5 Ways Spray Foam Insulation Improves Tenant Comfort in Office Buildings
When designing and constructing commercial spaces, occupant comfort isn’t a nice-to-have: it’s a requirement to attract and retain long-term occupancy. From climate and temperature controls to sound reduction, a comfortable workspace can increase occupant productivity, reduce turnover, and increase the value of a commercial investment.
One of the most effective means of improving tenant comfort is installing first-class insulation or replacing older insulation. Spray foam insulation is a commercial building professionals’ number one choice for the realization of uniform comfort with the added benefit of green long-term energy efficiency.
Here are 5 Ways Spray Foam Insulation is an efficient and cost-effective solution for commercial construction companies.
1. Uniform Indoor Temperatures Throughout the Entire Year
Commercial real estate tenants can’t stand battling with hot and cold areas in the office. Aging insulation products like fiberglass batting can have gaps or even shrink over time and leave gaps for drafts and varying heat levels.
Spray foam insulation, by contrast, will fully expand when used to form the complete one-piece air barrier by filling irregularities, seams, and cracks in walls, ceilings, and floors. That closes off routes for wintertime air infiltration and heat losses.
Spray foam insulation provides the following solutions:
Winter
- Warm air is retained within and warms the workplaces without overloading the heat plant.
Summer
- The regulated air from the HVAC doesn’t leak out, so no stale, hot rooms.
That includes a uniform, temperature-regulated indoor environment for white-collar office workers — the end of gripes about “freezing” conference rooms and hot corner offices.
2. Enhanced Noise Reduction
Open offices, urban street levels, and multi-occupation structures share one thing in common: noise levels. Whether the rumble of outside traffic going by, the office sounds emanating in the next room, or machine noises above, extraneous noise can very easily transform a workspace into one of discomfort and distraction.
Spray foam insulation is also effective as a sound barrier by encapsulating air space over which sound moves. Open-cell spray foam, in particular, is highly effective for sound vibration absorption, reducing airborne sound (such as voices, music) and impact sound (such as footsteps, movement of equipment).
To commercial developers, having a building marketable as “quiet and distraction-free” is a selling point when trying to obtain high-dollar tenants.
3. Improvement of Indoor Air Quality
Comfort is not simply a function of temperature — but of the air breathed by occupants on a daily basis. Dust, pollen, contaminants, and moisture can pass through the building envelope by virtue of poor insulation, contaminating interior air quality.
Spray foam insulation forms a sealed barrier and works to keep away:
Outdoor allergens and irritants
Humid air that can lead to mold growth
Paperwork and files with the dirt and grime of unconditioned rooms
For building occupants, this translates into fewer allergens, less mildew smell, and a healthier overall workspace. To facility managers, this translates into fewer maintenance requests for mold and moisture issues.
4. Fewer Drafts and Hot/Cold Spots in Open Spaces
Office buildings often include big open spaces — lobbies, open work spaces, or atriums at various levels — which are difficult to regulate comfort with standard insulation. Seeps around the windows, doors, and structural joints can contribute to persistent drafts and uneven heating or cooling.
Since spray foam attaches instantly to the surfaces of structures and expands to close holes, the main causes of discomfort in large rooms, the leaks, are significantly reduced. Closed-cell spray foam, which also has vapor barrier characteristics, eliminates the problem of moisture even further in large rooms.
Using spray foam insulation ensures that tenants:
Less variation in temperature during the day
Less use of space heating or personal fans
More spaces year-round that have fewer “problem areas”
5. Energy Efficiency That Occupants Can Feel and See
Though energy efficiency is usually characterized as a cost savings for the facility owner, the occupant feels it directly as well. A better-insulating facility requires less of the HVAC system, with the added benefit of more uniform indoor conditions and reduced extreme temperature swings.
Furthermore, occupants can have reduced utility payments —more in the case of the residents in control of power or heat. Long-term residents prefer the combination of energy efficiency and comfort and can even justify the premium prices.
Comfort + cost savings = success in highly competitive office lease markets.
Why Commercial Building Experts Must Consider Spray Foam Insulation
For commercial contractors, the use of spray foam insulation isn’t merely about satisfying codes it’s about designing structures that attract and retain quality tenants. By addressing comfort issues like temperature stability, sound reduction, indoor air quality, and energy performance, the results are tangible benefits for all.
Spray foam insulation is a reliable and effective solution to the majority of common commercial property problems and encourages sustainability and long-term facility performance. Whether you’re building a new office building or retrofitting an industrial space; investment in spray foam insulation is investment in occupant satisfaction and that equals occupancy and overall return on investment. Are you ready for your next commercial enterprise to be more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective? PolyCon is commercial spray foam insulation experts for any office space of any size. Contact us today and speak with a consultant about how our company can assist you in designing space people will love.