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BETTESWORTHConstruction
cavity walls

Kooltherm K100 Insulation: How to Choose K110, K120, or K110 CB

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K100 is a family of phenolic insulation boards, not one universal product. In the North American range, K110 is positioned for continuous insulation on walls and façades, K120 for pre-cast and tilt-up wall systems, and K110 CB for cavity-wall work. Kingspan reports R-8.1 per inch for K110 and R-8.3 per inch for K120. Those are product-level figures, not the finished R-value of a wall.

The right board depends on the wall assembly, exposure, thickness, detailing, fire-test configuration and local code approval. Treat the product data and tested assembly as a package: a high nominal R-value cannot compensate for an unapproved installation or an incorrectly specified fire detail.

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What Kooltherm K100 insulation is

The Kooltherm K100 Series uses a fiber-free phenolic core formed into rigid insulation boards. Kingspan describes the series as suitable for new construction and upgrades, with high thermal performance, moisture resistance and relatively light handling. These are manufacturer descriptions; actual performance still depends on the board, joints, fasteners, membranes and the rest of the assembly.

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Kingspan’s North American product page calls K100 “the thinnest insulation profile available for most applications.” That is promotional wording with no comparison set or universal definition on the page, so it should not be treated as a guaranteed result for every building or code requirement.

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Three named products appear in the North American material:

Variant Positioned application Published thermal figure What is not established by the cited material
Kooltherm K110 Continuous insulation on walls and façades; Buildings.com also describes it as an exterior-use product. R-8.1 per inch, according to Kingspan’s current North American product page. Exact board dimensions, thickness schedule, assembly R-value and complete installation details.
Kooltherm K120 Pre-cast and tilt-up walls; Buildings.com also discusses interior applications and concrete sandwich panels. R-8.3 per inch, according to Kingspan’s current North American product page. Which thicknesses and concrete-panel configurations are approved for a particular project.
Kooltherm K110 CB K110 cut to 16 inches for cavity-wall applications, as described by Buildings.com. Not separately stated in the cited material. Whether a specific cavity-wall build-up, climate zone or code listing accepts the proposed detail.

The K120 interior and concrete-sandwich descriptions and the K110 CB description come from a May 21, 2025 Buildings.com article. Confirm the current technical guide before treating those descriptions as a complete approved-use list.

How the R-value figures should be used

R-8.1 per inch for K110 and R-8.3 per inch for K120 are the clearest published figures for the series. They indicate why phenolic boards are considered when a wall has limited depth: more nominal resistance can be specified in a thinner layer than with many conventional insulations.

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Do not turn either number into an installed wall R-value by simple multiplication. A real assembly also includes sheathing, framing, thermal bridges, air films, interior and exterior finishes, fasteners, joints and openings. The effective result can be substantially different from the insulation’s labeled value.

  • Use the value for the exact product and thickness named in the current US data sheet.
  • Calculate the whole assembly, including framing percentages and repeating and non-repeating thermal bridges.
  • Check whether the project requires an insulation R-value, a whole-wall U-value or a prescriptive thickness.
  • Have the manufacturer or a qualified envelope professional review unusual interfaces, such as shelf angles, parapets, window heads and balcony connections.

The cited material does not provide a current thickness-by-thickness table, test conditions for the per-inch values or a project-specific design R-value. A specification should therefore identify the exact board, thickness and assembly calculation rather than saying only “K100 insulation.”

What each K100 variant is intended to do

K110 for continuous exterior insulation

K110 is the series member Kingspan positions for continuous insulation on walls and façades. A continuous layer outside the structural wall can reduce thermal bridging through studs or concrete edges and can help keep the primary wall layer warmer. Buildings.com calls K110 an exterior-use product, but exterior exposure still requires the correct weather-resistive barrier, facer treatment, joints, attachment and cladding system.

Specify K110 when the design calls for a continuous exterior board and the proposed wall matches a current approved system. Confirm how the board interfaces with air, water and vapor control layers; “continuous” describes the thermal layer, not automatic continuity of every control layer.

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K120 for pre-cast and tilt-up walls

K120 is positioned for pre-cast and tilt-up wall applications. Buildings.com additionally describes interior uses and concrete sandwich panels. Those applications can involve very different casting, attachment and fire conditions, so the concrete panel detail matters as much as the product name.

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For a pre-cast or tilt-up project, obtain the current K120 information for the exact panel build-up, concrete thickness, insulation location, connectors, joints and interior or exterior finish. Do not substitute a generic stud-wall detail simply because the insulation has a similar nominal R-value.

K110 CB for cavity walls

Buildings.com describes K110 CB as K110 insulation cut to 16 inches for cavity-wall applications. That dimension explains the “CB” designation in the cited description, but it does not establish every approved cavity-wall arrangement. Cavity widths, masonry ties, drainage, shelf angles and fire stopping vary by project.

Use K110 CB only after checking that the 16-inch format fits the designed cavity and that the wall’s tested or approved configuration covers the selected masonry, backup wall, ties and joints. A board that physically fits is not automatically an approved cavity-wall system.

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Fire performance: what the published claims mean

Fire statements for K100 refer to named tests and configurations, not a blanket promise for every wall, ceiling or building. Buildings.com’s May 21, 2025 article reports the following claims for the series:

  • Class A flame spread and smoke development under ASTM E84.
  • Passes in multiple NFPA 285 assemblies, including brick cavity walls and architectural panels.
  • Compliance with NFPA 286 for exposed insulation in interior ceilings and walls.

