XPS INSULATION BOARDS: SOPREMA’S SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PROCESS

XPS insulation is the go-to insulation for many applications. In this article, we explain what XPS insulation is, what XPS insulation boards are made of, and how Soprema takes great care to keep its XPS production process as sustainable as possible. WHAT IS XPS? XPS or extruded polystyrene is a plastic foam that serves as thermal insulation. XPS is not to be confused with EPS, an insulation material which also belongs to the polystyrene family (EPS stands for expanded polystyrene), but which is slightly more permeable to air and moisture than XPS. WHAT IS XPS MADE OF? In our XPS factory in Tongeren (Belgium), we make new XPS insulation boards from – among other ingredients – the cutting waste of XPS boards. This waste is sucked up and reused in a zero-waste fashion. Other materials include either old EPS, for instance from packaging materials and shipping boxes for fish, or new EPS, depending on the product and the availability of EPS waste. The production process includes adding fire retardants and (for the thicker SOPRA XPS boards) a heat lamination to hold the boards together. XPS boards are closed-cell insulation boards: they consist of millions of cells that contain air or gas. All the SOPRA XPS SL insulation boards we make in Belgium and other Soprema factories are CO2-blown. Thus, we not only avoid harmful chemicals; we also actively remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The resulting boards are 100% recyclable and a perfect match for your circular construction project. Because XPS consists of very small cells pressed together with air or gas, the material has an excellent lambda value (SOPRA XPS SL Artic and SOPRA XPS CW Artic boards, for instance, are very good low thermal insulators thanks to the gas inside). Moreover, XPS has a very high compressive strength, and is water repellent. As it absorbs almost no water, XPS insulation can be used underground, for instance to insulate foundation walls, as well as on inverted roof applications (in combination with DUOFLEX Hot Melt Structural Waterproofing). XPS DIMENSIONS XPS insulation boards are easy to cut, and they come in different sizes, and with different finishing: SOPRA XPS SL, SOPRA XPS 500 and SOPRA XPS 700 length: 1,250 mm width: 600 mm thickness: 30 to 300 mm (with SOPRA XPS SL starting from 30 mm, SOPRA XPS 500 starting from 40 mm, and SOPRA XPS 700 from 50 mm) finishing: smooth, with skin SOPRA XPS SL SOPRA XPS SL characteristics SOPRA XPS 500 SOPRA XPS 700 SOPRA XPS CW Artic: https://www.soprema.co.uk/en/product/insulation/xps/sopra-xps-cw-artic length: 2,500 mm width: 600 mm thickness: 30 to 120 mm finishing: smooth, with skin SOPRA XPS CW Artic characteristics SOPRA XPS SL Artic: https://www.soprema.co.uk/en/product/insulation/xps/sopra-xps-sl-artic length: 1,250 mm width: 600 mm thickness: 30 to 200 mm finishing: smooth, with skin SOPRA XPS SL Artic characteristics SOPRA XPS CW: https://www.soprema.co.uk/en/product/insulation/xps/sopra-xps-cw length: 2,500 mm width: 600 mm thickness: 30 to 160 mm finishing: smooth, with skin SOPRA XPS CW characteristics SOPRA XPS CB: https://www.soprema.co.uk/en/product/insulation/xps/sopra-xps-cb length: 1,250 mm width: 600 mm thickness: 30 to 120 mm this insulation board has a rough finishing SOPRA XPS CB characteristics LOOKING TO BUY XPS INSULATION BOARDS? Soprema acts as your one-stop-shop. We not only manufacture high-performing XPS foam boards, but also provide bespoke details and other services. Don’t hesitate to contact our experts in waterproofing and insulation.

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