Expanded polystyrene plates - technical characteristics and scope. Wall insulation with expanded polystyrene - theory and practical advice Disadvantages and solutions

To provide warmth in the house, not only the roof, but also the walls should be insulated.

There is a whole range of materials for wall insulation on the market.

Walls can be insulated both outside and inside.

When walls are insulated outside, the area of \u200b\u200bthe living space is preserved, and insulation technology allows you to provide the building with warm and modern walls.

Before proceeding with the insulation of the walls, it is necessary to decide on the method of insulation. Styling or - individual preference. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.... The features of each method of insulation must be studied at the time of designing the building.

Insulation from the inside

Internal wall insulation is characterized by the following features:

• the cost of insulation from the inside is less than that of external insulation;
• season and weather does not affect the choice of time for work;
• there is no need to build additional scaffolding for the insulation work.

Negative factors for internal insulation are:

• a significant decrease in living space;
• the outer wall is isolated from heating from the room;
• the likelihood of fungus formation inside the wall increases, since the dew point is formed precisely in the inner part of the structure;
• when the heating is turned off, the walls quickly cool down due to the low inertia of the insulation;
• the place where the floor joins the outer wall cannot be equipped with insulation, which leads to the formation of cold bridges.

The method of insulating walls from the outside is more popular, despite the fact that the cost of labor and materials for performing work is much higher than the method of internal insulation.

Dew point

Insulation outside

The advantage of exterior wall insulation is:

• in winter period and in cold weather, heat remains in the wall for a long time;
• the design area of \u200b\u200bthe premises is preserved;
• external thermal insulation protects the internal walls from moisture.

In addition, the external walls are additionally protected from the effects of atmospheric agents, which significantly increases the service life of the structure.

The main disadvantages of external thermal insulation of the structure are:

• restriction of work performance in accordance with weather conditions;
• increased costs for materials used.

On which side of the wall to insulate with expanded polystyrene

It is advisable to insulate walls with expanded polystyrene from the outside, since the material does not allow air to pass through, which can lead to the formation of condensation inside the wall during internal insulation, and inside the room, the material can emit a specific smell.

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene material is porous air-containing raw materials, is used in most cases as a heat-insulating material.

In industry, the material can also be used as electrical insulation and packaging material.

The material has gained widespread use due to its quality indicators:

• low level of water absorption;
• low thermal conductivity;
• ease;
• biological resistance;
• durability;
• compressive strength;
• not affected by temperatures;
• ease of installation;
• low price of material.

Comparison of heaters

Despite an impressive list of positive indicators, expanded polystyrene has disadvantages that must be taken into account during installation:

• low rate of sound insulation;
• instability to solvents and many chemicals;
• afraid of fire. When burning, it releases harmful toxic substances;
• poor resistance to ultraviolet light;
• easily lends itself to the influence of rodents and insects, which, making holes in the material, provoke its destruction;
• low vapor permeability;
• fragility.

However, the production technology of these materials is different.: expanded polystyrene is produced by extrusion, when granules melt when combined into a single structure, foam - by gluing granules with dry steam.

Specifications

Types of expanded polystyrene

Polystyrene foam is classified according to the method of production of the material and the inclusion of various additives in it:

• press expanded polystyrene... Produced by pressing;
• pressless expanded polystyrene... It is produced by removing moisture by drying, and then foaming at high temperatures;
• Not much different from the pressless one, an extruder is additionally used in production. The best and the best option for wall insulation.

There are other types of expanded polystyrene (extrusion, autoclave), but they are not used as insulation, because they have different characteristics.

In addition to the types of expanded polystyrene, there are also different kinds insulation materials such as:

Wall cake when using insulation - expanded polystyrene outside

Pie walls are layers of materials that are stacked in a specific order, each of which performs its own functions to ensure a normal indoor climate.

When thermal insulation of brick walls with polystyrene laid outside, the wall cake looks like this:

• internal plaster;
• outer wall;
• adhesive solution for gluing expanded polystyrene;
• insulation (expanded polystyrene);
• adhesive solution for gluing the next layer;
• fiberglass mesh;
• adhesive composition;
• primer;
• finishing plaster.

NOTE!

