With a passion for building better, Kingspan Insulation is driving change across North America
As the North American division of Kingspan Group, the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions, Kingspan Insulation North American (Kingspan Insulation) has a successful history spanning 35 years. Founded in Ireland in 1965, the Kingspan Group operates five businesses in the US: Kingspan Insulated Panels, Kingspan Insulation, Kingspan Water & Energy, Kingspan Light + Air, and Morin.
Kingspan Insulation focuses on partnering with architects, contractors, builders, and owners, to accelerate net-zero buildings and reduce energy costs. With sales reps across the country, the company aims to educate people on how innovative energy efficiency solutions can help reduce project costs, as well as long-term operating costs. 
Kingspan Insulation’s portfolio is split across high-performance rigid insulation products, moisture barrier products like wraps and flashings, and pre-insulated ductwork systems. As an essential component of every building project, rigid insulation comes in many forms and is designed to improve energy efficiency. From wall and roof boards to siding fanfold underlayment or other specialty applications, Kingspan Insulation has a wide range of rigid insulation solutions for both residential and commercial buildings.
Moisture barriers, on the other hand, focus on effective secondary weather protection. The most effective solution is a building wrap plus flashings, and Kingspan Insulation offers a wide range of wraps, flashings, and tapes, as well as drainage wraps and mats for superior moisture protection.
Lastly, the business provides advanced premium performance pre-insulated HVAC ductwork systems, fabricated from phenolic foam rather than galvanized sheet metal. Comprised of Kingspan Insulation KoolDuct panels, fabricated methods, coupling systems, and a complete line of accessories to produce long rectangular ductwork, this system can be manufactured in steel replacement or as a liner for rectangular steel ductwork.
Key brands
Four key brands make up Kingspan Insulation’s product range: GreenGuard, OPTIM-R, Kooltherm, and KoolDuct. GreenGuard is Kingspan Insulation’s extruded polystyrene (XPS) product line and is a closed-cell foam with tight configuration to give it the highest water resistance of commonly available insulations. Specifically, GreenGuard GG60 is an efficient rigid insulation board designed for high-load applications including low-temperature freezer floors, cold storage facility floors, ice rinks, and parking decks. GreenGuard also offers RainDrop 3D Building Wrap, a high-tech water and air barrier house wrap with 3D drainage channels to create an air gap behind the cladding.
The RainDrop 3D Building Wrap played a key role in the St Jude Dream Home giveaway in Las Vegas. With the help of sponsors donating time, materials, and expertise, the giveaway scheme has raised more than $400 million for the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 1991 by giving away 475 homes across more than 40 communities. Reflecting Kingspan Insulation’s commitment to this charitable cause, the business supplied RainDrop Building Wrap and standard flashing, providing a complete system to ensure excellent air and moisture barrier performance.
OPTIM-R is a next-generation insulation comprising rigid vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) with a microporous core, which is evacuated, encased, and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope to provide an ultra-thin insulation solution. This option provides insulation performance up to five times better than other insulation materials and can eliminate the need to make alternations to AC unit curbs, stands, railings, and moving mechanical units.
Planet passionate
In 2023, Kingspan Insulation completed a roofing replacement project for the High Museum of Art, the largest museum for visual art in the Southeastern US. As it was paramount that the new roof retained the building’s architectural vision, OPTIM-R was selected as the solution due to its minimal disruption during installation.
Kingspan Insulation’s Kooltherm is a range of advanced thermal insulation boards for walls or ceilings for both new and retrofit applications in the commercial and residential markets. Using a fiber-free rigid thermoset phenolic foam core, Kooltherm boards have the highest R-value per inch and extensive NFPA 385 compliant assemblies. With contractors continually demanding better insulation products, the Kooltherm K12 Framing Board is widely available across the US.
Lastly, KoolDuct is Kingspan Insulation’s pre-insulated HVAC system. Associated with premium performance, KoolDuct offers several benefits including reduced installation time, lower weight, space saving through flush-to-ceiling installation, and better energy efficiency.
Believing that its advanced materials and construction methods can tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges when it comes to sustainability and carbon emissions, Kingspan Group prides itself on three factors: innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency. To monitor progress, the company established the Kingspan Sustainability Hub, which focuses on reducing emissions, addressing circularity, and enhancing occupant wellbeing.
The ‘Planet Passionate’ ten-year sustainability program aims to reduce the group’s manufacturing carbon emissions to as close to zero as possible, while also reducing the carbon intensity of its supply chain. Planet Passionate also encompasses energy efficiency, which exemplifies the group’s commitment to helping clients close the envelope of their buildings.
With industry-leading brands associated with its name, and a dedication to enhancing sustainable practices, Kingspan Insulation remains at the forefront of high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions. Through initiatives like the Planet Passionate program and the Kingspan Sustainability Hub, the wider group is making significant strides to reduce the construction industry’s carbon emissions and promote circularity across North America.