Looking for the perfect insulation material for your project? Using SOPRA XPS comes with many benefits. This product range performs excellently in terms of compressive strength, reliability, durability, climate-friendliness, and recyclability – among other characteristics. In what follows, we explain the advantages and disadvantages of XPS insulation in more detail.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Geyu Energy Saving sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Our insulation boards have excellent load-bearing capacities, making them the ideal choice for – among other applications – ballasted roofs, rooftop car parks, parking garages, floors of industrial buildings that have to bear the weight of heavy machines, and cold storage environments where both compressive strength and insulation performance are required. SOPRA XPS 500 and SOPRA XPS 700 perform well under high compression, with respective compressive strengths at 10% deformation of 500 and 700 kPa.
SOPRA XPS provides good thermal insulation even in boards with limited thickness. Our XPS boards with 300 kPa start from 30 millimetres; 500 kPa from 40 millimetres; and 700 kPa from 50 millimetres. The maximum thickness is 300 millimetres, depending on the panel. SOPRA XPS CW Artic and SOPRA XPS SL Artic go up to 200 millimetres in thickness.
The closed-cell structure of XPS results in very low lambda values (ranging from 0.029 (for SOPRA XPS Artic) to 0.036 W/mK).
Soprema offers a forty-year SOPRACOVER Warranty on systems consisting of SOPRA XPS and DUOFLEX – a combination that is frequently used in inverted roofs, plazas and podiums. As this impressive warranty already makes clear: provided installation and maintenance instructions are followed, XPS boards have a very long lifespan and will not degrade over time.
XPS insulation is highly resistant to water and moisture ingress due to its closed-cell structure, making it the go-to insulation material for foundation walls and other below-ground applications, as well as for inverted roofs.
Because XPS boards are very light and easy to handle, they are easy to install. XPS is the ideal solution for blue roofs and green roofs which require insulation properties and a highly compressive insulant. It can be combined with DUOFLEX where the BBA states approval for blue and green roof applications.
Thanks to its long lifespan, XPS is a more sustainable insulation option than insulation materials that need regular replacement and thus generate waste across the raw material, manufacturing and disposal cycle. But there are more ways in which our BREEAM A-rated SOPRA XPS products prove that plastics in construction can be sustainable.
While our Artic products are manufactured elsewhere, most SOPRA XPS boards are made in Tongeren with climate-friendly CO2 technology. In our Belgian XPS factory, we refrain from using chemicals like HFC and opt for CO2 as a blowing agent instead. Moreover, for raw materials we use the cutting waste of other XPS boards and new or end-of-life EPS, among other resources.
Of course, the fact that XPS insulation enhances the thermal performance of a building (thereby reducing its energy demand), also contributes to its sustainable character.
SOPRA XPS is approved by the Green Guide to Specification.
After disassembly, XPS boards can be 100% recycled. It goes without saying that the extruded boards are a clever move towards a circular economy and a circular construction industry.
XPS has an impressive application versatility. The insulation type is best suited for inverted roofs but has plenty of other applications as well – from floors to walls. For distributors, having one type of XPS panel at their disposal offers a wider scope as the product can serve multiple purposes. The boards also come with various edge profiles, from tongue and groove to rebate and straight.
We have already mentioned that SOPRA XPS and DUOFLEX are often used together, but our extruded boards are compatible with the entire Soprema waterproofing range. Because we manufacture all system components, we can also ensure the product compatibility of XPS with, for instance, basement waterproofing or structural waterproofing systems. Partnering with a single manufacturer for both insulation and waterproofing also results in a single point of warranty and contact.
Fire classification is a disadvantage of some insulation types. XPS insulation has a Euroclass E rating. Yet when XPS insulation boards are used in an inverted roof scenario, with a ballasted finish, the system can be classified as unrestricted in the UK, meaning that it can be used within any distance to other buildings. Similarly, while some cassette-packaged green roof systems will require independent BROOF(t4) testing, a fire test is not necessary to comply with UK guidelines in the case of:
Polystyrene foam insulation boards, including Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), are widely used in the UK construction industry due to their excellent thermal insulation properties and cost-effectiveness. However, their environmental impact has become a growing concern, prompting initiatives to enhance recycling efforts. Companies like GREENMAX are at the forefront, offering advanced recycling solutions to address these challenges.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): Lightweight and cost-effective, EPS offers R-values between 3.6 and 4.2 per inch. It's commonly used in packaging and insulation applications.
