Is EPS the same as polystyrene?

Is EPS the same as polystyrene?

The word Styrofoam™ is often used to describe expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam; however, ‘Styrofoam’ is actually a trademarked term for closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam made for thermal insulation and craft applications. EPS foam is the correct term for any form of expanded polystyrene.

What is EPS polystyrene used for?

Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) is a white foam plastic material produced from solid beads of polystyrene. It is primarily used for packaging, insulation, etc. It is a closed-cell, rigid foam material produced from: Styrene – which forms the cellular structure.

What does EPS stand for polystyrene?

Expanded Polystyrene insulation
Expanded Polystyrene insulation (EPS) 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.

What are the different grades of polystyrene?

Three major types of polystyrene include polystyrene foam, regular polystyrene plastic, and polystyrene film. Amongst the different types of foam are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS).

Is EPS insulation safe?

EPS is non-toxic, chemically inert, non-irritant and odourless making it entirely safe to use across all construction applications.

Is EPS good insulation?

EPS is an extremely durable material Expanded polystyrene will last the lifetime of any building where it’s installed. The thermal performance of EPS does not degrade over time, meaning the U-value you first achieve with EPS will not change.

Is EPS foam safe?

Although EPS has been declared safe for food use by the FDA, it is also known to contain remnants of the chemicals used to make it, such as styrene and benzene.

Is EPS insulation any good?

What is the difference between styrofoam and polystyrene?

Polystyrene is a common polymer material produces from the monomer, styrene. Styrofoam is a form of polystyrene. The key difference between polystyrene and Styrofoam is that the polystyrene is a form of synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer whereas the Styrofoam is a commercial brand of polystyrene.

Is EPS foam toxic?

EPS insulation has traditionally contained the flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) which is highly toxic, persistent in the environment, and bioaccumulative.

Is EPS a fire risk?

The EPS hazard is twofold. Its core easily combusts and it allows fire to spread quickly and invisibly within the sandwich panel through walls and ceilings. Once a fire takes hold, the panels are at risk of delamination, spilling molten plastic which further transfers and propagates the fire.

Is EPS a fire hazard?

The test results provide a clear indication that the use of rendered EPS (with fire retardant) in EIFS would result in rapid vertical fire spread and pool fires when exposed to a large fire source, such as from a window opening or an external fire source.

Is EPS insulation waterproof?

While polyiso, XPS and EPS have some of the strongest waterproofing properties of all insulations, EPS is the weakest of the three and absorbs more water. EPS is also susceptible to crumbling on the edges.

Which foam insulation is best?

Closed cell foam is the best choice for robust insulating where space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cell inside a standard wall. Its rigid nature also adds to the structural integrity of the building and E84 fire rated versions are available.

Is EPS poisonous?

“exposure to styrene vapor can cause irritations of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, as well as toxic effects on the liver, and can act as a depressant on the central nervous system that also causes neurological impairment.”

Is polystyrene better than fiberglass?

Made from polymers like polyurethane and polystyrene, rigid foam boards are denser, more expensive, and offer better resistance to heat flow than fiberglass. Conversely, fiberglass insulation is cheaper and more flexible, as it is made from raw materials like limestone, silica sand, and recycled glass.

What is EPS foam made of?

EPS is a rigid, closed cell, thermoplastic foam material. It is produced from solid beads of polystyrene. Expansion is achieved by virtue of small amounts of gas contained within the polystyrene bead. The gas expands when heat in the form of steam is applied, thus forming closed cells of EPS.

Is EPS foam waterproof?

Why you should not use EPS insulation?

While both rigid insulations are naturally moisture resistant due to their closed-cell structure, EPS foam exhibits a drying potential under severe exposure conditions that helps it retain its high R-value over the course of its lifetime.