5 cm of polystyrene replaces bricks. Insulation of roofs, walls and ceilings with foam plastic. The main thermal and technical characteristics of the foam

02.11.2019

In today's market building materials the widest choice of various heaters is presented, the use of each of them is due to certain requirements depending on the purpose of the building, operating conditions and climate in the region. Most of the requirements for heaters correspond to polystyrene, which firmly occupies one of the leading positions in the market of our country.

Material Advantages

Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene is an array of gas-filled polystyrene granules soldered together, pre-foamed and molded by a non-press method. The material is made of different density, it depends on the size and number of granules in 1 m³. If the granules are large, their number per unit volume will be less, and the density of the material will be lower and vice versa, a large number of small granules gives it a high density and reduces thermal conductivity. Polyfoam has a number of advantages, which makes this insulation so popular:

Excellent thermal insulation performance is one of the highest. Only polyurethane foam has higher thermal insulation properties, but its cost is much higher.
Light weight simplifies the process of delivery and installation.
Expanded polystyrene practically does not absorb moisture.
Modern polystyrene is environmentally friendly.
It does not support combustion, when exposed to high temperatures, the material simply collapses without ignition.
Expanded polystyrene products have strength and rigidity.
The material is one of the most affordable.

Of the disadvantages of this insulation, two significant ones can be distinguished: it cannot be used at high fire safety requirements to a building or room, as it will be destroyed in a fire. The second disadvantage is that mice gnaw on polystyrene foam. They do this in order to equip themselves with a warm nest, and not for the sake of food, which once again proves the environmental friendliness of the material, mice do not make nests in basalt wool.

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Properties and parameters of insulation

Thermal conductivity is the transfer of thermal energy from one part of the material, which has a higher temperature, to another part, which has a lower temperature. I.e, in simple words is the ability of a material to conduct thermal energy. This parameter is expressed in units of W / (m * K) and is called the heat transfer coefficient.

The decoding of the heat transfer unit is as follows: this is the amount of thermal energy in W that a material 1 m thick can transfer over an area of 1 m² at a temperature difference of 1 ° (Kelvin) for a certain unit of time. The heat transfer coefficient decreases as the density of the material increases, that is, the higher the density, the better its thermal insulation properties. Characteristic values at different density are presented in Table 1.

Table 1

The value of thermal conductivity is the key to calculating the total resistance to heat transfer of building envelopes (walls, roofs, floors). The latter is denoted by the Latin letter R, the unit is expressed in m² K / W and shows how much heat in W passes through 1 m² of wall or roof area of a given thickness per unit time with a temperature difference of 1 ° K. This parameter depends on the material of the wall and its thickness, this can be seen from the formula:

Here δ is the wall thickness in meters, k is the thermal conductivity coefficient. For example, you can show how much heat is lost by 1 m² of polystyrene foam 1 centimeter thick with a density of 10 kg / m³ per unit of time at a temperature difference of 1 ° K:

R = 0.01 / 0.044 = 0.227 m² K / W.

This parameter is normalized, it cannot be less than what is written in normative documentation for each region. Taking into account the difference in climatic conditions in the vastness of our country and the duration of the heating season, the minimum standardized resistance to heat transfer of external walls for the southern regions is 1.8 m² K / W, the middle zone - 3 m² K / W, and the northern - 4.8 m² K / W . The R values for different foam densities and different thicknesses are shown in Table 2.

table 2

Table 2 clearly shows that 100 mm thick foam plastic can completely replace other building materials of walls in the southern and middle regions, since such a design meets modern requirements of regulatory documentation (SNiP 23-02-2003). Material with a thickness of 5 cm and 2 cm can be used for additional insulation of existing buildings made of brick or concrete, since the enclosing structures of these buildings do not meet modern energy saving requirements. At the same time, it is often advisable to use a 2 cm thick insulation for finishing walls from the inside of the room, it is cheaper than performing outdoor work, and does not take up much space from the room space.

Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) and mineral wool are the most popular today thermal insulation materials. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and has its own scope. Foam boards are recommended for use for external thermal insulation walls, mineral wool - for roof insulation and as a heat insulator when installing hinged facades. However, there is an opinion that these materials are interchangeable. Is it so? Let's try to figure it out.

Polyfoam: pros, cons and application features

Styrofoam - foamed plastic material - has an extremely low coefficient of thermal conductivity. It is the best thermal insulator on the planet. It is estimated that foam board 10 cm thick in terms of heat-shielding properties replaces 40 cm of wood, 60 cm of aerated concrete, 90 cm of expanded clay concrete, 150 cm of hollow brick, 400 cm of reinforced concrete.
Foam plastic also wins in comparison with mineral wool: 10 cm of foam plastic is equivalent in terms of thermal protection to 16 cm of mineral wool.
But polystyrene foam cannot protect from noise. It has no sound insulator.

As for vapor permeability, this characteristic varies depending on the density of the material. Low-density foam is close to wool in terms of vapor permeability, high-density foam, although with difficulty, passes steam, so it can be used to insulate only very dense walls.

There is no consensus regarding the environmental friendliness of expanded polystyrene. The debate over the toxicity of polystyrene has been going on for decades. Even Soviet scientists proved that under certain conditions this material is capable of releasing toxic styrene into environment. However, the results of modern laboratory studies suggest that high-quality polystyrene foam is absolutely harmless. The meager amount of styrene that it emits does not have any effect on the human body.
Tip: before buying, be sure to check the content of residual styrene - the value of this indicator should be in the range of 0.01-0.05%.

The quality of the foam depends on its service life. The most durable are non-press grades PSB and PSB-S. They do not change their properties for 10-40 years. Extrusion lasts even longer - up to 80 years.
The most a big problem expanded polystyrene - high flammability. Styrofoam can catch fire from a single spark. When exposed to fire, it melts and emits black toxic smoke. To solve this problem, special additives began to be introduced into foam plastics - non-combustible and extinguishing the flame. So a new type of expanded polystyrene appeared - self-extinguishing brand PSB-S. This material cannot be ignited by a spark, but it has no fire protection.
Important: all types of polystyrene foams must be used exclusively for external insulation.

Minvata: main properties, advantages and disadvantages

Mineral (“stone”) wool is a fibrous material obtained by melting igneous rocks. The advantages of mineral wool are predetermined by the properties of the feedstock.

The undoubted advantage of this mineral insulation is fire resistance. The melting point of mineral wool is 800C. It not only retains all its properties in case of fire, but also prevents the spread of fire.
Mineral wool ranks second in terms of heat-insulating properties after polystyrene, but at the same time it has high hygroscopicity - in a humid environment, its heat-shielding properties deteriorate significantly. But unlike polystyrene, mineral wool does not prevent the passage of steam - the condensate that falls freely passes through its fibrous structure and evaporates from the surface.

Another advantage of mineral insulation is its excellent soundproofing properties. Wool made of stone creates a reliable barrier to the passage of sound waves.
One of the main disadvantages of this material is a lot of weight. When calculating the cost of insulation, the cost of loading / unloading and delivery to the construction site should be taken into account. In addition, mineral slabs require more powerful supports, while foam plastic adds almost no weight to building structures.
Regarding environmental safety: there is evidence that one of the fractions of the fibers that form mineral wool has carcinogenic properties, and the binder used in its production emits a highly toxic and extremely harmful substance for humans - formaldehyde. Like polystyrene, mineral insulation is recommended for arranging external insulation.

Which is better: polystyrene or mineral wool?