When arranging a wall using expanded polystyrene, it is necessary to lay the layers in a strict sequence.

Internal and finishing plaster can be replaced with others finishing materials, which are provided by design solutions.

Wet wall cake

Vapor barrier and waterproofing issues

An important requirement in the construction and arrangement of a house is the correct execution of all work to ensure ventilation and waterproofing, since it is the incorrect installation of these components that significantly reduces the characteristics of the structure.

When walls are insulated with polystyrene, waterproofing is not needed... It should be noted that with a high passage of groundwater under the building, it is imperative to waterproof the basement and the foundation.

Since expanded polystyrene does not allow air and water to pass through, there is no need to lay the vapor barrier layer when insulating the walls from the outside.

Insulation wall cake for siding

Sealing gaps and preparing the lathing

Installation of expanded polystyrene on the crate is the most laborious process among the insulation options. Most often, the crate is made in the case of a siding finish.

Sealing cracks

If you intend to carry out work on the installation of siding on the wall of a house from beams, then you should first seal the seams with high quality, clean the surface of dust and debris and seal the cracks with sealants, polyurethane foam or a mixture of sawdust and PVA.

If the wall is concrete, brick or foam blocks, then cracks in such houses are cleaned of sand, treated with a primer, and then sealed as follows:

• if a small gap... A prepared mixture of cement and sand with the addition of PVA is used to close the gap with a spatula;
• if the gap is medium... Make holes for dowels at a distance of 20 cm. Tighten with screws and washers metal mesh in place of the gap and seal it with plaster pressing into the mesh. Next, apply a finishing layer;
• p at the big crack... Fill the gap with polyurethane foam, cut off irregularities and seal up with plaster in two layers.

Large cracks can be repaired with anchors:

• knock down the plaster, seal the cracks with polyurethane foam;
• install a channel in the opening and fix a reinforcing mesh on it;
• you can use brackets made of reinforcing mesh;
• apply plaster;
• putty.

Sealing cracks

When the wall is prepared for laying the insulation, the crate can be mounted.

Preparation of the lathing

The sheathing for siding can be made from metal profile and from wooden beam ... In humid climates, it is advisable to install metal slats.

Before proceeding with the installation of the battens, you should determine the location of the siding:

• with horizontal siding... A bar or metal profile is installed perpendicularly;
• with vertical siding... Frame boards or metal profiles are installed in a horizontal position.

The pitch of the lathing is determined by the width of the expanded polystyrene sheet: in width it should fit tightly between the battens of the lathing and not form gaps.

The order of work is determined in steps:

• treat the wall with special mastic;
• frame boards are fixed along the entire perimeter of the walls using galvanized screws and plastic dowels;
• if holes are formed between the timber and the wall, these gaps are sealed with pieces of expanded polystyrene by gluing them to the wall.

CAUTION!

If the lathing is made of wood, the boards must be pretreated with antiseptic agents.

The execution of the crate does not require special skills, but it should be borne in mind that the choice of materials should be made based on the climate conditions.

Siding lathing

Wooden lathing

Wall insulation technology with polystyrene outside

Before proceeding with the wall insulation with polystyrene foam, you should dismantle the gutters, decorative elements, clean and prime the wall. Next, insulate the ebb and window slopes.

Now let's talk about the thickness of expanded polystyrene.

NOTE!

Carrying out wall insulation with extruded polystyrene, sheets are used, the thickness of which ranges from 80 to 100 mm and more.

You can use thinner sheets 30-40 mm thick, if they are laid in two layers.

Let's start installing insulation on the walls with our own hands:

• at the bottom of the wall, a profile is installed to hold polystyrene foam;
• an adhesive mixture is applied to the wall on the entire area, pointwise and on a sheet of insulation (abundantly on the center and edges of the sheet);
• firmly attach the adhesive sheet to the wall;
• fix the panel with dowels so that the dowel goes into the wall by at least 50 mm. The dowels are located in the center of the panel and at the joints. It is recommended to use plastic nails;
• if gaps are formed (up to 2 cm), then they are sealed with a mounting foam, if there are more gaps, then they are first sealed with pieces of insulation, and then foamed. The excess foam is cut off;
• the heads of plastic nails are cleaned and puttyed.

