Compare insulated panels by the building task first, and only then by price. A wall, a roof and a cold store need different details. PIR helps to reduce insulation thickness, while mineral wool may better meet the fire requirements of a specific system. However, the result is determined by the parameters of the finished panel, its facings, the joint and the installation. The core name alone is not enough to choose a material. A wall panel forms the vertical envelope. Its facing can be smooth or lightly profiled. Solutions with visible and concealed fixing are available. The laying direction must be matched to the documentation and the structure. Vertical and horizontal are not merely two versions of the appearance of the same façade.

Insulated panels for cold rooms and freezers are selected according to the operating temperature, the ambient conditions and the overall heat balance. Choosing a large thickness alone will not ensure a tight chamber. The joints, seals, doors, floor and service penetrations all matter. PIR is useful thanks to its good insulation performance at a small thickness. However, a solution intended for refrigerated conditions must be used. An insulated panel consists of metal facings and a bonded core. In the refrigerated variant, the edge connection is particularly important. Suitable joint geometry and the specified seal limit the flow of air and vapour. This is not merely a thicker version of any façade panel.

Insulated wall panels on a masonry wall usually require a designed method of support and fixing. They should not be screwed into random locations in the masonry, nor should it be assumed that any façade plug will be suitable. The condition of the substrate, the loads, the geometry and the moisture conditions must be assessed. Only then are the subframe, anchors and panels selected. The method of execution depends on whether a new cladding or the insulation of an existing wall is being created. Establish the wall material, its thickness and its technical condition. Concrete behaves differently from solid brick, and solid brick differently from hollow block. Old render is not proof of the load-bearing capacity of the substrate. Cracks, dampness and loose fragments must be identified.