Is Polystyrene Insulation a Good Insulator?

Polystyrene boards have a thermal conductivity value between 0.034 and 0.038 W/mK. XPS foam boards are more efficient thermal insulators than EPS insulation boards.Polystyrene does not deliver the best thermal conductivity values on the market. Phenolic insulation has a thermal value of 0.018 W/mK, which makes it the most efficient material available for thermal protection. Polystyrene is more suited to applications where thermal values are less of a consideration, but where compressive strength is important.

Are Polystyrene Insulation Boards Good For Compressive Strength?

Kingspan GreenGuard boards have a compressive strength of 300 kPa, whereas EPS70 jablite polystyrene boards have a compressive strength of 70 kPa. The higher the compressive strength, the longer the material maintains its properties. GreenGuard boards perform well when they are installed in heavy roof structures and underneath heavy floors. Lots of commercial property owners invest in polystyrene foam because it maintains its thermal properties despite heavy footfall.

What Does the Number in the Title of Each Expanded Polystyrene Board Indicate?

The number signifies the compressive strength. For instance, EPS70 has a compressive performance of 70 Kilopascal (kPa).

Why Is Compressive Strength Important When Selecting Polystyrene Foam Insulation?

Compressive strength is vital as it determines the load resistance of the material. A higher compressive strength means the insulation can withstand more external pressure.

Will Footfall and Vibrations Affect the Durability of EPS Boards?

High compressive strength ensures that external pressures like footfall and vibrations don't compromise the longevity of EPS boards.

Do XPS Foam Boards Also Have Numbers in Their Titles? What Do They Indicate?

Yes, like EPS, XPS foam boards have numbers. For example, all XPS products in our range have a compressive strength of 300kPa, indicating they can withstand greater pressure.

Which Is More Suitable for Commercial Spaces: EPS or XPS?

XPS is more recommended for commercial spaces due to its higher compressive strength, making it ideal for insulating heavy floors and roofs.

Are Polystyrene Insulation Boards Sustainable?

Unlike XPS, EPS can be constructed with recycled content, making it the more environmentally friendly option of the two. However, this sustainability does not come without its disadvantages. The voids between the polystyrene beads of EPS also make it more permeable and susceptible to water absorption. And with the absorption of water, comes the dreaded decrease of R-Value (dulling down its already quite low thermal properties). Resisting water is critical for high-performance insulation due to the fact that water is an excellent conductor of energy. Water ingress will ultimately hurt the overall thermal effectiveness of the board since water allows energy to short circuit or bypass its way through the board’s structure; reducing the overall effectiveness of thermal performance.It should be noted then, that EPS’ potential to absorb water is 10 times greater than XPS, which does not absorb water at all, due to its closed-cell structure. This enables it to maintain insulating power in the presence of water.

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Polystyrene Insulation Board

100mm EPS150 Polystyrene Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

75mm EPS150 Polystyrene Insulation Board 2400mm x 1200mm

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