Extruded Polystyrene Insulation. What Is It Used For?

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Today, insulating buildings has become very rampant in our time due to many reasons which as sound absorption, reducing the heat exchange, decorative purposes, and a whole lot of other reasons. And so, for the lot of us who have no idea about building insulation, and what it is, before we delve into our topic above a brief insight is provided for us.

Insulating a building or building insulation is the process where a material is being used on either the walls or ceiling of a building to reduce loss or heat gain by providing a sort of blockade between the inside of one’s home and the different temperatures outside. There are of course a lot of insulation materials out there, but for this write-up, we will be talking about extruded polystyrene insulation.

Which then begs the question, what is extruded polystyrene insulation?

What is extruded polystyrene insulation?

Extruded polystyrene insulation popularly denoted as XPS is a non-flexible thermoplastic material that often takes the form of either a plastic-like material, dense foam, or more solid material that is dependent on its application.

It is made from polystyrene which is a synthetic hydrocarbon polymer is a by-product of a refining process from the combination of two petroleum products ethylene and benzene.

Its particles are subjected to a very high temperature which then melts it and then infused with air which is later placed in a mold to solidify and cool. To get the desired shape, the now solidified material is put through a process called extrusion.

One of the advantages of this manufacturing process is that it gives this material a consistent texture, a uniform cell structure, high level of strength and durability, with all these, the material is yet very light weighted.

As earlier stated, this material is denoted as XPS and also as Styrofoam of which the latter is after a popular brand name.

Just as any reason for installing insulation is to regulate the temperature in a building, extruded polystyrene insulation does exactly this and many more as we will be looking into its properties and usage.

Properties of Extruded Insulation

Durability: The rigid nature and uniform cell structure of extruded polystyrene insulation make it able to withstand any form of wear and tear including stress. Also, its high compressive strength and rigidity make it possible to resist any form of load.

Versatility: The closely packed cell structure of XPS insulation also allows it to be cut to fit anywhere depending on its application which would be discussed later on. 

Handling: When it comes to handling, XPS insulation is very easy to handle and also install as it is easy to cut to fit.

Water Resistant: Because of its closely packed uniform cell, extruded polystyrene insulation is moisture resistant and so does not get affected by water in any way.

Storage: Since XPS insulation is made up of hydrocarbon materials, it is advisable not to store close to open flames to avoid going up in flames. And also, to avoid surface degradation, the material should not be left exposed to sunlight for long hours.

What is Extruded Insulation Used for?

XPS insulation is used in the construction where it can be deployed in both residential and commercial buildings.

  1. For commercial buildings: XPS insulation can be used in these buildings to insulate their ceilings, inverted roofs, cavity walls and even below slabs.
  2. For storage rooms: It is used for storage buildings, cool rooms, cold storage floors and refrigeration.
  3. For agricultural buildings: It is used for insulating the walls, internal roofing of poultry sheds. It can also be used for wineries
  4. For residential buildings: It is used in padding the attics, balconies, decks, etc
  5. For interior and cavity wall insulation: Here, it is often used as a retrofit for already existing buildings that already have air conditioners or any other exterior finishes. The insulation in this case is attached by using either mechanical fasteners or adhesives. It could also be used as an indoor decoration too.
  6. For exterior insulation: Here, the structure is not in any way defaced. The XPS insulation is being used on the external walls of a building, especially in residential zones.
  7. For floor insulation: Good floor insulation can go a long way to reduce heat emanating from the floor into the building during hot weather, most especially in areas that the soil temperature is on the high side. Hence, it is being used as an excellent floor finish because of its high compressive strength, rigidity, high resistance to moisture and low thermal conductivity.
  8. For roof insulation: Extruded polystyrene insulation can be placed at the top of the roof or placed between the rafter as internal insulation. This is also known as an inverted roofing concept.

Benefits of Using Extruded Polystyrene Insulation

Extruded Polystyrene Insulations have several advantages, and they are:

  1. The very first on the list is, they are easy to handle, cut to the desired size and install.
  2. They have excellent mechanical strength due to their closely packed uniform cell structure.
  3. They are also not easily damaged (defaced) because of their strong rigidity.
  4. They have excellent dimensional stability and are not easily affected by cavity masonry wall construction.
  5. When it comes to inner walls insulation, they protect them from condensation.
  6. They have an extremely low moisture absorption rate coupled with equally high resistance to water absorption which also does not require any form of vapour barriers. They also do not form mould or rot because of this.
  7. They have high-performance efficiency and are long-lasting because of their high resistance to ageing when properly installed or stored.
  8. They are known to have a high long-term insulation value.
  9. They are produced in large longboards which during installation they cover more areas thereby reducing time, cost and energy expanded.
  10. They are also available in varieties of thicknesses to suit desired purposes.

Conclusion

From the wide range of applications mentioned above, one can boldly say that extended polystyrene insulation is ideal for construction industries. The only disadvantage to using this type of insulation is its cost, especially when compared to alternate materials. But of course, nothing good comes easy as in this case cheap.

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