Let's compare these two materials according to the main indicators:

Thermal insulating properties. In terms of thermal conductivity, foam plastic has no equal. Minvata also loses to him.
Fire safety. Mineral wool is highly resistant to fire, which cannot be said about polystyrene foam.
Vapor permeability. Minvata surpasses polyfoam in vapor permeability by about 10 times.
Hygroscopicity. The foam can be used in humid environments without losing consumer properties. Stone wool is critical to moisture.
Price. Styrofoam wins here - this is the cheapest building material.
Weight and ease of installation. Styrofoam weighs much less than mineral wool. It is more convenient to handle, but more difficult to join.
Environmental Safety. Both materials are not recommended for interior work.
Biological and chemical resistance. Mineral wool is resistant to all organic substances and fungi. Expanded polystyrene is critical to the effects of organic solvents, but is not susceptible to

As you can see, the choice of insulation is a complex and multifaceted task. When deciding it, one should take into account specific conditions and one's own priorities. Give preference to proven insulation systems. Don't forget to select optimal thickness thermal insulation.

Recently insulated the balcony, if you're interested.

Due to the fact that the range of heaters on the building materials market is very large - each consumer can choose the type of insulation that suits him.

One of these heaters is penoplex. It is a synthetic insulating material for indoor and outdoor insulation.

Specifications

the insulation is resistant to mechanical stress - resists compression;
moisture resistant material - does not accumulate moisture in itself;
practically non-flammable - does not ignite;
the material acts as a sound insulator - absorbs extraneous noise;
durable insulation - not susceptible to fungus, does not rot;
Light weight - easy to install.

All these qualities give the penoplex versatility of use and allow you to stand out among other heaters. It is produced in the form of sheets, which consist of expanded polystyrene pressed under the influence of high temperature.

Penoplex sheets have a little more weight than regular foam, but the thickness is the same: 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm. Most often, the foam thickness indicator determines the area of \u200b\u200bits application.

Note: locks for mounting are not available on sheets with a thickness of 20 mm, they are provided for sheets with a thickness of 30 mm or more.

Scope and installation

Facade

The use of penoplex for has rather high quality indicators, but will not be available to everyone, since the price of such a heater is several times higher than the prices for all similar products (polystyrene 25 or 35 density).

To carry out the work you will need:

clean the walls from dust, debris and grease stains;
using a facade roller or a wide brush, prime the base to strengthen it before carrying out the main work;
made on a special one and then fixed with foam dowels;
the finishing of such a facade after insulation with foam plastic is most often decorative plaster - “Bark beetle” or “Lamb”.

For walls, all types of penoplex and any thickness are used.. The choice will depend on the financial capabilities of the consumer and the characteristics of the building itself.

Note: insulation should be reinforced with facade plastic mesh that will keep decorative trim and protect it from blowing and chipping.

plinth

This insulation option provides:

gluing foam plastic around the entire perimeter of the house at the basement level according to the type of facade insulation - with glue, but with additional fastening with dowels;
after that, the insulation must be closed with special plaster over the insulation, which can isolate the entire foam from the effects of the environment as much as possible;
basement finishing is done in a variety of ways: basement siding, profile sheet, clinker tiles and even decorative plaster.

Take note: 40-50 mm thick foam is used to insulate the basement for maximum protection.

Foundation

Most of the heat leaves through that part of the house that is closest to the ground - the foundation, so its insulation requires a special approach, and penoplex will be the ideal material for this.

The process of carrying out work on the insulation of the underground part of the building is very simple:

Foundation - bearing wall at home, which is below ground level, is cleared of the remnants of the solution.
Further, waterproofing is applied over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe base insulated with foam plastic. It could be bituminous mastic or dry waterproofing mixture. Work is best done with a wide brush. (On how to properly waterproof strip foundation with your own hands, you can read in).
This is followed by the process of installing foam plastic - gluing each sheet separately to the same mastic or special glue for insulation. As an additional fastener, foam dowels are used. The only condition is a continuous coating, which will complicate the release of heat and prevent the accumulation of condensate.
Penoplex must be closed with a waterproofing film and only then carry out the accompanying drainage work.

It is best to use foam plastic with a maximum thickness of 50 mm for insulation.

Balcony

This part of the apartment is responsible for the safety of the heat that escapes through the balcony block, so you need to act with all responsibility here.

