Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
EPS insulation is used in a wide range of applications including insulated concrete forms and structural insulated panels (SIPs). EPS has the lowest average R-value of the three most common types of rigid-foam insulation, around R-4 per inch. However, as compared to ISO and XPS, EPS does not loose RValue over time due to thermal drift. Most EPS is unfaced and is considered semipermeable to water vapor, so it does not create a vapor barrier.
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Common Applications:
- Exterior Insulating and Finishing Systems
- Insulated Concrete Forms and Structural Panels
- Floors, Walls & Ceilings
- Below Grade Foundation
- Roofing Systems
- Cold Storage
Learn More:
- Adapted from article: Rick Arnold, The Daily Fix (Online) “Which Rigid Insulation Should I Choose?”, Fine Homebuilding, https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2009/05/01/which-rigid-insulation-should-i-choose (Accessed: August 31, 2020)
- EPS Industry Alliance https://www.epsindustry.org/building-construction.