After installing the insulation, a reinforcing mesh is applied to the facade... Cut strips of mesh at corners and slopes and glue them with a spatula with adhesive. An adhesive composition is applied to the mesh along the wall so that it penetrates 0.1 cm through the mesh onto the expanded polystyrene. If an overlap is formed, separate strips of mesh are applied to it and glued additionally.

Device in razarez

Fixing plates with dowels

Application of assembly glue

After the surface is completely dry, it is leveled with fine-grained emery paper.

Useful video

Detailed video instruction on wall insulation with extruded polystyrene foam:

In contact with

To carry out the construction of a house from expanded polystyrene blocks, quickly level the walls, ceiling base, make a screen for the bath, build a light partition, you can solve many other such issues with the help of extruded polystyrene foam plates. You just need to learn more about them.

In this article

Characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is a high quality insulation, which is made by mixing polystyrene granules under high pressure and temperature with a specially blowing agent to be subsequently extruded from the extruder. Such building boards made of polystyrene granules are reinforced with fiberglass cloth on both sides, coated with a polymer-cement agent. As a result, they have high moisture and heat resistance, which makes it possible to use them inside buildings (in residential premises, bathrooms, even in saunas) and outside.

Structures of various shapes can be produced from extruded polystyrene foam blocks. Such slabs can have a thickness of 1 to 5 cm, and dimensions - 60x120, 60x260 cm.They can be easily cut using construction knife or a hacksaw.

In addition to stoves for ease of holding installation works angular parts are manufactured with dimensions - 15x15, 20x20 cm.For the construction of various curved surfaces, slabs of 2x60x120 cm are produced.On one side, they have deep cuts located parallel to each other with a step of 3 cm.

Temperature range for slabs "-50 ° С" - "+ 75 ° С"... Expanded polystyrene prevents the formation of mold and mildew.

Application area

Expanded polystyrene plates, main purpose:

• For finishing industrial, public buildings.
• As insulation for walls of residential buildings.
• IN agriculture, railway, road activities.
• Insulation of foundations, basements, roofs of houses.
• In the refrigeration industry.
• For the installation of airfields, at other facilities.

The thermal insulation characteristics of expanded polystyrene depend on the technology of its production. The closed cellular structure of the product provides a small change in the case of moisture thermal conductivity, which can be 0.001-0.002 W / (m K). This makes it possible to effectively use extruded polystyrene foam as thermal insulation of basements without additional waterproofing.

Increased thermal properties of expanded polystyreneprovide the possibility of its use as thermal insulation of fences.

It is intended for such tasks:

• Foundation insulation.
• Internal wall insulation.
• Insulation of walls of underground structures.
• Thermal insulation of house facades with subsequent application of various facing materials to thermal insulation plates.
• For monolithic construction of houses.
• For the production of sandwich panels.

Before pouring the concrete slab from the outside, one row of thermal insulation coating is placed along the concrete slab. Plates with a rough surface provide good adhesion of concrete and plaster. Such boards are also applicable in vertical structures, where they will provide the required adhesion to materials, adhesives.

Thanks to the tests carried out, it was revealed that expanded polystyrene chips have a number of advantages, distinctive characteristics:

1. During compression, the ultimate strength depends on the density and thickness of the material. Already developed latest species expanded polystyrene, for which it was possible to significantly reduce flammability due to the introduction of more effective fire retardants into it. This made it possible to achieve the parameters of low-combustible materials.
2. After a thousand cycles of freezing and defrosting, a product made of expanded polystyrene retains its thermal insulation qualities. In this case, the change in technical resistance is no more than five percent.
3. Other brands of the product can be made on request, for example, a special brand of the product with an embossed surface that increases adhesion. This makes it possible to effectively use plaster and adhesive materials.
4. Typical brands differ among themselves in heat engineering parameters, compressive strength, density.
5. To facilitate installation, to prevent the formation of cold bridges, the slabs are produced with various edge shapes, for example, rectangular, with a selected quarter, and others.

The Technoplex slab is distinguished by significant chemical resistance in comparison with most others building materials.

