And it isn't a great surprise that an installer hadn't heard that the performance falls off in colder weather since manufacturers present their 'best' results from testing, and in warm conditions it does offer R6-R6.5, so that is laregely the 'accepted' R value of polyiso in the industry. Polyiso is a thermoset material meaning it is permanently rigid and cannot be melted back to liquid form. 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. Polyisocyanurate or polyiso is a thermosetting type of plastic, a closed-cell foam that contains a low-conductivity gas in its cells. So you wouldn’t need to add a 6-mil vapor barrier afterwards, you just need to tape the joints. It has some of the highest R-value out there, it lasts a long time, it's eco-friendly, and it can create a vapour barrier! In contrast, the thermal conductivity of XPS decreases as the temperature drops, resulting in an R-value that is ultimately greater than R5.0 per inch. Excavating around the perimeter may not be possible due to concrete platforms and stairs around 1/3 or more of the perimeter. Foil is a vapour barrier and a very good one at that, it fact it stops even more moisture than the normal 6 mil polyethylene normally used. Polyurethane can be made in a variety of densities and hardnesses by varying the isocyanate, polyol or additives. Rigid Foam insulation panels, Polyiso, XPS, EPS, Mineral Wool & Styrofoam © Ecohome, How to Find Qualified Green Building Professionals, natural Green Insulation Products, Like Hemp Insulation panels or Batt Insulation, mineral wool - demonstrated here in roof insulation, article from Building Science Corporation here, retro-fitting insulation when finishing basement, EcoHome Guide to High Performance wall construction here, Video Guide to high performance wall construction and insulation here, graph of the permeability rating of vapor barriers, suitable ‘vapor barrier’ in  residential constrution. Hey Mike, I just read thru that article and it says the insulation in the cladding panels was poly-ethylene, not poly-isocyanurate. In winter, the house is unheated. EPS is used under roofing, over foundation walls and beneath siding. 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 suggest a more scientific reference point such as an ICC evaluation report that includes the proper fire testing for the intended application. So if you use it on the interior of a high performance stud wall design, you won't need to add an additional vapour barrier. There is some evidence of panels shrinking, so to be safe I would go for a higher quality tape than the standard rolls of red tape you will find in building stores. Rigid-Foam Insulation for Commercial Roofing: Polyiso vs XPS vs EPS Since typical membrane roofing does not include the insulation factor, as a customer you have more options to choose from to insulate your facility’s roof. Molded or expanded polystyrene is commonly called beadboard and has a lower R-value than extruded polystyrene. Service Temperature. Other forums that deal with Kilns recommend using the Polyiso, but after reading your article if temp. EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS) INSULATION COMPARISONS EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE (XPS) POLYISOCYANURATE (Polyiso, ISO) 19727 57th Avenue East • Puyallup, WA 98387 insulfoam.com. I think that’s a fine plan. Grenfell cladding does not seem to have an element on each floor to compartmentalize the fire. It needs to be as fire resistant as asbestos or concrete, otherwise it simply makes the building a much greater fire risk than it was before, albeit a little prettier - till it catches fire. sandwiched between layers of foil. It also provides better soundproofing, and being made with stone, it is fireproof. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) •Easily recognized by its blue, green, or pink color •Falls in the middle of the three types of rigid-foam insulation in both cost and R-value •Used most in walls or below grade applications •Recyclable, and at about R-5 per inch, costs around 42¢ … When asked “what is your standard insulating core,” our typical response is either Polystyrene or Polyisocyanurate. XPS vs. polyisocyanurate. Every attempt is made to keep water infiltration out or to a minimum however in a kiln moisture will eventually get into the walls. Thanks Mike! Expanded Polystyrene Insulation, more commonly referred to as EPS, is a closed cell insulation that has been around since the 1950’s. We'd be really interested to find any verifiable sources for EPS chemical off-gassing  testing - if you find any please post them to the comments section below - as we are starting to think that EPS foam may arguably be the most Eco-Friendly insulation and this may sway our thinking against it. 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. As a result of that, around 100 people died. The NRCA ( National Roofing Contractor’s Association) recommends calculating the R value of polyisocyanurate insulation at R-5.6 per inch when designing for warm climates and R-5.0 per inch when designing for cold climates. Thank you for your posts, honesty and integrity. The permeability of EPS can be handy at times if you want to add insulation to an existing wall assembly but are worried about trapping moisture, like retrofitting the exterior of buildings with additional insulation. Can you say the same? Just in case I'll post it here again. 