Extruded polystyrene (XPS) closed-cell, rigid XPS insulation significantly improves the energy efficiency of unfinished exterior and interior walls for remodeling and new construction. In addition, the XPS boards provide thermal resistance with an R-value of 4.6 to 5.0, depending on their density, to create a comfortable indoor temperature and reduce utility bills. Moisture-resistant XPS panel insulation, with an absorption rate of 0.3 percent, resists moisture intrusion during and after application to help protect against damaging and unhealthy mold and rot.
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Lightweight, versatile, and simple to install, extruded polystyrene sheets typically come in 8-foot and 5-foot lengths, ranging from 16 inches to 4 feet wide and ¾-inch to 4-inches wide. The sheets come unfaced, and are covered with a foil facing, or laminated with plastic. The facing adds water resistance, and the lamination offers strength, but neither affects the sheets’ R-value. XPS sheets come in an array of colors (typically blue, green, and pink), based on the manufacturer, not insulating quality.
Flexible XPS boards come in various compressive strengths, making them ideal for numerous applications in all areas of the building envelope:
Manufacturing XPS insulation involves combining polystyrene crystals with special additives and a gas blowing agent. Manufacturers feed the mixture into an extruding machine that blends and melts it into a thick liquid. The liquid then gets processed through a die, which expands it into foam, shapes, cools, and trims it into standard-sized rectangular or square boards, with surfaces according to the intended use.
Specially designed machines produce XPS boards in smooth, rough, and grooved surfaces.
Demanding applications, like below-grade installation, utilize smooth XPS panels. Smooth, closed-cell XPS panels protect against absorption and diffusion due to long-term water exposure.
Rough surfaces increase the adhesion of the facade plaster.
Grooves in the XPS panel enhance wall drainage and thermal insulation for foundations.
XPS insulation offers many benefits contributing to an eco-friendly, healthy, durable, and safe building envelope.
XPS closed cell insulation, with an R-value of 4.6 and 5.0, gives it a high thermal resistance value, making it extremely energy efficient, by saving energy in buildings and reducing CO2 emissions.
100-percent recyclable XPS allows manufacturers to melt and reform the thermoplastic polystyrene resin into new XPS foam insulation.
XPS insulation’s high compressive strength allows it to withstand a high pressure of >300 kPa, so it can withstand more than lbs ft2 (30,000 kilos m2) with a maximum deformation of 10 percent, making it ideal for challenging applications:
XPS insulation provides water and freeze-thaw resistance, to protect the insulation’s thermal performance from damaging rot and unhealthy mold. In addition, the high permeability of XPS insulation makes it ideal for bathrooms and other high-moisture rooms.
Lightweight XPS insulation allows for easy application without irritating the worker’s skin.
Applying XPS insulation boards involves gluing the lightweight sheets to the substrate, which is much simpler than batts, blown-in fibers, or spray foam insulation. It is important to only use the manufacturer’s recommended foam-safe adhesive. The wrong glue can melt the foam. In addition, butt the sheets snugly together and seal joints with a manufacturer-recommended adhesive seam tape.
To insulate the stud, joist, and rafter cavities, cut the sheets to fit snug in the cavities, inserting them flush with the framing. To prevent airflow that can diminish the R-value, fill gaps along the edges with expandable insulation foam, safe for use with XPS. You can increase the R-value in two-by-six and larger dimension framing by inserting an additional layer of rigid foam insulation.
You can simply cut thin XPS sheets (less than 2-inches) by holding the straight edge of a utility knife along the cut line, scoring it about 3/4-inch deep. After scoring, lay the sheet on a table scored side up with the cut about 1-inch off the table. Firmly hold the sheet down and snap along the line. Trim the rough edges with the utility knife
For thicker sheets (greater than 2-inch), you will need a handheld drywall saw, or a table saw.
Installing 2-inch EPS boards on exterior sheathing requires additional furring strips or other structural supports. In addition, 2-inch XPS does not supply the strength needed to support the weight of the siding. Therefore, Sto strongly recommends that you check with your local building authority to determine the required type of additional support before installing 2-inch XPS as exterior sheathing.
Sto offers superior, simple-to-apply cladding solutions for applying XPS to an exterior wall system compared to XPS insulation boards: StoTherm ci XPS and StoPanel XPS ci. In addition, Sto XPS CI wall systems meet the requirements of fire, energy, and green building codes.
Sto XPS Wall Systems meets the requirements of NFPA 285 and NFPA 268 for use on non-combustible construction (Types I-IV).
Ch. 6: Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Atmospheric Quality (Section 606: Building Thermal Envelope insulation and Air Sealing) Alternative Compliance Path: ASHRAE 189.1-
Durable StoTherm® ci XPS, one of StoTherm® ci wall systems, is a drainable exterior insulation finishing system that incorporates high R-value XPS insulation into the wall system, and StoGuard® fluid-applied air and moisture barrier, with Owens Corning Foamular CI-C or Dow STYROFOAM™ Panel Core 20 insulation. StoTherm® ci XPS produces water and airtight air walls to ensure superior durability and thermal efficiency.
The unique, durable system sustains maximum curb appeal and lowers energy bills to save money. In addition, StoTherm® ci XPS can be finished with a variety of Sto textured finishes or specialty aesthetic finishes to accommodate your building’s design needs.