Certain types of organic matter, including those containing:

• coal tar, derived from it, for example, creosol,
• solvents, substances that provide wood protection,
• paint thinners, often used solvents (acetone, white spirit, and others).

may lead to softening, subsidence, and sometimes dissolution of plates.

Important!“The use of adhesives is recommended. They do not include the components listed above. You can store such plates in the open air in special packaging. But in this case, they must be protected from hitting sun raysin order to prevent the destruction of the slab coating ”.

Plates made of expanded polystyrene lend themselves well to processing and installation. They can be easily cut, adjusted to the required parameters using simple knife... The selection of adhesive solutions should be carried out taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations.

Some tips for performing wall insulation with extruded polystyrene foam boards

Do-it-yourself wall insulation from the inside with expanded polystyrene has gained wide popularity, despite certain disadvantages. Manufacturers took into account the negative aspects of this material, and therefore, modern brands have become more environmentally friendly, and ingredients harmful to humans are prohibited for use. The solution to the question of how to insulate the walls in favor of expanded polystyrene is quite justified economically and practically from an operational point of view. Numerous reviews confirm its high efficiency as thermal insulation.

In essence, expanded polystyrene is foamed, i.e. saturated with gas, polystyrene and belongs to a large group of similar polymers, under the general name foam. In this case, we mean expanded polystyrene foam. There are 2 types of such plastic: pressed and extruded polystyrene foam. In the practice of private construction, a residential building is insulated from the inside with an extruded (so-called, non-compressed) polymer bearing the PSB brand.

Of the main positive qualities of the material, the following characteristics can be distinguished:

• excellent thermal insulation properties;
• sufficient resistance to deformation;
• operating temperature in the range from - 50º to + 72-78 ºС;
• water resistance;
• low specific gravity;
• ease of processing and installation.

Low thermal conductivity allows you to reduce the required thickness of the insulation. It has been established that the same protection is provided with such thicknesses of common materials: expanded polystyrene - 20 mm, wood - 16-28 mm, brick - 36-40 mm, mineral wool - 37-39 mm.

What limits the insulation with extruded polystyrene foam in living rooms? The risks of internal foam insulation are primarily associated with secretions that are dangerous for the human body when it is heated above 80 ° C. Combustion of the material is especially dangerous, because emitted toxic gases can cause serious poisoning of the body.

That is why, when setting up your house or apartment, it is necessary to use expanded polystyrene from well-known manufacturers, where the content of harmful components is minimized, and also not to place such insulation near heating devices, stoves, fireplaces, etc. You cannot use it in steam rooms of baths and saunas.

Do not place polystyrene foam near heating appliances

The disadvantages of any foam include low mechanical bending strength and the ability to crumble under mechanical stress, which requires appropriate protective covers. In addition, the material is impermeable to steam, and therefore condensation on the polymer surface should be avoided.

For wall insulation with extruded polystyrene foam, several types of polymer can be used: Primaplex, Tepleks, TenoNikol, Bateplex and others. Foamed plastic is sold in the form of plates (sheets) of different thicknesses and different sizes... When choosing a material, special attention is paid to the density of the foam, because this characteristic determines the strength and thermal insulation properties, and they have an inverse relationship. Insulation with expanded polystyrene from the inside is usually provided by a polymer with a density of 25 kg / m³ (PSB-S-25, where "C" means self-extinguishing)... The question of how to fix the insulation to the wall is solved using an adhesive specially designed for this purpose.

Preparatory activities

When installing a wall insulation made of expanded polystyrene with your own hands, you will need the following tool:

• fine-toothed hacksaw or string;
• sharp knife;
• scissors, rubber and metal spatula;
• paint roller;
• paint brush;
• measuring container for the preparation of glue;
• tape measure, metal ruler;
• plumb line;
• construction level.