Work on the insulation of the balcony with penoplex is carried out in stages:

Alignment of all insulated surfaces.
The foam is fastened by driving in fasteners - dowels for insulation.
Before carrying out decorative painting, the penoplex is completely plastered and aged for 12-24 hours until the adhesive mixture dries completely.

When using PVC or MDF lining, the process will be slightly different:

fastening of foam occurs by driving in fasteners - dowels for foam;
foam sheets are very quickly and securely fixed between the crate;
finishing the balcony with clapboard does not require an additional insulating layer.

Take note: to insulate the balcony, foam plastic 20 or 30 mm thick is used to increase the usable area.

Floor

Extruded polystyrene foam occurs by connecting sheets using existing grooves.

Note: according to the technology, the entire insulation is covered with a waterproofing film, which is very rarely done by craftsmen due to the inconvenience of the screed device. This is followed by a reinforced layer - a masonry mesh, which is laid over the entire surface to be reinforced, and everything is poured with a cement screed for the floor.

If it is planned to install a wooden floor, then the sheets of penonlex are laid between the lags, having previously covered the floor with a waterproofing film.

The device of a warm floor on such a heater as penoplex is quite safe even without the use of additional insulation.

Floor insulation in an apartment building will also create an additional layer of sound insulation. It is advisable to use insulation sheets of maximum thickness - 40-50 mm.

Given all of the above, we can conclude that such a heater as penoplex can be used in any premises and under any weather conditions. The options described are far from all, for example, foam insulation can be used to insulate even a garage. The only condition will be the thickness of the foam sheet, on which the quality of the insulated surface directly depends.

We bring to your attention a video dedicated to comparison different types penoplex:

Of the modern heat insulators, penoplex is considered the most effective. This insulation material is made from extruded polystyrene, which automatically makes it cheap, but superior in technical characteristics, such as moisture absorption and sound insulation, other heat insulators.

Penoplex production and varieties of material

The production of foam plastic is organized according to the following technology: small polystyrene granules in a sealed chamber are exposed to high temperatures (130 0 C-140 0 C), as a result of which they melt, and after adding porophores they foam. Porophores are synthetic additives that, during heating, release nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which, after cooling the foam, turn into frozen air bubbles, evenly distributed throughout the material.

Components of porophores for the production of extruded polystyrene foam (foam plex):

The frozen foam may contain some synthetic fillers, the presence of which determines the direction of the use of insulation - for walls, foundations, etc. The most common additives are fire retardants to increase fire safety (reduce the degree of flammability), antioxidants to protect the material from oxidation in the open air, antistatic agents to relieve static and dynamic stress during the operation of the insulation, light stabilizers (protection from negative impact UV radiation), modifying additives, etc.

Polystyrene foam under pressure is extruded from the extruder chamber onto a conveyor for final formation into slabs or blocks. The percentage of gases in the insulation reaches 98% of the total volume of the finished foam, so the products are light in weight with impressive dimensions. Dimensions for each functional line of insulation are shown in the tables below.

The small pore size (0.1-0.3 mm) and their complete isolation from each other guarantees high thermal insulation performance of any grades of foam. For different construction projects, it is necessary to select the appropriate series and brands of insulation, since structures can be operated in different conditions:

Brand "K" is designed for insulation of pitched or flat roofs and roofs. The specific gravity (density) of the K series is 28-33 kg / m 3;
Series "C" - insulation for internal and external walls with a substance density of 25-35 kg / m 3;
Brand "F", basement and basement. Material with high moisture resistance, biological stability and specific gravity ≥37 kg/m 3 ;
Penoplex brand "Comfort" - a universal series of insulation with a density of 25-35 kg / m 3. Direction of application - insulation of apartments, houses, basements, balconies and loggias;
Brand "45" has the highest rates of frost resistance and strength, specific gravity 35-47 kg / m 3. Designed for thermal insulation of the roadway, runway, and other heavily loaded objects and structures.

