There are reasons why California is known for producing some of the world's finest wines. And there are reasons why insulated metal panel systems—like those available from Kingspan Insulated Panels—are go-to products when it comes to wine storage and production facilities.
California's diverse terrain, coupled with its climate, make it an ideal locale for growing grapes of all varieties. At the same time, the Golden State's unique climate demands wine makers be smart when it comes to choosing the materials used on their buildings. And as one California winemaker would attest, the importance of product selection holds true whether the facility in question is new construction or a renovation/conversion.
To that winemaker, founded in 1980, business is personal and the fruits of its labor are a reflection of the family's hard work, dedication and integrity. So when plans were being drafted to convert an existing warehouse into a new wine production facility, it wasn't enough to just have four walls and a roof. The facility needed to be energy efficient, environmentally stable, humidity-free, airtight and watertight. Anything less would be a compromise to product quality.
Marc Davis, owner of Division 13 Buildings, a pre-engineered metal building contractor, used Kingspan insulated roof and wall panels to create a building that addressed all of the family’s requirements. The roof of the 26,000-square-foot commercial structure was outfitted with Kingspan's KingZip insulated standing seam roof panels. The KingZip roof panel system not only fit into the established look the commercial building already possessed, it offered the superior performance the facility needed: high R-values, guaranteed airtightness and weathertightness, and low thermal bridging. These performance benefits combined can result in energy savings of as much as 30%.
While the building's original tilt-up walls were retained, they were augmented with a Kingspan 300 Series wall panel system to create a stable internal environment ideally suited to preserving the quality of the product throughout the stages of wine production—from the crushing and fermenting of grapes to the bottling and storage of the wine. The building has a capacity of up to 100,000 gallons.
Kingspan’s KingZip roof panels and 300 Series wall panels created a complete high-performance building envelope with a stable internal environment that is protected from outside elements. As an added benefit, the interior of the panels enhance the interior lighting systems due to their Bright White finish.
"There's a reason we use Kingspan's IMPs for these types of niche buildings," Davis notes. "Keeping out moisture and maintaining a stable temperature is critical in wine making. And building insulation is key, which is why we trust Kingspan's products for these projects. The materials in their panels set the standard. I think the handwriting is on the wall for fiberglass panels, especially in California."
The newly created wine production facility was completed in January 2014.