Thermal insulation of walls from the inside with expanded polystyrene includes the following main stages: preparation of the wall surface, fixing the expanded polystyrene to the wall, applying topcoats. The whole technological process can be seen in the video. On preparatory stage the following activities are carried out:

1. Preliminary preparation. Home insulation begins with thorough cleaning of the wall surface. The old coating must be removed, especially paints and varnishes... This is important because the solvents present in such coatings are capable of degrading expanded polystyrene. A complete audit of the condition of the wall surface is mandatory, and as necessary, large damages are repaired, large gaps can be filled with foam.
2. Surface alignment... A smooth wall is an important condition for a high-quality interior decoration. In the case of brickwork, plastering will be required, and if available concrete walls you can do without it. In any case, preliminary preparation involves fine alignment. It is provided in the following order. An acrylic primer is applied to the wall surface, for which you can use a paint roller. After drying for 21-24 hours, all irregularities on the surface are eliminated with the help of a putty composition. The surface preparation is completed by applying one more primer coat. An antifungal ingredient is usually added to the finishing primer.

Installation of insulation

After completing the alignment of the wall, the question of how to fix the expanded polystyrene is decided. In general, the following instructions for installing insulation may be offered:

1. In order to fix the polystyrene foam boards on the wall, use special adhesive mixture... The composition is purchased dry and prepared by mixing with water immediately before carrying out finishing works... The thickness of the glue should be optimal.
2. The adhesive can be applied by brush or roller to the wall surface or applied to the corners and edges of the resin sheet.
3. Installation of slabs starts from the bottom. They are pre-cut to size, for which they are applied to a dry wall. Cutting polystyrene foam is done using a well-heated string or a hacksaw with fine teeth.
4. Having installed the first row across the entire wall, you can start laying the next row. The slabs in it are shifted relative to the lower sheets so that the seam between the sheets of the first row falls on the middle of the upper slab.
5. Drying of the adhesive is provided for 34-42 hours in natural conditions.
6. It is advisable to additionally secure the installed insulation with dowels. To do this, the wall is drilled directly through the plastic, after which the plastic dowel is hammered. The thermal insulation is attached using self-tapping screws. Large expanded polystyrene sheets are fixed at 6 points: in all corners and 2 dowels in the middle.
7. Seam sealing. If the seams between the sheets exceed 30 mm, then pieces (trimmings) of expanded polystyrene are glued into them. Finally, all seams are filled with polyurethane foam, which should not contain toluene, which can dissolve plastic. The excess mass is cut off with a knife, and then the seams are processed with an adhesive.

The final stage

Thermal insulation made of expanded polystyrene is covered from above with a layer that performs a protective and decorative function. The final stage includes the following works:

1. Reinforcement layer overlay. Mechanical protection of the foam and improvement of adhesion is achieved by laying a reinforcing fiberglass mesh over the insulation. It is attached to the thermal insulation boards with an adhesive mass. A special grouting compound is applied over the reinforcing layer. After waiting for it to completely solidify, sanding should be carried out using an emery cloth.
2. Applying protective coatings. The next step is to install the waterproofing and vapor barrier. Water protection is applied, as a rule, only in rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, kitchen, toilet). Vapor barrier in the form of a roll material with a layer of foil is necessary for all rooms in order to avoid the accumulation of condensate on the surface of the thermal insulation.
3. Plastering of walls. Most often topcoat walls inside the house provides for the imposition of a plaster mixture. It can then be used for painting or wallpapering. The plaster is applied using beacons to ensure the evenness of the wall. After the plaster has dried, it is recommended to apply a finishing primer, which will finally eliminate all defects.

Internal wall insulation with expanded polystyrene is deservedly popular and is widely used in all regions of the country. The material has excellent thermal insulation properties, and when correct installation will provide warmth in the house or apartment for a long time.

Insulation of the enclosing surfaces of the house is a guarantee that the costs of heating and air conditioning are minimal. Dozens, if not hundreds of technical solutions have been developed for roofing, wall and foundation thermal insulation, but not all of them can be called budgetary. Therefore, polystyrene foam boards, inexpensive and at the same time characterized by low thermal conductivity, occupy a leading position among all heaters. What are the nuances of foam insulation?

It is still argued about whether it is possible to insulate a house with a material containing styrene (a poisonous substance belonging to the second hazard class). Foam plastic is supported by its excellent performance, which has led to many years of use all over the world, and against it is evidenced by the fact that even in the Soviet Union, after several fires in which people died, the use of foam in construction was prohibited.