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS): Denser and more moisture-resistant than EPS, XPS provides an R-value of about 5 per inch, making it suitable for below-grade applications like foundation walls and slabs.
Polystyrene Foam Insulation Board typically come in 4x8-foot sheets. Smaller sizes are also available. They’re much lighter and easier to work with than plywood sheets. Install them using panel adhesive or screws.
For new construction, use rigid boards to insulate slabs and the outside of foundation walls. For a basement remodeling project, consider insulating basement walls with foam board. Use a premade kit for this type of project. Attach the tongue-and-groove insulation boards to the concrete wall with adhesive. Follow with a 2x4 frame wall and insulate it with batt insulation. Keep in mind that any interior rigid insulating panel must be covered by a barrier. A common choice is drywall.
Insulated foam sheets are also used as an insulated sheathing underlayment for exterior siding. The panels provide a continuous energy-efficient surface. This eliminates thermal bridging, which is the energy lost through wall studs. The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them.
Because of its resistance to moisture, polystyrene foam board insulation is a great choice whenever and wherever there is a chance it could get wet, such as an exterior foundation, inside a basement against the foundation, and on the outside of a house beneath a house wrap. The following are the pros and cons you should know when choosing the EPS insulation board.
1. Light. In Europe, people only use the EPS board with a density of 15kg/m3;
2. Low thermal conductivity. Because of the air-filled hole group structure, the spread of air and the heat conduction coefficient can be prevented under 0.039;
3. Good anti-impact ability. 98% of foam insulation board space is filled with air, then it has sufficient capacity to buffer the impact of the outside world by changing the shape;
For more Extruded Foam Boardinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
4. Low water absorption. Studies have shown that humidity will affect the thermal and mechanical properties, and the low water absorption of EPS insulation board helps to maintain excellent properties;
5. Recyclable. Polystyrene foam insulation board has the highest recycling degree among the plastics;
6. Freon is not used in the production process;
7. EPS insulation board has the lowest energy consumption of the entire plastic life cycle.
1. EPS insulation board needs to be hung, and the construction is complicated and the cycle is long;
2. Flammable & toxic. Ordinary polystyrene foam insulation board is easy to burn, accompanied by toxic fumes;
3. Poor material strength. Polystyrene foam insulation board is prone to cracking and shedding.
4. Limited strength and load-bearing capacity.
5. Unstable quality. The EPS insulation board needs to be placed in the factory for a period of time before it can be used. If it is not processed thoroughly, the quality will not be guaranteed, resulting in foam shrinkage and cracking.
Despite its recyclability, polystyrene recycling in the UK faces several challenges:
Collection Difficulties: Due to its lightweight and bulky nature, collecting and transporting polystyrene waste is inefficient without proper equipment.
Contamination: Polystyrene used in construction often contains adhesives or other materials that complicate recycling.
Limited Facilities: There are few facilities in the UK equipped to process polystyrene waste, leading to low recycling rates.
However, initiatives are underway to improve the situation. For instance, the University of Oxford has launched a trial recycling scheme for EPS waste, aiming to convert it into building insulation materials.
GREENMAX, a brand of INTCO Recycling, offers specialized equipment designed to tackle the challenges of polystyrene recycling:
APOLO Series Cold Compactors: These machines compress EPS and XPS waste into dense blocks, reducing volume by up to 50:1, facilitating easier storage and transportation.
MARS Series Hot Melters: By applying heat, these machines melt polystyrene waste into ingots, achieving a volume reduction ratio of up to 90:1, suitable for further processing.
Foam Pelletizers: These systems convert compacted foam into pellets, which can be used to manufacture new products, promoting a circular economy.
By integrating GREENMAX recycling machines, businesses can effectively manage polystyrene waste, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to sustainable practices.
Environmental Impact: By reducing polystyrene waste volume and facilitating its transformation into new products, GREENMAX machines help divert waste from landfills.
Economic Advantages: Businesses can lower waste management costs and generate revenue by selling recycled polystyrene pellets to manufacturers.
Regulatory Compliance: Utilizing GREENMAX machines enables companies to align with the UK's environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
Polystyrene foam insulation boards offer significant benefits in construction, but their environmental impact cannot be overlooked. Implementing recycling solutions like those provided by GREENMAX is essential for sustainable building practices.
For more information on polystyrene recycling solutions and to request a quote, please contact GREENMAX.
The company is the world’s best rock wool strips supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.