Commissioners debate requiring continuous R‑5 exterior insulation amid fire-code uncertainty
Planning commissioners and technical staff debated whether to adopt a regional amendment mandating R‑5 continuous exterior insulation, with staff warning unresolved fire‑code guidance could restrict design options and commissioners noting most local homes are 2x6 construction.
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A significant thread of the work session centered on a proposed regional amendment that would require an R‑5 continuous exterior insulation layer in addition to cavity insulation. Staff and the building‑code cohort proposed the continuous R‑5 to reduce thermal bridging, but staff recommended caution because the state fire code has not yet clarified allowable exterior assemblies and could conflict with a prescriptive exterior insulation mandate.
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