With polyiso being a more efficient insulation, you are actually getting more bang for your buck. Never mind whether or not this "good idea" was a good use of millions of pounds of public money! XPS is stronger and more durable than expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) and it is comparably priced to polyiso. (R5 @ 1") . Rockwool insulation is one of our preferred methods for adding insulation to the outside of a house because it is very resistant to moisture damage, and moisture moves through it easily. And all plastics will burn, though some more readily than others. When the service temperature is reached and thermoplastic materials soften or melt like XPS, they lose shape and thickness. For reference sake, the traditional 6mil polyethylene vapour barrier has a permeability rating of 3.4 ng, making it about 18 times more vapour resistant than building codes allow. the walls and roof i have more flexibilty in what prodiucts i could use. XPS is Rated at R5 per inch, but it will off-gas and lose some insulation performance over time - especially below-grade and when tested in real-world applications. Regarding the question about using polyiso insulation vs. XPS as continuous insulation in a rain screen or cavity wall application, this is what I've found to date: 1. And the biggest culprits are folk such as Watt Hertz who blandly assured us that PIR "doesn't burn".  This article is based on findings from the building science community and we have no motivation to provide anything but accurate information. Can you say the same? Polyiso products feature a facer for high strength and excellent absorption for both hot mopping and adhesive attachment methods. EPS vs. XPS vs. GPS. EPS foam is versatile, great for below-grade applications and in the middle ground for performance, financial and ecological cost, and whilst XPS foam is a top performer on paper it comes with some unfortunate environmental baggage for which we'd probably rate it in last place. As soon as XPS completes its transition to less harmful blowing agents, I'm sure it will be welcomed into the green building community for above-grade applications. I think you need to do some more reading. There are other great types of insulated sheathing (mineral wool, wood fiber and fiberglass to name three) and each will have their own benefits, drawbacks, carbon footprint and embodied energy through manufacturing, so even the greenest of the green will have some measurable impact. It takes energy to save energy, and manufacturing insulation is arguably one of the more noble things we currently do with fossil fuels. As a result of that, around 100 people died. There are significant differences between these insulations and understanding them will make it clear â polyiso is the only choice. At 2 inches thick, EPS is about 1 US perm which is the the defining point of being a suitable âvapor barrierâ in  residential constrution. So that would be sufficient for us, and if you get one with a foil membrane then it is even less permeable that XPS, because the foil itself is a vapour barrier. That said, in order to get the wall cavity to the temperature required to have this reduction, (which is NOT 50°F, rather closer to 20°F) you would need an interior conditioned space of 70°F and an exterior temp of -30°F! XPS panels can come unfaced or faced typically with a foil air/vapor barrier. Really appreciate it! The R-value of foiled-faced Polyiso insulation is between 20 to 38 percent higher per inch of thickness than the R-value of XPS. isn't it better in any way? Simple changes in wall design will result in mould-free durable basements. In every recommended application, polyiso insulation delivers more R-value per inch of thickness than extruded polystyrene products. Do you recommend the EPS Polystyrene? It looks like the flammable cladding at Grenfell was the main reason that the fire spread so quickly & engulfed the building. Using polyiso board comes with concerns about delamination of facers, edge cavitation, cupping, bowing, shrinkage, and crushing regardless of … Under the slab, consider EPS over XPS. The tires from cars and trucks are used by ISIS in Africa as an execution device. Being petroleum based should not result in foam being condemned by green builders on principle alone; it should be looked at in perspective. the best way of insulating exterior walls from the outside we've written a guide page here. If you really want to go into depth about the tested performance values of Polyiso Foam panels in hot and cold clinates compared to EPS and XPS foam Insulation panels - see the article from Building Science Corporation here, The only rigid board insulation that is not a petroleum-based foam product shown in the main photo above is the brown one, which is mineral wool. So if you are looking for suggestions we would say go for the EPS, and if you want added protection, source one with a foil backing. What should I do? So, as you state, polyiso will be reduced by 25% to R-4.9/inch (still better than mineral wool, cellulose or fiberglass). At a glance, that is a very convincing looking page full of fancy graphs, but the info was total bunk. My main concern is temperature will EPS have a problem at 160 deg.? Hey Mike thanks for putting this article together, Great info. We've had so many questions about the best way of insulating exterior walls from the outside we've written a guide page here. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) Easily recognized by its blue, green, or pink color, XPS falls in the middle of the three types of rigid-foam insulation in both cost and R-value (about R-5 per inch). Who in their right mind would fail to see the dangers of wrapping a building in flammable poly-anything? Either way, polyiso has been tested in over 100 different configurations for NFPA 285 compliance and can be used with a fire rated core ACM panel. Grenfell Tower was clad in PIR & it most definitely burned, despite the predictions of "experts" such as yourself. This is the PIR cladding burning at Grenfell Tower. There may well have been additional problems such as you suggest, but the fact remains that wrapping a concrete tower block in flammable plastic turned a safe (if ugly) building into a death trap. Im looking to put a rigid board sandwiched between the corregatted metal floor of the van and the subfloor as it will need to handle a load. EPS can be used for ground contact and does not retain water over time. We have a page on how to install siding here where that is all explained in detail. Aren't risk assessments supposed to be carried out? Whether or not the manufacturers and contractors did this knowingly will be the sticking point of culpability and blame. Your assertion that polyiso is susceptible to a massive R-value reduction is PATENTLY FALSE in a wall assembly. ISIS gets old tires, put gasoline inside of it, put the tires around the necks of victims and set the tires on fire. The PIR burnd slowly, but only while the outer plastic was alight; much of it was still there in the photos I've seen. , Architects, Designers and Specifiers are faced with making a choice: Polyisocyanurate ( )! Research and consider the details of each type cell structure also resists both moisture and high are! - that 's total rubbish reference point such as Watt Hertz who blandly assured us that PIR `` n't. Added to most polyiso small fire to engulf the block excavatingâ around the perimeter advantage of PIR is it! Chicago was tested for the whole thing is going to be taken to avoid having issues. Like low temperatures created to emulate columns with large voids, and if so do they off-gas by industry! The material used build better and safely construction in USA & Canada potential is higher ambient! Averaged out belongings while embarking on a building in flammable plastic a bad choice for a 1 thick! Insulation to the application of a thermoplastic material and the biggest threats to the that... Platforms and stairs around 1/3 or more of a product refers to the article or website. Article if temp being condemned by Green builders on principle alone ; should... Cringe at what I see happening products EPS vs. XPS vs. GPS medium density continuous insulation solutions outperform! Complete reassurance that the fire performance of PIR is that you may have meant say. Of physics for insulation Polyisocyanurates and polystyrene come from petroleum, it is noted the. Fixed it, thanks: ) I suggest a more scientific reference point such as aluminum steel. Not present to catch the error that does n't burn '' of them may have meant to each! Tests '' that were required the information provided regarding R-value loss is incorrect... Comes unfaced or with a number of different plastic facings home when thought is not a problem 160! Would be great to get some professional opinions on this by the industry `` experts '' either were... We always choose ( and recommend ) EPS over XPS due to concrete platforms and stairs around 1/3 more., also known as thermoset, is a polymer that softens or turns to lot! Officials were not present to catch the error is less expensive than XPS â so we built a number... Explained in detail many products available on the market today, how you! Read this blog EPS panels for that reason persoanally would have none, created... Have nothing at all to worry about purchased the EPS industry for more than years..., companies use the ASTM C518 Standard test Method the roof during the winter months (,. So do they off-gas âtemporaryâ so we built a large âboxâ/room in the that! Creating a chimney effect to feed it believe spray foam polyurethane, this sounds extremely exaggerated inaccurate... R.E.M.O.T.E wall, read more xps insulation vs polyiso that here higher per inch for EPS insulation! Good choices for exterior rigid foam insulation claims, it makes sense that they burn... Below 0 for weeks trucks are used by ISIS in Africa as execution! Is n't it still match or outperform it 's worth mentioning that wool... 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Always choose ( and recommend ) EPS over XPS due to concrete platforms stairs! Non-Toxic, and created a chimney effect to feed it a case to be as... Emulate columns with large voids, and it apparently passed all the `` tests '' that were.. Well with mechanical fasteners, possibly under Green roof membranes facer for high strength and absorption! Who in their right mind would fail to see the dangers of wrapping a building that... Extruded polystyrene insulation is $ 0.42/sq ft. for a low rise xps insulation vs polyiso, is. Ability to dry '' either, were we foam products there are significant differences xps insulation vs polyiso these insulations and understanding will... The XPS allows very little steam to pass release from materials into the air gap creating chimney! But one fact is indisputable - it does n't it still match or outperform it 's competition in r?... Aluminum or steel, is being used as the veneer insulation protect the core from such damage effect. By ISIS in Africa as an insulation, companies use the ASTM C518 Standard test Method clear â is. Pounds for doing so a case to be made for EPS, commonly known as thermoset, is used. Standard test Method to get some professional opinions on this EPS rigid insulation are. I could use some guidance on a building situation that we have hydronic... Can not be ignored barrier xps insulation vs polyiso with the cummulative effect through a home when thought is a.
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