Anyone have experience with commercial copiers, solar panels, and foam insulation?

rusnak · 02-05-2015, 05:58 PM

I'm planning on building a new office building.

I need to learn about all of the above and didn't want to clutter the forum with three threads when I could just start one.

I want to use spray in expanding foam insulation for energy efficiency. New building codes require us to build a roof that is solar panel ready, and I need a high volume copier.

I also need to research outdoor speakers. I'm thinking of going with QSC ADS8T. I need probably 4 of those. I prefer amplified speakers like the K10 but this is a permanent application.

TimT · 02-05-2015, 06:01 PM

My first question is "where"

Where are you planning on building?

rusnak · 02-05-2015, 06:05 PM

central California. Energy costs are high. Buiding codes are straight out of some Hippie's wet dream. I'll have to have a photo cell control dimming the lights during the day. And there is some talk about having only 1 wall plug stay hot and the others activated by motion sensor. Yes, energy savings is a major consideration in the 2015 building code update.

ckelly78z · 02-05-2015, 06:12 PM

Spray in foam insulation is the way to go because it covers everything and acts as it's own air gap (foam has small bubbles) which improves efficiency over pink fiberglass or rigid foam board. It will cost more to apply per sq. ft. but will re-coop the difference in short order. I can't speak on your other topics, but may suggest looking at marine applications that are meant for tough weather conditions for your outdoor sound system.

rusnak · 02-05-2015, 06:15 PM

I spoke to QSC in Santa Ana and got the shine-on by some young douchenozzle. They told me to call Audio Gear. Anyway, I agree that weather is a major factor, which is what I asked them about. The decision I think is whether to go with an amplified speaker or passive. I want to achieve outdoor sound that you can almost "see". Sound immersion rather than sound that you merely hear.

saxen · 02-05-2015, 06:17 PM

Check pm

rusnak · 02-05-2015, 06:37 PM

Thanks!

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Redbeard....

gshase · 02-05-2015, 07:02 PM

Happy to advise you on spray foam insulation here is a link to my business
ENVIRO TECH SPRAY FOAM INSULATION Call me any time Gary

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

Outdoor sound and if you are looking at QSC you likely want high quality music reproduction. QSC, EV, and JBL all have quality products for your application. As long as they are under a roof and not exposed to rain your choices are pretty wide. The right choice depends on your specific sound reinforcement needs. The best sound happens when you consider the acoustics of the entire listening environment and not just the loudspeakers.

patssle · 02-05-2015, 07:38 PM

Spray foam also reinforces the roof. But that might be negligible in California without tornadoes or hurricanes.

john70t · 02-05-2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patssle

Spray foam also reinforces the roof.

Closed cell only.
More expen$ive.
Structural support claim is dubious.

Open cell is more mushy and absorbs/transfers water to a degree.

rusnak · 02-05-2015, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

Closed cell only.
More expen$ive.
Structural support claim is dubious.

Open cell is more mushy and absorbs/transfers water to a degree.

OK, one of the areas that I want to insulate is a vaulted ceiling. Due to the need to meet energy savings requirements, we need to insulate the ceiling. This means building a false ceiling that looks like the underside of the roof, which will contain insulation. That, or I go with a conventional flat suspended ceiling. If we use foam in the ceiling, and there is a roof leak with open cell foam, then it can get heavy and collapse through the ceiling? So the roof area needs to use fiberglass batting?

john70t · 02-05-2015, 09:53 PM

rusnak:
Too many different scenarios and too little input information.
It is beyond my basic expertise to attempt to offer such a limited (layman) opinion.
Sorry man.
My gut instinct would be to go with open cell (it is more like wood), but the science is still out there.

I would definitely make sure the wood structure is solid...and the roof sound...before deciding on the insulation choice.
Solid structure. Then insulation.

Keep digging at structural info.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Redbeard....

I'm here.

Can you give me the latitude? It will determine the roof angle.

You definitely want to actually install the solar panels at the time of installation. The Fed will five you a 30% tax credit year 1 and you can write off 50% of the system against income year one. And you can really save on energy in California.

Scuba Steve · 02-06-2015, 04:58 AM

We used closed cell foam insulation in the room where I raised the ceiling to the rafters. Couldn't possibly be happier with the decision. It used to be hot/cold in there all the time and now it's perfect.

ErVikingo · 02-06-2015, 05:58 AM

We are building our new home with a poured slab, cmu with filled cells and a Hambro poured roof.

Closed cell spray foam on roof and all exterior walls. I can find the calculated R-values for these if you find them useful. A friend did the same (except a truss/wood roof) and the place is super quiet and feels clean.

My Hambro is designed with reinforcements to allow for the installation of solar panels in the future (also running wire chases for that).

Many options regarding sound. A lot of it will depend on where you will install the speakers.

Roof, use closed cell and water should not come through in case of a leak on the exterior portion.

I'm an accountant not a builder but have been researching for years now.

rusnak · 02-06-2015, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

I'm here.

Can you give me the latitude? It will determine the roof angle.

You definitely want to actually install the solar panels at the time of installation. The Fed will five you a 30% tax credit year 1 and you can write off 50% of the system against income year one. And you can really save on energy in California.

Redbeard, I'm in central California, approx same lat as San Francisco, but inland by a hundred miles.

I need to discuss closed cell foam with my GC and get bids then.

Definitely think solar is the way to go, but now it's down to which manufacturer. And definitely will go with owning, not leasing them.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

On a business, you definitely want to own. At the end of 5 years, the Fed has paid for 63%. And then you might have local incentives.

Do you know how much power you will be consuming and what your business hours will be? You want to design it to cover most of your power without selling it back to the grid.

Do you need three-phase power?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

37.8 degrees North. The optimal solar angle for year round at your location is 32 degrees. You will not lose much with 30 degrees. Try to get a roof Angle of 30 degrees built in, then the solar panels will mount "flat" on the roof. The tilted roof should be pointed due south.