The article does not provide the full test reports, tested thicknesses, complete assembly drawings or all conditions and limitations for each claim. NFPA 285, in particular, evaluates a specific multi-component wall assembly. Passing one configuration does not authorize a different cladding, air barrier, attachment pattern, insulation thickness or window detail.

NFPA 286 and ASTM E84 also answer different questions. An ASTM E84 classification describes flame spread and smoke development under that test method; it is not an assembly fire-resistance rating. NFPA 286 concerns interior finish or exposed-material behavior in a room-corner test. Neither result by itself supplies a one-, two- or three-hour wall rating.

For a code submission, request the current Kingspan reports or listings and compare every component with the proposed design. Record the tested cladding, sheathing, membranes, joints, fasteners, thickness and height conditions. If the project changes any of those items, obtain written technical confirmation or an alternative code path from the design team and the authority having jurisdiction.

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Design flexibility and moisture considerations

Phenolic boards are often selected where designers need thermal performance without consuming as much wall depth. That can help with façade setbacks, window returns, parapets and retrofit constraints. The boards are also marketed as lightweight, which may simplify handling compared with denser products, although lifting, cutting and fastening still need a site method statement.

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Kingspan describes the K100 core as moisture resistant. Moisture resistance is not the same as waterproofing or a drainage plane. Design the wall so bulk water is shed, joints are managed and drying is considered. Protect boards from prolonged weather exposure in accordance with the current installation instructions, and detail penetrations so the air and water control layers remain continuous.

Because exact facers, edges, dimensions and fixing requirements are not stated in the cited material, do not assume that a detail for another Kooltherm range or another country applies. The Great Britain Kooltherm category page is not evidence for North American K100 specifications.

How to select the board for a project

  1. Define the wall type. Identify whether the project uses a framed exterior wall, masonry cavity wall, pre-cast panel, tilt-up panel, concrete sandwich panel or an interior exposed-insulation condition.
  2. Map the control layers. Show where the thermal insulation, water-resistive barrier, air barrier and vapor control layer occur, including transitions at roofs, foundations, windows and penetrations.
  3. Choose the likely variant. Start with K110 for continuous exterior wall or façade insulation, K120 for pre-cast or tilt-up work, and K110 CB where the design specifically calls for the 16-inch cavity-wall format.
  4. Check the current product data. Obtain the US technical guide, data sheet, installation instructions and availability information for the exact product and thickness. The cited material does not establish current stock, pricing or a complete dimension list.
  5. Verify thermal calculations. Have the designer calculate the effective assembly value or required U-value, including framing, fasteners, joints and thermal bridges.
  6. Verify fire and code scope. Match the proposed assembly to the applicable ASTM E84, NFPA 285, NFPA 286 or other required evidence. Confirm local amendments and the authority having jurisdiction’s acceptance.
  7. Resolve interfaces before ordering. Obtain details for corners, window openings, shelf angles, parapets, control joints, fire stopping and penetrations. Ask Kingspan technical services to confirm any non-standard condition in writing.
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Common specification mistakes and corrections

Specifying “K100” without a variant

Problem: The contractor receives a product that does not match the wall system.

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Correction: Name K110, K120 or K110 CB, then state the required thickness, location and referenced assembly documentation.

Using the per-inch R-value as the wall R-value

Problem: The design omits framing and interface losses.

Correction: Publish the whole-wall calculation or required U-value and identify who completed it.

Using a fire claim without its assembly

Problem: A tested brick cavity-wall configuration is copied to a different cladding or membrane.

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Correction: Compare the proposed build-up line by line with the current test report or listing; obtain technical confirmation for deviations.

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Assuming a board is weatherproof

Problem: Joints or penetrations are left without a coordinated water-control detail.

Correction: Keep the weather-resistive barrier, flashing and drainage strategy explicit, and follow the current installation instructions for temporary exposure and joint treatment.

Importing specifications from another country

Problem: A Great Britain product page is used to support a North American submittal.

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Correction: Use North American K100 documentation and local code evidence for the actual project.

What to include in the project submittal

  • Exact product designation: K110, K120 or K110 CB.
  • Board thickness, dimensions and quantity from the current quotation or data sheet.
  • Thermal calculation identifying nominal and effective values.
  • Installation instructions, fastening pattern and joint treatment.
  • Air, water and vapor-control transitions at openings and changes in plane.
  • Fire-test reports or listings that identify the complete assembly and limitations.
  • Manufacturer correspondence addressing any deviation from a tested detail.
  • Local code review and approval record.

Keeping these documents together prevents a common failure mode: a product is technically genuine, but the installed assembly is not the one supported by the evidence.

Bottom line for designers and builders

Kooltherm K100 can be a useful high-performance, space-conscious insulation family when the selected variant matches the wall. K110 is the logical starting point for continuous exterior insulation, K120 for pre-cast and tilt-up systems, and K110 CB for the specifically described 16-inch cavity-wall format. Kingspan reports R-8.1 per inch for K110 and R-8.3 per inch for K120, while published fire claims cite ASTM E84, NFPA 285 and NFPA 286 in named configurations.

Those figures and claims do not replace assembly design. Before approval or installation, obtain current North American documentation, verify the complete thermal and fire scope, and have the project’s designer and authority having jurisdiction accept the exact construction.

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