3.4 Thickness and Density Range Polyisocyanurate boards … However other reports say that it was Reynobond PE, but even if that is true, it's surely obvious to anyone that it wasn't a safe material with which to wrap a tower block? We will be insulating below the walkout basement slab and outside the basement foundation walls, and possibly on the outside of the above ground framing. This article says that PIR was used. They both are also CFC/HCFC free meaning they contain no ozone depleting agents and have no global warming potential. This article is based on findings from the building science community and we have no motivation to provide anything but accurate information. “For example, when both products are used as wall sheathings, the ASHRAE Design R-value for 1” foil faced polyiso is higher per actual inch versus polystyrene, when tested at 75°F mean temperature,” as stated by the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association . Next we installed XPS on the interior walls. Irregular cells, combined with the hydrophilic chemical tendency of polyiso to seek a bond with water, results in higher water absorption compared to XPS. Some builders that are aware of the performance concerns have begun including a final layer of rockwool on top of the polyiso to keep it warmer so that it continues to offer up around R6 per inch. Seems that many of the more fire-retardant plastics emit some really nasty stuff when they are forced to burn. Polyisocyanurate, also referred to as PIR, polyiso, or ISO, is a thermoset plastic typically produced as a foam and used as rigid thermal insulation. Thanks for pointing that out! 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. As for how much to install, we have come to realize that for the most part, regional building codes are about half what we ourselves would do. But in your case, the way you would be installing it is perfect, on the interior of the wall where it will stay much warmer and perform optimally. My project is a small scale dehydration lumber kiln, max operating temp 160 deg. Hey Mike thanks for putting this article together, Great info. And credit where it's due, the "real" Styrofoam, as in the DOW Chemicals blue product, is now manufactured with HCFC blowing agents which have 94% less ozone depletion potential. Hope I'm right but I have been wrong once before in my life. Polyiso has a higher range of R-value per inch of thickness when compared to extruded polystyrene products. Also wondering if I should use a construction adhesive to adhere the insulation to the outside walls. So, as you state, polyiso will be reduced by 25% to R-4.9/inch (still better than mineral wool, cellulose or fiberglass). Something with a better adhesion and a bit of flex will help to ensure an air tight seal. In terms of installation, spray foam is applied wet and expands into thick foam. The primary difference between the 2 core materials is the insulating value (or R-Value). Are you employed by a company called Hunter that provides polyiso panels? Polystyrene insulation has an R value around 4.3 with an equivalent 3.1-inch-thickness sheet, ... Polyisocyanurate has a higher concentration of MDI in the end product than polyurethane, however. Surely the simple question we need to be asking is this; "Who in their right minds could have ever thought that wrapping concrete blocks in flammable plastic of any kind was a good idea?". ACH Foam Technologies applauded the recent decision by the National Roofing Contractors Association to revise the R-value of polyisocyanurate insulation. One such property is the service temperature. Polyisocyanurate (PIR) is a thermoset plastic produced as a foam. Are fire retardants added to polyiso, and if so do they off-gas? Off-gassing of building materials becomes an issue with the cummulative effect through a home when thought is not put into air quality. When insulating the exterior of a house whether that’s a new home or adding insulation to an existing exterior wall, it is important not to trap moisture. Overseas, many other types of insulation are used to make EIFS, such a mineral wool and “glass foam.” Thermoplastic Vs. Thermosetting EPS is … By the time you get down to the -20s Celsius it's nowhere near that. Both are available in a variety of thicknesses and can be used in multiple … As gas escapes, however, the R-value of polyiso can drop over time, but foil and plastic facings can help stabilize that number. cheers. As pressure builds, the beads are tightly fused together. Expanded Polystyrene insulation is manufactured using beads of foam within a mould, heat or steam is then applied directly to the beads which causes them to expand and fuse together. Industrial sites are moving away from EPS panels for that reason. Yes, all building materials have to have some sort of margin for fire safety, so polyiso would have fire retardants, for good or bad. A major source of heat loss from a house is through walls. ... (GBA) has been developed specifically for extruded polystyrene and pressurized one- and two-component PUR foams. In every recommended application, polyiso insulation delivers more R-value per inch of thickness than extruded polystyrene products. Given your fierce defense of polyiso and your ability to rhyme off numbers, we are wondering, and please be forthcoming - do you profit in anyway from the sale of polyisocyanurate insulation? EPS is also used in the construction industr… Some manufacturers speak of a transition to more eco-friendly foam insulation blowing agents; that will be great news when it happens across the board! Polystyrene, Phenolic Foam & Polyisocyanurate Foam Revision 2.0, August 2014 4.0 Vapour Barriers 4.1 Vapour Barriers Used With Polystyrene and Phenolic Foam A vapour barrier must be used over the insulation on all plant operating at temperatures below the ambient air. Since Polyisocyanurates and polystyrene come from petroleum, it makes sense that they will burn. Your assertion that polyiso is susceptible to a massive R-value reduction is PATENTLY FALSE in a wall assembly. The big advantage of PIR is that it doesn't burn. With a global warming potential (GWP of) <1, it’s a replacement for HFC-134a and other fluorocarbon and non-fluorocarbon foam blowing agents. And there is another big benefit to using polyiso rigid insulation panels on the interior as you plan, it has a built-in vapor barrier with the foil barriers on either side. 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