AP™ Foil from Johns Manville is a workhorse. It can serve as a water-resistive barrier, a vapor barrier and an air barrier, all in one product. And with our new addition to the lineup, AP Foil25, a 25-psi compressive strength board, it can do even more.
A uniform closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam core board, AP Foil is a continuous insulation board bonded on each side to a foil facer. One side is a reflective foil facer, while the other has a white non-reflective foil facer for whatever your building needs.
This rigid continuous insulation board provides exceptional heat, moisture and air control, plus it can eliminate all major thermal bridges that cause heat loss. It’s perfect for use for both residential and commercial applications, either above ground or below grade.
Inch-for-inch, polyiso has one of the highest energy efficiencies: R-6 at 1 inch or R-19 at 3 inches, for example. AP Foil is noncorrosive, so it won’t accelerate corrosion of pipes, wiring or metal studs. And because it’s lightweight, it’s easy to handle and cut when installing.
AP Foil and AP Foil25 are Class I vapor retarders, and when installed as part of a wall system, they meet the Air Barrier Association of American boardstock criteria. AP Foil products also meet the ICC ES AC71 acceptance criteria for foam plastic sheathing used as a water-resistive barrier.
Both AP Foil and AP Foil25 meet E84 Class A and NFPA 285 certifications for fire safety in exterior wall assemblies as well.
“AP Foil products really do it all,” said Eric Dake, Senior Product Manager at JM. “They are lightweight and easy to install. They provide superior R-value and can be used in both commercial and residential applications. AP Foil can be used both above and below grade. And while they’re mostly installed on the exterior of a building, they can be used inside as well, provided they are covered by a thermal barrier such as a standard drywall.
“And adding AP Foil25 to the family is exciting because it’s perfect for applications where higher compressive strength boards are preferred. It’s great for below-grade residential and behind certain commercial cladding applications where the attachment method can benefit from a higher compressive strength sheathing material.”
Many architects and specifiers have increased the frequency with which they require 25-psi polyiso in cladding assemblies. Compressive strength isn’t typically a concern for vertical wall applications, and standard AP Foil is appropriate for the vast majority of polyiso applications, but AP Foil25 can be subbed in when 25-psi is in a job’s specifications.
Polyiso is one of the most widely used insulation products in North America. It is produced with a hydrocarbon-based blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and virtually no Global Warming Potential (GWP), thus meeting all EPA and state regulations addressing ozone depletion or global warming potential of blowing agents.