Lightweight StoPanel XPS ci prefabricated panels incorporate extruded insulation within the panel assembly, and create exterior wall cladding with excellent air and weather tightness, superior thermal performance, and long-lasting durability. In addition, architects and designers can choose from Sto’s numerous decorative and protective color and finish options.
StoPowerwall® ci energy-efficient stucco wall systems include StoGuard® air and water-resistive barrier, Owens Corning or Dow Type IV XPS insulation board, Sto DrainScreen, and Sto textured finishes.
StoPowerwall ci integrates continuous XPS insulation, air/moisture barrier, drainage, and Sto’s extensive collection of aesthetic surfaces in a hard coat stucco system.
Designers can use Sto’s unique Color System as a planning tool for choosing the colors for their architectural designs. The Sto Color System provides several benefits:
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The Sto Color Collections include:
Sto’s extensive selection of finishes features pure white marble aggregate, acrylic polymers in various textures, and a wide range of color options to boost your design and harmonize with the surrounding environment. In addition, durable, high-performing Sto finishes resist dirt and water, protect the building’s facade, and enhance its curb appeal. Sto high-quality finishes include:
StoCast Finishes
Specialty Aesthetic Finishes
StoSignature
Sto Traditional Finishes
iQ Technology
Sto offers superior, sustainable, simple-to-apply, multiple code-compliant cladding solutions for applying XPS to an exterior wall system compared to XPS insulation boards. Drainable StoTherm® ci XPS and StoPanel XPS ci create high-performing, sustainable, and attractive cladding systems, improve indoor comfort and air quality, save both money and energy, and ensure long-term durability:
There is an enormous selection of building materials available on the market today, and choosing the right materials can quickly become overwhelming. When it comes to insulation, you can choose from blankets to beads, boards and even blocks. From there, you have even more choices to make, such as the chemical makeup which can include various types of foam, fiberglass, and more.
Rmax simplifies the selection process in this article by breaking down a tried-and-true building component that they've been manufacturing for decades: rigid foam insulation.
Let’s start by answering the simple question: What is rigid insulation? Rigid insulation, like all insulation, is a building material used in construction that creates a thermal barrier to separate the inside of your building from the outside. Rigid insulation is often produced as rectangular-shaped boards that are installed in a modular fashion.
One way to define rigid insulation is by answering the question: What is rigid insulation not? Rigid insulation can be differentiated from other types of insulation by the following characteristics:
Dimensional Stability: Unlike beads, spray foam, or batts, rigid insulation holds its manufactured shape rather than conforming to its surroundings. This means it can be used outside the wall cavity since it doesn’t require a container to support it.
Compressive Strength: Other types of insulation like cellulose or fiberglass blanket carry virtually no compressive resistance, while polyiso rigid insulation boards typically boast a compressive strength of 20 psi or higher. This means you can walk on rigid insulation without damaging it.
Installation Method: Rigid insulation can be installed by fastening, adhering, or loose-laying modular boards to structural sheathing, studs, walls, or decking.
Now that we’ve established a basic understanding of what rigid insulation is, let’s answer the question: What is rigid foam insulation made of? There are three main types of rigid foam insulation that you’ll see in the construction industry:
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)
Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso)
Each of these rigid insulation types is made of different raw materials (resins and additives), and each one has its own manufacturing process. The final product comes out looking very similar for all three varieties of rigid insulation: rectangular 4’x8’ boards in various thicknesses ranging from ½” up to 6”.
Polyiso insulation contains an additional component that is not included in EPS or XPS. That’s because the manufacturing process requires a facer on either side of the foam. Polyiso consists of a foam core that is sandwiched between two facers. The facers are made of a material like foil or fiberglass-reinforced cellulose. EPS and XPS, on the other hand, do not require a laminated facer and have a homogenous makeup.
Rigid insulation is versatile and can be used throughout the building envelope, including inside and outside of the wall cavity, roofs, attics, and foundations. Rigid insulation, like Rmax Durasheath®, is used on exterior walls under siding and wall finishes, on the interior of basement walls, and as protection to newly installed waterproofing on the outside of foundation walls for backfilling.
Rigid insulation is the go-to material in commercial roofing systems. It’s used to insulate the building from above and create a drainage slope on flat roofs. In fact, to meet current energy codes, many commercial roofs require more than five inches of rigid insulation above the roof deck and below the roof membrane!
A clear advantage that rigid insulation has over other types is its ability to be applied in a continuous manner. Continuous insulation is when your insulating material goes uninterrupted across the surface of your building. Rigid insulation is inherently a continuous insulator.
Additionally, the boards are often applied in two layers. When installed this way, joints are staggered and there is less opportunity for leaks to occur through the insulation joints. If you’re looking for insulation that enhances your building’s energy efficiency, rigid foam insulation gets the job done, by achieving a thermal resistance of R6 per inch for polyiso rigid foam insulations like Rmax Thermasheath®.
For an even bigger boost in energy efficiency, polyiso rigid foam insulation has another major advantage. It can be laminated to air and vapor barrier materials so that it can be installed in a single application. The Rmax ECOMAXci ® Wall Solution combines a fire-rated polyiso foam core with a 12 mil foil facer. When properly installed with joints sealed, it can function as an all-in-one air and vapor barrier, plus insulator.
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