Styrofoam in heat insulation |
Heat insulation with the help of styrofoam means:
- saving of heat energy used for heating;
- less spending on heating devices as less of them will be necessary;
- more usable area of a building, as the walls are less thick;
- more comfortable rooms with acceptable temperature;
- ecologically safer buildings;
- less spending on installation and construction works.
Styrofoam possesses considerable heat insulating properties, far surpassing known traditional building materials with the same density; it is capable of securing the durability of any type of building, with no regard to climatic conditions. High-density makes of styrofoam yield only to their “close relative” extruded polystyrene (Penoplex, Expol), which is chemically manufactured from several liquid components, while styrofoam itself is of more reasonable price (Penoplex is 1,5-1,7 times as expensive).
Necessity and advantages of styrofoam usage in construction
There exists an urgent need of readjusting the construction industry to new principles or solutions. Strict requirements to heat insulation of buildings state that heat-insulation materials should be used in construction. One of such materials is styrofoam. Meanwhile architects and planners implement both new materials and traditional insulators that can effectively fulfill the requirements. In Europe, for instance, the pilot lot of expanded polystyrene was produced more than 50 years ago. Building that were warmed in those days are efficiently used even now, and at present more than 60% of all amount of produced expanded polystyrene finds its application in heat insulation of buildings.
Styrofoam is one of the most appropriate materials for insulation (and the best bargain considering its price and quality). Heat-insulating properties of styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) are shown in the table 2.
According to actual Russian standards thickness of the walls capable of preventing heat loss in buildings should equal to:
| Reinforced concrete | 4 m 20 cm |
| Brick | 2 m 10 cm |
| Expanded-clay concrete | 90 cm |
| Wood | 45 cm |
| Rock wool | 18 cm |
| Basalt fiber | 15 cm |
| Styrofoam | 12 cm |
| Extruded polystyrene | 10 cm |
Styrofoam heat insulation: rating
Necessary thickness of an insulation layer is calculated according to climatic conditions of usage and purpose of a building. Besides, protection against moisture condensation and energy saving should be taken into consideration. Heat-insulating properties of styrofoam are listed in the table below:
| Insulation layer thickness | Heat transfer resistance, m2 x oC/W | Heat-transfer factor W/ (m2 x oC) |
| 40 | 1,00 | 0,83 |
| 50 | 1,25 | 0,68 |
| 60 | 1,50 | 0,58 |
| 70 | 1,75 | 0,51 |
| 80 | 2,00 | 0,45 |
| 100 | 2,50 | 0,37 |
| 120 | 3,00 | 0,31 |
| 130 | 3,25 | 0,39 |
| 140 | 3,50 | 0,27 |
Note: To secure minimum insulation of industrial buildings styrofoam should be as thick as: for a roof – 80 mm, for walls – 60 mm, with the account of energy saving – 120 mm and 90 mm respectively.
Equipment for production of styrofoam
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