The Energy Code/R-value Climate Zone Map addresses insulation requirements by placing United States counties and Canadian provinces into specific “zones”. These “climate zones” allow code officials, and building designers to determine the level of insulation required within these regions. Changes in the new ASHRAE 90.1-2007 increase the R-value requirements in zones 2 through 8 from 15 to 20. Take a look below for detailed information about these climate zones in the United States and Canada.

Energy Code/R-Value Map - Canada

All Canadian Climate Zones
Recommended Minimum Roof Insulation: R-40
In all Canadian climate zones, insulation can dramatically help to reduce heating loads, while lowering energy costs and reducing pollution and carbon emissions.

Recommended Minimum Wall Insulation: R-30
In all Canadian climate zones, insulation can dramatically help to reduce heating loads, lower energy costs, and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

Minimum R-Value Map - United States

The Climate Zones shown here have been determined by the U.S. Department of Energy at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and have been adopted by the International Code Council for use in its building codes.

All of Alaska is in Zone 7 except for the following Boroughs which are in Zone 8: Bethes, Dellingham, Fairbanks N. Star, Nome, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Southeast Fairbanks, Wade Hampton, Yukon-Koyukuk. Zone 1 includes Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Commercial Roofs: Minimum Insulation Recommendations

There are two standards currently being used to specify the R-values for commercial roofs – ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 189.

ASHRAE STANDARD 90.1
This standard represents the minimum required prescriptive R-value (resistance to heat flow) for roof and wall insulation levels. The R-value requirements for this standard were recently increased by 33% for climate zones 2 thru 8. The above-deck roof insulation requirements for those climate zones go from R-15 to R-20.

ASHRAE STANDARD 189 (Proposed)
The proposed ASHRAE Standard 189: Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (February 2008), provides minimum requirements for the design of sustainable buildings to balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well-being, and community sensitivity. ASHRAE Standard 189 uses the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System as a key resource offering a baseline that will drive green building into mainstream building practices.

Remember, in all climate zones, insulation can dramatically help to reduce cooling and heating loads, lower energy costs and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

Much of this information was made possible by the efforts of PIMA, with whom Atlas Roofing Corporation is an active member.  For more information about PIMA initiatives, please visit www.pima.org.