lower floors, spray foam may be your first choice for the walls and even underneath the roof.

Next, you need to be sure you have evaluated the area you are building in for weather changes, natural disaster chances, and even pest and moisture hazards. This will influence your choice of insulation and the extent of coverage. For example, hurricane season is a major contributing factor to installing insulation that will not be significantly affected or can be easily replaced due to flooding, structure damage, or infestation from pests looking for shelter. Even uncommon circumstances like tornadoes and extremely low temperatures need to be considered when installing insulation. Because a majority of the material will be out of sight and out of mind, the longevity and strength of the material should be thoroughly considered.

Contacting Your Local Insulation Experts

Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca regularly works with residential, commercial, and industrial builders to ensure our community is receiving the most qualified installations. With a significant focus on a cost-effective and energy-efficient installation, our technicians are trained and experienced in providing high-quality coverage that meets code requirements, your budget, and environmental impact concerns.

While Koala’s Builders Brochure details more of our involvement in the processes and installation of your commercial building, our industry experts are available to schedule a meeting or conference to better review your needs, budget, and deadlines. Our technicians are trained, certified, and experienced in Florida’s latest regulation requirements as well as the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association standards. Contact our team today to learn more about how Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca can assist your team.