An insulated metal panel is a factory-fabricated wall or ceiling panel with a rigid foam core bonded between two metal skins. Because the panel delivers structure, insulation, air barrier, and vapor barrier in a single component, it replaces a multi-trade wall assembly with one product and one installing trade. IMP is the standard envelope for cold storage, food processing, cannabis cultivation, cleanrooms, and data centers.

IMP supply and install runs roughly $14 to $30 per square foot in 2026. Ambient warehouse envelopes with EPS or mineral wool cores fall in the $14 to $17 range. Refrigerated and food-grade envelopes with 4 in. to 6 in. polyiso run $18 to $22. Blast freezer and cleanroom work with 6 in. to 8 in. panels and specialty detailing runs $23 to $30 and up. Get a project-specific number from the IMP cost estimator or read the full 2026 cost breakdown.

Terrapin Construction Group is one of the few contractors that self-performs insulated metal panel installation at national scale, with more than 1,000,000 SF installed across 38 states and preferred installer status with PermaTherm, Kingspan, Metl-Span, Falk, Green Span, Arch Solar, and UPI Panels. TCG is licensed in all 50 states and works either as the specialty subcontractor to your GC or as the prime design-build contractor. Schedule a call.

A standard freezer at minus 10°F to 0°F typically needs 5 in. to 6 in. of polyiso, roughly R-35 to R-48. Blast freeze applications from minus 40°F to minus 150°F generally require 6 in. to 8 in. or more, R-48 to R-64. Coolers at +28°F to +45°F usually run 4 in. Under-specifying thickness is the most expensive IMP mistake we get called to correct, because the fix is demolition. See the full thickness by design temperature table.

Polyiso delivers roughly R-7.2 to R-8 per inch versus about R-4.2 for EPS, so polyiso hits a target R-value in a thinner, lighter panel and is standard for cold storage, food, and pharma. EPS costs less per inch and is common in ambient and lightly conditioned buildings. Mineral wool is chosen when fire performance drives the assembly. FM Approval requirements often narrow the choice for you. Full analysis: evaluating IMP panels on cost, FM rating, polyiso, and EPS.

Yes, and actively. TCG crews are installing IMP on cannabis cultivation facilities in the Minneapolis metro in 2026. You can watch the Minneapolis IMP installation and a second active Minnesota project in our video library. See also Minneapolis cannabis facility construction and Rochester, MN.

Yes. TCG is currently installing insulated metal panels on a cannabis cultivation facility in Lexington, Kentucky, and builds across the state as a Louisville and statewide Kentucky commercial general contractor. For Kentucky cultivators specifically, see Kentucky cannabis facility construction.

A trained crew typically sets 2,000 to 4,000 SF of panel per day on straightforward elevations under 30 ft. Lift heights above 30 ft., complex geometry, heavy penetration counts, and cold-weather sealant windows all reduce that rate. IMP generally compresses the envelope schedule by around 30% against a conventional multi-trade wall assembly, because one trade delivers structure, insulation, and vapor barrier in a single pass. Panel lead time, usually 6 to 14 weeks, is the real schedule driver. See 2026 material lead times.

FM Approvals tests complete wall and roof assemblies for fire performance, and many insurers require an FM Approved assembly for cold storage and food processing buildings. That requirement restricts which core, thickness, span, and joint details you can use, so it needs to be settled during design rather than discovered at submittal. Read why FM ratings matter for IMP panels.

IMP usually wins on schedule, thermal performance per inch, and sanitation, and it is the only practical option for deep freeze. Tilt-up can compete on cost in ambient or lightly conditioned buildings and in markets with strong concrete labor. The honest comparison depends on your design temperature, building height, and local labor market. Read IMP vs. tilt-up for cold storage and tilt-up cost per SF.

Yes. We install owner-furnished and GC-furnished panels regularly, and we will review the panel specification and shop drawings before mobilizing so nobody discovers a span or attachment problem in the field. That said, our procurement volume across seven manufacturers often beats the price an owner secured directly, so it is worth letting us quote supply as well.

Almost always the details rather than the panels: a missing thermal break at the slab, sealant skipped or applied outside its temperature window, incorrect fastener torque that dimples the skin, unsealed penetrations at doors and refrigeration lines, and panels specified thinner than the design temperature requires. Every one of these shows up later as condensation, ice, mold, or a refrigeration system that never stops running. See joint detailing and waterproofing and why expert installs reduce risk.

Yes. A meaningful share of our IMP volume is subcontracted to other GCs who need a crew that can travel, hold a schedule, and pass a USDA or FM inspection. We provide bonding, insurance, a dedicated panel superintendent, and BIM coordination. We also handle PEMB, roofing, and flooring scopes on the same project when it helps you consolidate.

Immediately. Upload your floorplan and elevations to the TCG IMP cost estimator and you will get a market-calibrated supply-and-install budget in about 30 seconds, at no cost and with no obligation. For a hard-bid proposal with panel takeoff, sealant, trim, and crane, expect 3 to 5 business days after we receive drawings. Or just book 30 minutes with our team.