THE MANY APPLICATIONS OF XPS INSULATION

XPS insulation has long been specified by architects looking for a robust product, which is not surprising given the advantages XPS has to offer. XPS or extruded polystyrene insulation is, among other things, mould and moisture resistant, easy to install and 100% recyclable. Moreover, it provides exceptional compressive strength and consistent lambda values year after year. XPS insulation is the go-to solution in some of the most challenging environments: under slabs, concrete floors, foundations, plaza podium decks. WHAT ARE THE MAIN APPLICATIONS OF XPS? 1. INVERTED ROOF INSULATION Proven resistance to moisture, compressive strength and durability are some of the key performance properties that make XPS a popular choice for flat roof insulation. More specifically, our multifunctional SOPRA XPS SL boards are perfectly suited for inverted roofs which only require 300 kPa. If more compressive strength is required, you can opt for either SOPRA XPS 500 or SOPRA XPS 700. In inverted roof applications, XPS is often used in combination with DUOFLEX Hot Melt structural waterproofing. 2. XPS INSULATION IN FOUNDATIONS XPS is frequently used in basements as well as foundation walls. In these environments, too, our SOPRA XPS SL boards provide proven performance. The closed cell structure prevents moisture-absorption, making it ideal for installation below-ground, where it keeps out mould and retains excellent lambda values. Utilising XPS insulation on exterior foundation walls not only reduces exposure of the exterior surface to temperature changes but also maximises internal space within the construction. To filter ground water and improve drainage, you can add a PROTECDRAIN FILTER on top of the waterproofing and the XPS insulation layer. 3. CAVITY WALL INSULATION XPS insulation can be used to insulate cavity walls due to its ability to maintain good R values even when subjected to moisture. 4. INTERIOR WALL INSULATION Moisture resistant, XPS can also be an effective means of increasing the thermal efficiency of basement constructions and reducing energy usage. 5. EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION XPS can also be applied to the outside of walls, in combination with a finishing layer like tiles, a rendered finish or an external panel rain screen finish. 6. INSULATION FOR FLOORS AND CAR PARKS Floors and car parks cannot do without moisture-resistant insulation either, but these environments require insulation boards that meet yet another important prerequisite. High compressive strength is key here. XPS insulation solutions are available for all types of flooring applications – from domestic to commercial projects and cold stores. Depending on your needs, SOPRA XPS 500 (max. 500 kPa) or SOPRA XPS 700 (max. 700 kPa) offers sufficient load-bearing capacity. These products not only make for excellent thermal insulation; they are pressure-resistant and dimensionally stable, too. The insulation boards are often loose laid because sufficient ballast is added later on. You are guaranteed to get a perfect result using XPS, especially if you combine it with our ALSAN liquid parking solutions. 7. FOR GREEN ROOFS Due to the material’s high compressive strength, XPS is an excellent choice for green roofs. When you install XPS boards on an inverted roof, you need ballast – which can be gravel or tiles, but also the vegetation, root barrier and drainage systems required for a green roof. Weight loading is an important design consideration for this type of roof, but XPS boards tick that box too due to their light weight. 8. IN CIRCULAR BUILDING PROJECTS PIR remains widely used. It has improved thermal performance over XPS, but it cannot be recycled. XPS represents a more-than-worthy alternative in this department, proving that plastics in construction can indeed be sustainable. XPS insulation boards are not only produced using climate-friendly CO2 technology, they are also 100% recyclable – a great match for circular building projects which will continue to gain in popularity in the years to come. XPS insulation boards can be perfectly separated from the other layers (when a building shell gets disassembled) and are neatly processable for reuse. BOTH NEW BUILDS AND RENOVATION PROJECTS XPS insulation can be utilised in many applications within the building envelope. Suitable for new build and refurbishment projects, XPS can be produced down to a minimum thickness of 30 millimetres. A BOARD FOR EVERY PURPOSE Soprema manufactures and supplies an extensive range of XPS insulation solutions for a multitude of applications where compressive strength and thermal performance are of the essence. Each of our XPS insulation boards have their own unique characteristics. To select the right insulation material for your project, ask yourself the following questions: Are high compressive strength properties required? If so, how much kPa should the material be able to withstand? Which type of surface would work best? Do you prefer a smooth insulation board, or rather one with a rough surface that is ready for render finishes? Will you opt for a board with a tongue-groove edge profile, a rebate edge or a square edge? Questions about the main applications of XPS insulation? Want to learn more about the different XPS insulation applications, or are you still looking for the perfect insulation material for your construction project? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts, or to request an XPS sample here.

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