What Is The R-Value of Insulated Metal Panels?

 R-value measures a material’s thermal resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the thermal resistance.

What is the R value of insulated metal panels? It will vary depending on what insulation material is used. With a traditional insulated metal panel made with a PUR or PIR foam core, expect R-values ranging from 5-7.2 per inch. Insulated metal panels from Kingspan have a foam core that provides R-values ranging from 7.2-72 in thicknesses from 1 inch to 8 inches for wall systems.

All of the below values are measured by the ASTM C518 standard at a 75 degree mean temperature: 

Starting at the top, Kingspan’s insulated metal panels with a PIR or QuadCore insulation core get between 7.2-8 R-values per inch, which is on the highest end of the R-value spectrum for insulated metal panels. All of Kingspan’s commercial insulated panel products are available with this insulation material.

Some manufacturers still make insulated metal panels with PUR foam, a slightly inferior insulation foam when it comes to thermal performance and fire safety. Insulated metal panels with a PUR core can expect to get R-values around 5-7.1 per inch.

Finally, some insulated panels can come with a mineral fiber core, which has R-values ranging from 3.6 - 4.2 per inch. Kingspan also offers a mineral fiber product range which can be used when an architect needs to explicitly specify mineral fiber.

In summary, insulated metal panels are a great building material choice, no matter what foam core in used. However, builders that need the absolute best R-value will likely opt for QuadCore, a hybrid blended foam core that offers the best R-values for insulated metal panels.