Polystyrene External Boards

Most buildings are constructed with solid walls. They don’t have cavities that can be filled or injected with insulation. These solid external walls need to be insulated by adding a layer of insulation to either to the interior face or to the exterior face of the wall. This insulation would slow the movement of heat out through the walls thereby dramatically reducing heating demand. The best method is to insulate the walls on its exterior face.

Thermal insulation of an external wall using a contact method is one of the traditional methods of wall insulation. It can be performed perfectly in both new and reconstructed building. Solid expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulating boards are glued onto the external wall and anchored mechanically and then a thin layer of coloured plaster is applied. Contact insulation is used most frequently in buildings built of bricks but may also be used successfully in modern wooden houses.

The solid wall insulation must achieve a U-value of 0.30 W/m2k, hence at least 90mm of expanded polystyrene insulation needs to be used. Obviously the thicker the material, the better its insulating performance. Expanded polystyrene is one of the least expensive, most cost effective rigid foamed plastic insulations and is an excellent material for wall insulation applications that come with a restricted budget.

Grey Polystyrene (Graphite) is a high quality expanded polystyrene (EPS) board enhanced with integrated graphite within its bead structure. The high-purity graphite particles integrated within the insulation beads reflects radiant heat and significantly improves insulation capability, providing up to 20% greater r-value than traditional white EPS of the same thickness. Warm air always moves towards cold air, In Grey Polystyrene (Graphite) the path taken by warm air moving towards the cold air takes many twists and turns along the way, slowing down the heat transfer, keeping the premises warmer.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Low thermal conductivity - Due to its closed air-filled cell structure that inhibits the passage of heat or cold, a high capacity for thermal insulation is achieved,
• Lightweight and ease of handling and installation,
• Low water absorption - does not absorb moisture and its thermal and mechanical properties are unaffected by damp, humidity or moisture,
• Chemical resistance - polystyrene is completely compatible with other materials used in construction including cements, plasters, salt etc.,
• Ageing resistance - material's properties are retained will last as long as the building itself, if properly installed,
• Polystyrene is not altered by external agents such as fungi or parasites as they find no nutritional value in the material.

INSTALLATION

Render systems

• Adhesive/levelling compound applied to the external wall,
• Expanded polystyrene board,
• Insulation fixings for the reinforcing insulation boards,
• Metal or fibrous mesh reinforcement,
• Render system and finish
  

Cladding systems

• The actual method of installation will depend on the chosen cladding system.
• External expanded polystyrene should be cut to ensure a tight fit between the battens and should be wedged into position.
• If there is an an air gap between the insulation and the cladding, the EPS external boards should be pinned in place using corrosion-free fixings. 
• A breathable sarking felt should be placed over the insulation, and the edges and joints sealed.
• As the use of a single layer of EPS external insulation fitted between standard 38-50mm battens will not provide a U-value which satisfies the Building Regulations, a second layer of EPS external board should be fixed over the battens.
• The cladding system should be efficiently fixed back to the main wall to prevent vertical downward drag of cladding in accordance with the cladding manufacturer’s instructions.