A separate category is produced sandwich panels, which are an improved heat insulator for insulating attics and mansards, facades and foundations of buildings. Sandwich panel has 2-3 layers and cement chipboard as the bottom layer.

Operational and technical properties of penoplex, advantages and disadvantages

Thermal conductivity - 0.03 Wm 0 С, the indicator does not decrease even with strong moisture;
Water resistance - 0.4-0.6% when immersed in water for 24 hours and for a month;
The vapor permeability of the material can be compared with the same indicators of roofing material with a layer thickness of 20 mm;
Chemical passivity: penoplex does not react to contact with mortars and most aggressive substances. Substances with which Penoplex contact is contraindicated: kerosene, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, formalin, methyl ethyl ketone, ether, diesel fuel, gasoline, tar, paints and epoxy resins;
High mechanical resistance to stretching, compression, tensile forces and multi-vector pressure. The compressive strength index of foam plastic is 0.2-0.5 MPa;
Biological neutrality - penoplex does not get sick with mold, does not decompose and does not rot;
A wide range of operating temperatures - from -50 to +75 0 C. The temperature range for each brand is indicated on the package;
Combustibility groups for different brands are different, from G1 to G4, depending on the operating conditions;
Environmentally friendly material without the use of phenols and freons in the production;
Guaranteed service life ≥55 years without noticeable loss in properties.

Advantages of penoplex:

Thermal conductivity properties make it possible to use penoplex even in the Far North - multiple freeze / thaw cycles of the material do not affect its characteristics;
Light weight makes it easier to transport, store, store and insulate the object, makes it possible to lighten the foundation and not to strengthen the ceilings;
Simple installation without the help of specialists and special tools - penoplex is easily cut with a conventional hacksaw or cutter;
Safety and environmental friendliness - you can work with the material without personal protective equipment;
Low cost of all brands of insulation. Even with a high consumption of a heat insulator, the cost of its purchase and installation pays off in 2-3 seasons.

Disadvantages of penoplex:

Low fire safety - a material of any combustibility group, even with flame retardant additives, can ignite with the release of acrid toxic smoke;
Low coefficient of vapor permeability, and under certain weather conditions - negative. Therefore, penoplex is not recommended for internal insulation of the walls of the house. To save optimal conditions operation of the insulation, it is necessary to provide forced ventilation in the house and ventilation of channels in the walls insulated with foam plastic;
The destruction of the material when exposed to ultraviolet radiation - sunlight. It is necessary to protect the insulation layer with plaster or other methods;
Due to the smooth surface, the adhesion of foam plastic with solutions is rather low, therefore, it is necessary to fix the insulation only on dowels or special expensive glue, but not on mortars.

Heat-insulating material "Wall" - properties and characteristics

The Wall brand is a renamed Penoplex 31 insulation with flame retardant additives, which has been improved for use in the insulation of “wet” facades, building foundations, plinths and basements, partitions and walls of houses from the outside and inside, roofs and attics. Characteristics of foam brand "Wall" - in the table below:

Insulation brand "Foundation" - parameters and properties

The Foundation brand is a renamed Penoplex 35 insulation without flame retardant additives, which can now be used to create thermal insulation for the bases and plinths of buildings, blind areas and basements. The strength, water resistance and thermal conductivity of the series are its main advantages. The characteristics of the "Foundation" are given in the table below:

Penoplex "Roof" - properties and characteristics

Foam insulation of the "Roof" series is a renamed material "Penoplex 35", which is recommended for use in the insulation of pitched and flat roofs any design. The use of the "Roof" series makes the further operation of the roof as simple as possible, since the reliability and long service life of the insulation minimize the possibility of repairing the roof surface. The popularity of this innovative insulation material is also due to the fact that greenhouses and summer gardens can be arranged on such a surface - such trends are now in fashion. Penoplex can withstand such high loads that it can handle a load of soil up to several tons. Characteristics of the brand of insulation penoplex "Roof" - in the table below:

"Comfort" - a universal brand of heat insulator

Heat insulator brand "Comfort" - properties and characteristics

Penoplex "Comfort" is a modified and improved "Penoplex 31C" with universal characteristics. The material is actively used in the insulation of country buildings, country houses and cottages. High installation speed and minimal labor costs popularize the insulation among private homeowners - it is used to insulate the subfloor, foundation and basement of the house, basement and roof, walls and partitions inside and outside the building. Penoplex "Comfort" has high rates of moisture resistance and thermal conductivity. In the line of the penoplex series, the Comfort brand is recognized as universal.

