The construction industry is moving toward materials that do more than provide basic structural performance. This includes insulated metal wall panels. These days, IMPs deliver greater efficiency, flexibility and control. In a single product, you get insulation, durability and easy installation.
As effective as existing IMPs are, the industry continues to evolve, and panels will also evolve. Demand for energy efficiency, fire protection, flexibility and reliable materials is more important than ever before.
What can you expect in the future of insulated panels?
Advances in Core Materials
New materials are expanding panel capabilities. Materials used to make panels influence a variety of factors, including:
- Thermal performance
- Fire resistance
- Weight of the panel
- Durability
Future developments in core materials include:
- Higher-performance foam
- Use of hybrid materials
- Insulation made with recycled or renewable materials
Why does having different core materials matter?
Different facilities have different priorities. For instance, food facilities are more concerned with cleaning, sanitation and fire performance, while cold-storage buildings need insulation.
At Structural Panels, our panels offer the most advanced materials to give you the greatest benefits. ROCKWALL’s mineral fibre core and ISOWALL’s rigid EPS core demonstrate how different insulation materials can be used to create insulated panels suited to different building requirements.
Integration with Smart Features
Advanced IMPs work in conjunction with smart building features to give you the most advanced system. Panels integrate with a variety of systems, including:
- Building management
- Temperature and humidity sensors
- Environmental monitoring
- Automatic climate control
- Energy management
Panels themselves don’t have smart features. Instead, they work within a smart system to support your goals. Panels form the physical spaces that work with monitoring and building-management systems, creating a more responsive facility.
Insulated panels are used to divide a single large space into separate areas, so each area can have its own temperature and purpose. Instead of heating or cooling the entire building the same way, you’re able to control temperature based on the use of a particular space.
And now with smart monitoring, you’re able to keep track of those individual spaces and respond when conditions change. Your building is easier to manage and more efficient.
Adapting to Changing Needs
Modern construction materials are able to adapt to your changing needs. This means it’s easier than ever to repurpose your existing building to meet your current needs. IMPs help you create new interior walls without the need for permanent construction or traditional walls.
This ability to reconfigure your space is a long-term advantage that lets you change your original layout without investing in completely new construction. ROCKWALL and ISOWALL insulated panels are a great option for adding interior walls that don’t need any structural support.
As an example, let’s say a warehouse has one large open area. Its occupant needs separate storage, production or workspace. IMPs can be used to create those new areas without completely rebuilding the facility.
Prioritizing Performance
Construction materials are becoming more useful in that one system can solve several practical problems and still work as the facility’s needs change. In the future, building materials will offer:
- Thermal performance
- Fire resistance
- Durability
- Efficient installation
- Flexible design
- Easy cleaning
The same panel will be suitable for use in facilities across a wide range of industries, including food distribution, electrical spaces, cold storage and manufacturing.
For those who work in the food industry, our panels meet CFIA standards, making them safe to use in new facilities involved in food storage and distribution. This supports food distribution facilities as products move through Canada’s supply chain from coast to coast.
Flexibility in the Future of Building Materials
There isn’t one single development that’s going to change the face of building materials and construction. Instead, IMPs will incorporate features that make them more specialized, offer more flexibility, and allow for smart technology integration.
Our IMPs give you flexibility, so you’re able to create spaces that meet specific facility requirements. And they do so without jeopardizing insulation, durability or performance. As your building needs continue to change, choosing a panel system that can adapt can help facilities remain useful and efficient over the long term.
To learn more about Canadian-made ROCKWALL and ISOWALL insulated metal panels and find the right solution for your facility, contact Structural Panels today.
