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What Is Continuous Insulation? Why Developers Choose ROCKWOOL Comfortboard

Posted by Core Insulation Supply on May 28th 2026

Eliminating Thermal Bridging in Commercial Envelopes

Modern energy codes increasingly mandate Continuous Insulation (CI) on the exterior of commercial buildings. CI is an uninterrupted layer of insulation installed over the structural framing, eliminating the "thermal bridging" effect where heat escapes through the steel or wood studs.

Continuous insulation installation on commercial building

Why Foam Plastics Fall Short

While rigid foam boards provide CI, they are highly combustible. Using foam on commercial exteriors triggers complex and expensive NFPA 285 fire testing requirements.

The Comfortboard Alternative

Smart developers specify ROCKWOOL Comfortboard® for exterior continuous insulation. Because Comfortboard is made of non-combustible stone wool, it provides excellent thermal performance while allowing architects to bypass many restrictive NFPA 285 fire code triggers. It is moisture-resistant, vapor-permeable, and structurally rigid enough to support exterior cladding systems.