Vacuum-Insulated Panels: 3 Steps to Increase Adoption in the US Construction Market

By John Peavey, PE
Published Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Recently, I attended the 2025 International Vacuum Insulated Symposium at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The symposium brought together a wide range of subject matter experts in high-performance insulation products. Participants came from academia, manufacturing, research, supply chain, and the construction industry.

The symposium focused on vacuum-insulated technology with three major goals:

• improve the core materials and their performance properties
• improve the cost and long-term durability
• improve windows and insulation applications in the construction industry

Vacuum-insulated technology is not new; in fact, vacuum-insulated panels (VIPs) have been around for decades. The thermal resistance values (R-Values, which range from 35 to 50 per inch) far exceed conventional insulation products with the same thickness. Yet despite their superior insulation performance, VIPs have not been widely used within the U.S. construction market. Perennial concerns about the cost, fragility and long-term durability of VIPs continue to be the focus of research – but at this symposium some promising solutions were presented and discussed.

They included two award-winning research projects that addressed cost by re-imagining the conventional fumed silica core material with less expensive wood fibers and micronized nano-cellular polymers. I found both research projects impressive because they demonstrated how manufacturers of VIPs can reduce the cost of materials while also maintaining similar thermal performance of fumed silica – a goal that has eluded the industry for years. Another promising research project was the development of self-healing ultra-high barrier films for VIPs. This has the potential to improve the risk of puncture damage on a construction site where there is a high probability of damage from screws and nails when the product is being installed.

What’s Next for VIPA International and Vacuum-Insulated Technologies?

Even with these notable breakthroughs, the moderators of the symposiums encouraged participants to recommend other ways that the vacuum-insulated panel industry can increase the use of VIPs in the US construction market– and I offered the following three steps.

Currently, design professionals, contractors, and builders are understandably cautious about using construction products perceived as fragile, difficult to install, and not widely recognized by the building code. Clear, consensus-driven best-practice installation guides would address these concerns head-on and provide some much-needed assurance.

Step #1: Develop a VIPs Design Guide

The Vacuum Insulation Panel Association (VIPA International) should create a design guide for the US construction market that describes “best practices” for installing VIPs in walls, roofs, and floors. By developing an industry-endorsed design guide with standard practices, manufacturers can provide specific instructions on how to install their products while incorporating the standard guidance. The document should include illustrations of correct fastening, protection strategies to prevent puncture (even if self-healing barrier films are widely used in the future), identification of key construction trades, and instructions for removal or repair if damage occurs. When installation steps are easy to follow and supported by the association, architects, engineers, and builders gain confidence, risk is reduced, and use of the building product becomes more likely.

Step #2: Engage Design Professionals in the US

Architects and engineers play a critical role in determining which materials are specified in building projects, and their influence often extends across the entire construction team. Educating these design professionals on the benefits of VIPs is essential to moving the product from a specialized innovation to a mainstream solution. VIPs also provide opportunities for architects and engineers to achieve ambitious energy goals, including net-zero performance, without resorting to thicker wall designs.

To build familiarity and trust, manufacturers and trade associations like VIPA International should prioritize outreach through continuing education programs, accredited professional development courses, webinars, and technical workshops. Case studies of successful VIP applications—in multifamily housing, retrofit projects, commercial flat roofs, or commercial walls—can demonstrate how the panels have solved real-world challenges such as meeting energy codes in tight urban sites. Engagement should also extend to design competitions, professional journals, and conference presentations, ensuring VIPs are visible where architects seek inspiration and guidance. When design professionals see how VIPs can achieve both performance and aesthetic goals, they become powerful advocates, capable of accelerating adoption through their specifications and influence in the final building design.

Step #3: Engage Contractors and Builders in the US.

Members of VIPA International should participate in trade shows and other conventions to demonstrate directly to builders and construction companies the value of using VIPs. In most cases, builders of residential housing are responsible for specifying building products, so contact with them is essential.

VIPA International should engage general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and construction managers – and members should provide training programs and jobsite demonstrations that show VIPs can be installed safely and efficiently. Clear evidence of labor savings—such as faster installation and reduced insulation thickness (for high R-value)—may resonate with high-performance builders and even those trying to meet higher wall insulation requirements. Engaging builders also allows VIPA International to gather critical feedback from the field, helping manufacturers refine product design, packaging, and installation details.

VIPs in the Field

As with other building technologies and products, Home Innovation has studied VIPs and incorporated the product into deep energy retrofit projects – including an ongoing field demonstration study in Albany, NY. Our research has led to the development of the Next Generation Retrofit Insulated Panel (illustrated below), which adds VIPs into a standard nail-based panel. Full performance comparisons are ongoing, and a detailed report is forthcoming. 

In closing, I am convinced that the growth potential for VIPs remains strong – but VIPA International will need to increase its engagement within the US construction market, to drive industry-wide change.