The thickness of the sheets varies

The advantages of insulating the roof and the whole house with expanded polystyrene

Polyfoam (this is the name of the product of the Finnish company, which was the first to start supplying expanded polystyrene board to the Soviet market) is a mass made of polymer cells filled with gas and formed into thick sheets. Due to its peculiar structure, the material consists of 99% air, so that it effectively retains heat and does not let cold pass through.

Diagram of the main heat loss at home

So, a 12 cm thick foam plate in terms of the level of thermal insulation is equal to a wooden wall 45 cm thick or a brick wall 2.1 m thick.However, when choosing a material, it should be borne in mind that the heat transfer coefficient depends on its density, and the denser and stronger the foam, the more it is able to remove heat energy.

Comparison of properties mineral wool and expanded polystyrene board

Lightweight expanded polystyrene slabs are not problematic to transport and lay, in addition, installation does not exert a significant load on the roof, walls and foundation of the building. It can absorb moisture only by direct contact with water, so the material does not need vapor protection, which means that the already economical insulation is even cheaper. It is also noteworthy that the foam is capable of not losing its properties for 80 years or more.

Flaws in thermal insulation with foam plates

Savings in which the initial investment decreases, but operating costs increase or other additional risks appear, for example, for the health of residents or the safety of property, is always questionable. Therefore, the use of foam in a warming cake should be considered from a different point of view - its disadvantages.

The first and probably the most significant disadvantage of traditional foam is flammability. The fact is that natural gas is used to fill styrene granules in production, and polystyrene foam can easily ignite from an ordinary match. The house, which is insulated with such material, burns out in a matter of minutes, and people in it die from phosgene, dioxides, hydrogen cyanide and other deadly substances released during the combustion of foam.

It is forbidden to use foam without fire retardants in construction

Low vapor permeability of the material can be attributed to both its advantages and disadvantages:

1. On the one hand, it does not need to be protected from water vapor, which is actively released by humans in the process of life and is a negative factor for the same mineral wool.
2. On the other hand, the room, insulated with expanded polystyrene plates from the inside, without forced ventilation turns into a steam room, where it is absolutely impossible to live and work.

Contrary to popular belief that expanded polystyrene boards are a good noise barrier, this is not true. Moreover, they transmit sounds well from the outside, and when vibrated, they themselves are capable of producing them (creaking, rustling, friction between the plates). Therefore, you should not use them for soundproofing from neighbors or street noise - not only will it not increase, but it may also decrease.

Owners of private houses who are thinking about insulating the roof and other enclosing structures with expanded polystyrene should also be warned: despite the fact that it is not a breeding ground for living organisms, rodents, insects and birds often like to settle in it. In some cases, colonies of microorganisms form on the surface, which do not affect function and longevity.

Quality material characterized by whiteness and uniformity

Myths and truths about chemical hazards

Many potential buyers doubt the environmental safety of expanded polystyrene boards. For example, on forums and sites, rumors are actively circulating, citing sources from the 80s that expanded polystyrene is capable of emitting gaseous styrene, which, penetrating through the nasopharynx into the lungs, supposedly accumulates in human vital organs and causes cancer.

The toxicity of the material has not been proven by modern research. I must say that in the course of most of the experiments, they studied not household, but industrial premises where various plastics and rubber were made, which means that the concentration of secretions and the degree of their effect on the body were much higher than usual. As a result, the environmental friendliness of expanded polystyrene boards is confirmed by such international building associations and ratings:

• ECOPSE - the French association of foam producers, which has developed the Uni'vert PSE standard, the label of which is placed on products that have passed a strict eco-audit;
• BRE is a British multidisciplinary research center that studies the so-called built environment and has assigned a high environmental class (A +) to the foam;
• IRC is an international building code that classifies expanded polystyrene as an energy efficient and environmentally friendly insulation.

Tests carried out prove harmless

Confirmation of the safety of the material is also a study for the presence of styrene vapors in a building built with the use of foam, conducted by the Moscow Research Institute of Hygiene. FF Erisman: according to the results of the check, they were not detected in the air samples (conclusion No. 03 / PM8). Thus, it can be concluded that modern high-quality polystyrene foam boards do not have any significant effect on human health.

