Eurobud Styrofoam Quality Assurance Program aims to raise polystyrene production standards and create tools that warn our customers against purchasing low and questionable quality products. We strive to eliminate the problem of offering consumers expanded polystyrene boards for construction, which do not meet the stated level of technical parameters.
Unfortunately, today in Ukraine most of the insulation works are carried out using untested, low-quality materials. The main criterion for choosing such products is an attractive price. However, this approach to energy saving at the final stage doesn’t bring the desired result in heat savings.
Tests, what we regularly conducted, show that up to 80% of low-cost expanded polystyrene doesn’t meet the specified indicators on the product, respectively, can not guarantee efficient energy savings and expected savings. This is due to the placement of false information on the packaging, reducing the cost of raw materials and the use of products that are not suitable for a particular use.
We have processed the parameters of mechanical strength, the stated density and thermal conductivity of various brands of expanded polystyrene more than 40 leading manufacturers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. Based on thorough research of international energy saving standards and European experience, they have created their own quality standard Eurobud.
Eurobud recommends:
- For correct and effective warming it is necessary to choose polyfoam of the corresponding mark and density, according to loadings and the project.
- For thermal insulation of facades we strongly recommend to use polyfoam with a density of 12,5-18kg/m3 (EPS 60 – EPS 100), 15-25cm thick.
- For thermal insulation of ground floors, foundations, plinths, flat and pitched roofs, you should choose foam with a density of 15-35kg/m3 (EPS 80 – EPS 250), 15-35cm thick.
One of the main factors of Eurobud’s openness and honesty is the placement on each package of readable information about the product parameters. They are presented in the form of a table showing the main properties, such as the minimum density of the product in kg / m³, compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (BS), tensile strength (TR) and the declared thermal conductivity indicated by the symbol λD.
Example of a table on the packaging of the brand Eurobud EPS 60
Information on the density of polystyrene is not required by regulations and is not standard on the package. However, this indicator determines the quality of the product. Eurobud places density on packaging to ensure that its consumer buys quality, safe and durable polystyrene.
Additional labeling not only facilitates the choice of the right polystyrene foam, but also gives everyone the opportunity to check whether the product meets the stated parameters.
The self-test procedure is very simple: weigh a pack of polystyrene, divide its weight by the volume of the package (volume is 0.3 m3) and compare the result with the recommended density indicated on the package or in the table.
EPS | Compressive strength at 10% linear deformation, CS(10)≥kPa | Thermal conductivity, λD≤W/(mK) | Minimum weight of 1 m3 of polyfoam (kg)* | Minimum weight of a pack of 0,3 m3 (kg)* |
EPS S | – | 0,049 | 7 | 2,10 |
EPS S | – | 0,048 | 7,5 | 2,25 |
EPS S | – | 0,047 | 8 | 2,40 |
EPS 30 | 30 | 0,046 | 9 | 2,70 |
EPS 40 | 40 | 0,044 | 10 | 3,00 |
EPS 50 | 50 | 0,042 | 11 | 3,30 |
EPS 60 | 60 | 0,040 | 12,5 | 3,75 |
EPS 70 | 70 | 0,039 | 13,5 | 4,05 |
EPS 80 | 80 | 0,038 | 15 | 4,50 |
EPS 90 | 90 | 0,037 | 16 | 4,80 |
EPS 100 | 100 | 0,036 | 18 | 5,40 |
EPS 120 | 120 | 0,035 | 20 | 6,00 |
EPS 150 | 150 | 0,034 | 23,5 | 7,05 |
EPS 200 | 200 | 0,033 | 28 | 8,40 |
EPS 250 | 250 | 0,032 | 35 | 10,50 |
*+- 5% depending on storage conditions
A product with insufficient weight indicates its low quality and does not guarantee good thermal insulation, which is why you should choose only branded EPS from proven manufacturers.
Remember! Clear labeling on the package, reliable information about the stated characteristics and compliance with the recommendations for choosing the right brand, density and thickness of expanded polystyrene boards – this is a guarantee of quality and durable insulation of your home!