Penoplex protects the soil from heaving during freezing - when the soil is insulated with this material, the freezing point of the soil will rise. This series is optimal for thermal insulation of road and railway tracks, runways and technical areas of airfields. Comfort slabs retain their unique characteristics during the entire period of operation. Characteristics of the brand of insulation penoplex "Comfort" - in the table below:

It is a delusion to think that foam and polystyrene are brother materials. Some properties of foam can be equated to the parameters of the foam, but not combustibility and water absorption.

Manufacturers have long mastered the manufacture of both non-combustible foam plastic and well-burning foam plastic. But the truth is that foam plastic cannot ignite spontaneously, and in the open fire zone it will only melt, releasing carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO 2) gases. If the fire is eliminated, then the penoplex will not even smolder.

When erecting buildings, planning thermal insulation work, the question often arises of replacing expensive building materials with cheaper analogues. In the case of brick wall cladding, developers offer as budget option use Penoplex. Despite the fact that both materials are used for outdoor masonry, they can only be compared in terms of thermal conductivity. Based on the thermal insulation properties, the required amount is calculated to replace the brick.

What kind of material and its characteristics

"Penoplex" - the name of the popular plates of extruded polystyrene foam used to insulate structures of any kind.

The material specifications are as follows:

environmental friendliness;
water resistance;
strength;
thickness in the range from 20 to 100 mm;
safe chemical composition;
long service life.

In terms of thermal conductivity, foam plastic clearly prevails over brick. Thermal performance of silicate brickwork equal to 0.76 W / m2 ° C, ceramic solid - 0.7. This is assuming that the space between the bricks is filled cement-sand mortar: Compared to other building mixtures, the base of cement and sand provides the greatest thermal insulation. The indicators for foam are as follows: Penoplex block 50 mm - 0.038 W / m2 ° C, 30 mm - 0.037. The figures indicated are approximate.

How is it used for insulation?

Such material can insulate the walls.

"Penoplex" can be used for thermal insulation of both the outer and inner sides of the walls. However, expanded polystyrene is not recommended for chimney insulation: the material does not withstand too high temperatures, which can result in a fire. For installation, either special adhesive mixtures are usually used on cement base, or umbrella-shaped dowels.

How much brickwork does foam plastic replace?

The calculation of the replacement of building stone with expanded polystyrene is carried out from the ratio of the results of multiplication (separately for brick and polystyrene) of indicators of heat transfer resistance to thermal conductivity. It is believed that an acceptable figure for non-industrial buildings is 2.1 m2 ° C / W of heat transfer resistance. So, for brickwork, multiplying the average thermal insulation characteristics gives the following thickness: 2.1 × 0.7 W / m2 ° С = 1.47 m. In the case of Penoplex with a density of 30 kg / m3: 2.1 × 0.037 = 0.077 meters. With a ratio with building stone (1.47 / 0.077), it turns out that polystyrene foam is needed approximately 19 times less. So brick and "Penoplex" will have the same thermal insulation characteristics.

In order not to bother with calculations, there is an approximate ratio for replacing building stone with polystyrene foam. A 2 cm thick foam block can replace 370 mm brick wall. The savings in material costs is at least 150 rubles per square meter lining. "Penoplex" 30 mm replaces brick by almost 6 cm. If the thickness of "Penoplex" is 50 millimeters, the equivalent of brickwork is 9.25 centimeters.