How to choose polystyrene foam insulation

There are several types of polystyrene foam boards:

• press (domestic brands are designated by the letters PS) - mainly used as packing material or insulation for refrigerators, thermoses, thermobox bodies, etc .;
• pressless (EPS, PSB, PSB-S) - due to their low cost, they are used for insulating foundations, roofs, walls, balconies and other structures more often than other materials;
• extruded (XPS, EPS) - made of the same polystyrene, but using a different technology that allows you to get a fundamentally different insulation.

Pressless foam grades have different density - from 15 to 50 kg / m3. The strength of the board, its price, physical characteristics and scope of application depend on this indicator. The density is indicated in the marking - PSB-S 15 or PSB-S 50. The letter C in the designation indicates that the material contains flame retardant additives that prevent its ignition. It is this brand of expanded polystyrene that is recommended to be used for roof insulation.

Video: how ordinary and self-extinguishing expanded polystyrene burns

Extruded foam differs from pressless foam in its fine-cellular structure and, as a consequence, in much greater strength, but its cost also increases significantly. Due to its strength and practically zero water absorption, it is preferred to use it when arranging foundations, basements and other damp rooms, but it is undesirable to use this type of expanded polystyrene as insulation for ventilated facades and roofs, since it, like ordinary foam, belongs to combustible materials.

Study the certificate before buying

As for the quality of production of thermal insulation boards, it is regulated by GOST 15588-86 "Polystyrene foam" and must be confirmed by appropriate certificates. It is worth purchasing products from well-known manufacturers that provide all necessary information about their products. It also makes sense to conduct home tests of a piece of foam for flammability before installation.

Warming of various surfaces with expanded polystyrene

The opinion that expanded polystyrene is not suitable for insulation, for example, a roof or walls, is unreasonable: in order to level the shortcomings and evaluate all the benefits of using polystyrene plates, thermal insulation from them must be correctly mounted. According to GOST, their area of \u200b\u200bapplication is limited to the middle layer of building fenced structures so that the material cannot come into contact with air and, moreover, with an open fire.

Roofing insulation

The attic space, after being insulated, turns into an excellent living room. The use of foam allows this to be done at relatively low cost. Denser grades (35 and 50) are used to equip flat, including inverted roofs. In this case, on a polystyrene foam layer with a thickness of about 70 mm, it is necessary to lay a film or liquid waterproofing.

Pitched roofs it is also possible to insulate with polystyrene foam plates, the joints of which are sealed with polyurethane foam. However, it is much more rational to use them for insulation. attic floor, since this will not form cold bridges. The insulation is fixed with dowels (preferably), cement mortar or glue, if the irregularities on the surface do not exceed 1 cm.

Secrets and features of wall insulation

Walls can be sewn up with foam plastic both from the outside and from the inside, but following fire-prevention recommendations, a non-combustible heat insulator, for example, mineral wool, should be installed around the perimeter of all openings (window, door, ventilation) at a distance of 50–80 cm. When installing foam boards as an internal heat insulator, special attention should be paid to the ventilation system of the internal space.

Scheme of insulation carpet on the wall

The thickness of the slabs must be calculated based on the thickness and material of the walls, as well as the standard resistance to heat transfer for a specific climatic zone. At the same time, the density of the material should be different: for outdoor work it is better to use denser plates (grades 25 or 35), and for indoor works, the PSB-S 15 grade is quite suitable.

External protection of the foundation

It is optimal if the base of the building is insulated during construction. Those who have a house already built, and the thermal protection of the foundation in it has not been thought out, will have to dig it deep into at least the width of the sheet (1 m). The prepared surface needs to be processed bituminous mastic and after it dries, glue the polystyrene foam sheets.

If the foundation of the house is flush with the ground, the foam must be completely closed (when backfilling, it is better to use expanded clay), and finishing he doesn't need it. In all other cases, the insulation boards must be finished with plaster, brick, siding, ceramic tiles or an aluminum profile. These materials are non-combustible and, in addition to their decorative function, create a protective barrier.

Thus, expanded polystyrene plates are quite an economical material, the insulation of which increases the energy efficiency of a building by 3-5 times. Along with this, there is no reason to fear that the foam is not environmentally friendly and poses a threat to human health. A sufficient condition for ensuring your own safety is to give preference to well-known brands when choosing products, and to adhere to construction requirements during installation.