As insurance expectations shift and owners place more weight on energy efficiency and internal comfort, PIR panels have become a preferred option for temperature-controlled workshops, warehouses, retail spaces and manufacturing environments.
This guide outlines how PIR performs, where it adds real value, and the key points you should understand before choosing it for your project.
PIR (polyisocyanurate) has been used internationally for decades, but its performance under New Zealand conditions is what has driven its uptake across modern builds.
A major factor has been how PIR behaves in a fire. It forms a protective char layer rather than EPS (polystyrene, which becomes a fuel source). That behaviour has influenced how insurers view different envelope systems and is a consistent reason owners consider PIR.
Moisture performance is another driver. PIR does not abosrb water like EPS which matters in coastal, humid or high-condensation regions. A panel that stays dry retains its thermal performance, helps protect the internal environment and avoids long-term degradation.
Thermally, PIR is efficient. A 50 to 75 mm PIR panel can match the performance of a 100 mm EPS panel. In simple terms, thermal performance is the panel’s ability to keep heat inside during winter and prevent overheating in summer. A higher R-value helps stabilise the internal temperature, reduce condensation and reduce the demand on heating or cooling.
Because PIR delivers more performance in a thinner profile, it often produces a more comfortable and predictable internal environment with a lower mechanical load.
PIR has become a common choice because of the practical benefits it brings to day-to-day operations.
High-use industrial spaces
Workshops and manufacturing environments clad in PIR typically feel more even throughout the day with fewer hot and cold swings and reduced internal condensation.
Customer-facing or public spaces
Retail, gyms, showrooms and hybrid spaces use PIR for its clean internal finish and durability. It often removes the need for additional linings.
Temperature-sensitive environments
Cold-room PIR panels offer high thermal performance and airtightness. These panels are now being used more widely in non-food industrial spaces where stable conditions matter.
If PIR is something you are considering, the next step is choosing the right profile for your building.
This five-rib profile spans long distances, sheds water well and can be supplied in long lengths to reduce joins. It suits most industrial buildings, including warehouses, workshops and distribution facilities.
Concealed-fix architectural panels
These suit frontages, gyms, retail and premium industrial buildings where a refined, contemporary appearance is important. The internal surface is clean and durable.
Flat Cold-room PIR panels
Designed for high thermal performance and airtightness. These are also being used as internal linings in workshops and mixed-use spaces due to their durability and easy cleaning.
A consistent advantage of PIR is the internal environment it helps create. Buildings clad in PIR tend to hold temperature more reliably, which reduces the load on heating and cooling systems. Over time, these small reductions can result in meaningful operational savings.
Even in non-conditioned buildings, PIR helps produce a more comfortable space. Surfaces feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer, condensation is reduced, and the building behaves more predictably as temperatures change.
Modern PIR trapezoidal roofs follow the same principles as high-performing metal roofing, with controlled overlaps, defined screw patterns and long-length sheets that minimise unnecessary joints. When detailed correctly and installed by an experienced team, these systems perform extremely well.
Dyno Conveyors needed a modern manufacturing warehouse that supported production, inwards and outwards goods, and integrated office space. Before committing to a specification, their team visited several PIR-clad buildings and were immediately struck by the difference in internal comfort.
Inside comparable PIR buildings, temperature swings were smaller, condensation was reduced, and the overall environment felt far more stable through Southland winters. That clarity made the decision simple. Their new facility now uses insulated PIR wall and roof panels to maintain day-to-day comfort for both office and manufacturing teams.
Attika designed the building with long-term growth in mind, including a full-size end portal to support future extensions and a 5 metre by 40 metre canopy for covered goods handling. The result is a future-ready facility with consistently better internal performance and improved energy efficiency.
Blacks Fasteners needed a retail trade showroom with a large warehouse space and a comfortable environment for staff and customers. Their previous building was a cold concrete structure that stayed cold long after winter mornings.
The difference with PIR was immediate. During handover, the indoor temperature sat at around 12 degrees on a minus two-degree morning with no heating running. The stable internal environment made the new space noticeably more comfortable and removed the need for additional internal lining.
For retail and trade environments where doors open frequently and large spaces need to remain comfortable, PIR provides a practical, cost-effective way to meet H1 requirements while improving the customer experience.
PIR is usually the stronger option when you want a building that performs well over time. It delivers reliable fire behaviour, low moisture absorption, consistent thermal performance and a finished internal surface in one system. These factors combine to create a stable, low-maintenance envelope that suits most modern industrial uses.
EPS still has a place, but mainly in simple, low-spec, non-habitable structures where budget is the main priority and long-term performance is less important. When you compare the whole picture, PIR tends to provide the better balance of performance, risk management and operational efficiency for New Zealand industrial buildings.
We recently sat down with Casey Delaney from Conqueror to discuss PIR panels in real New Zealand conditions and to clarify common questions around thermal performance, moisture behaviour and installation detailing.
To watch the full discussion, you can view it here.
If you're interested in discussing your next project, contact our team today to book a meeting with one of our experts.