Concretek System

Green Construction

Energy Efficiency

EPS insulation provides the long-term energy efficiency now demanded by the construction industry. Heating and cooling a home account for 50 to 70 percent of the energy costs used in the average home. In monetary terms, the U.S. consumes almost $40 billion in air conditioning alone according to the EPA. With stable thermal performance of EPS insulation, the savings resulting from lower heating and cooling costs add up over the life of the structure. In addition, a reduction in energy use also helps to conserve nonrenewable fuel supplies.

The decreased use of fuel and energy translates into reduced air pollution. The EPA also reports that household electricity accounts for 35 percent of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, 75 percent of sulfur dioxide and 38 percent of nitrogen oxides. By utilizing more energy efficient materials and products in our homes, we can reduce the amount of air pollution.

EPSMA participates as an Ally in both the Energy Star® Homes and Buildings Programs, promoting the benefits of energy-efficiency through the education of consumers and building professionals.

The Ozone Issue

The news media has brought national attention to the scientific communities’ well documented ozone loss theory.  Over recent years, the uncontrolled release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) are reducing or eroding the atmospheric ozone layer of the earth and this erosion continues at an unacceptable rate.

The specific cause of the depletion is unknown – some scientists speculate that this is mainly due to the release of CFC’s.  These gases are used throughout the world in refrigeration systems, aerosol cans and some plastic foams.  It is the area of plastic foams which seem to cause the most confusion.  Some foams use CFC’s as a blowing agent and some do not.  The following insulations do contain CFC’s as a blowing agent: isocyanurates, extruded polystyrenes and phenalics.

EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE DOES NOT CONTAIN CFC’s!  The blowing agent used to manufacture EPS is pentane, which is totally free of chloro-fluorocarbons and unrelated to the CFC/ozone controversy.  Therefore, if you too share the present concerns of the scientific community regarding ozone depletion and its potential long term ramifications, then we strongly suggest the use of expanded polystyrene as used exclusively in Concretek Building Panels.
 

What is EPS?

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a rigid, closed cell, plastic foam material. EPS can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes.  EPS is typically available in large blocks that can be cut into sheeting, architectural detail work for use on houses and buildings, signage, floatation etc.  It's lightweight properties make it very easy to work with. Architectural EPS is modified with a fire retardant and is usually encapsulated with an acrylic-based finish.

EPS is totally recyclable.  EPS does not contain ozone depleting CFC's or HCFC's.

What is Styrofoam?

A common mis-understanding about Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is that it is referred to by many people as Styrofoam.  Styrofoam is actually a trademark for a product that is manufactured by DOW Chemical Company. Styrofoam board and EPS board have two completely different manufacturing processes.

The most notable difference is that EPS does not and has never used CFC's or HCFC's, which are harmful to our ozone layer, for the processing of making rigid insulation.

In producing the product, Styrofoam is an extruded foam board, whereas Expanded Polystyrene is a molded cellular board.

History of EPS

In 1965, the industry's first block molding plant was established in Grand Rapids, MI. Block molding plants manufacture blocks of EPS measuring from two to 16 feet in thickness. EPS blocks can be cut into any shape needed. Generally it is cut with hot wires into sheets for use as thermal insulation. Other uses for the large billets include flotation, "geofoam" landfill applications and other large-scale uses.

Expanded polystyrene begins as a polystyrene bead or pellet. The pentane-loaded bead is then exposed to pressurized steam that causes the polystyrene to expand and mold into the desired shape and density needed. Manufacturing EPS does not involve the use of ozone depleting CFCs or HCFCs. The final product is a moisture resistant closed-cell structure that is comprised of 90 percent air. Defining logic, this plastic can possess a compressive strength of up to 40 psi.

EPS possesses the physical and mechanical properties ideal for most insulating needs. As a closed cell structure, aging has no effect on the long-term thermal resistance. Due to its flexibility and versatility, it can be cut into sheets, slabs or any desired design to meet specific building code requirements as well as customized designs. EPS is utilized as insulation in walls, roofs and foundation as well as a component in structural insulated panels, insulated concrete forms and exterior and insulating form systems. Other growing applications include flotation devices, cold storage insulation and geofoam.

The Ozone Layer Versus Expanded Polystyrene Foam

Expanded polystyrene EPS is a closed cell, lightweight foam which by itself, depending upon density, has a compressive strength between 10 and 60 pounds per sq. inch.  EPS is an ideal foam for most construction applications.  EPS is used extensively in Concretek building panels.

Unlike polyurethane and formaldehyde foams, which use unstable gases in their manufacture, EPS contains only stabilized air.  Thus its R-value will not decrease, as others do, with age.  EPS can withstand the thermal shock of extreme freeze-thaw cycling without loss of insulation value or structural integrity.

EPS is an inert (plastic product with no future chemical activity) insulation material.  It has no nutritive value for plants, insects or other animals to feed upon.  It will not rot and is extremely resistant to mildew.

Expanded Polystyrene   3

Resistance to Attack

A.ChemicalReagents

Expanded polystyrene has the same resist­ance to chemical reagents as general pur­pose polystyrene. Most acids and their water solutions do not attack polystyrene; however, strong oxidizing acids, such as ni­tric and perChloric, will decompose it. Fum­ing sulphuric acid (20-40% oleum) sulfa­nates polystyrene; chlorine and bromine also react detrimentally. Alkali and salt water solutions-regardless of concentration, temperature, and duration of exposure-do not chemically affect expanded polystyrene.

B. Solvents

The thin cell walls and large exposed sur­face of expanded polystyrene make it espe­cially sensitive to attack by solvents, Sol­vents which affect general purpose polystyrene to a minor degree may collapse foam cells.

Chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, essential oils of high ter­pene content (like oil of lemon or orange), and turpentine are excellent solvents for polystyrene. The aromatic hydrocarbon por­tion of gasoline, solvent naphtha, fuel oil, and mineral oil exert solvent action on polystyrene. The lower aliphatic alcohols and glycols exert little or no solvent action on polystyrene; but higher alcohols cause relatively slow softening or swelling as do acetone, ether alcohols, glacial acetic acid, some unsaturated hydrocarbons, and essen­tial oils of low terpene content.

Expanded polystyrene does not soften or swell after 70 hours exposure to lubricating oil, conforming to Military Specification MIL-L-6082.

Whenever the presence of solvents is sus­pected, exposure tests of adequate duration at the anticipated use temperature should be performed.

C. Fungi and Bacteria

Fungus attack has not been observed on expanded polystyrene, and it does not sup­port bacterial growth. Fungal or bacterial growth on foamed DYLITE expandable polystyrene is evidence that the surface of the foam has been soiled. Only the soilage supplies nutrient for fungal or bacterial growth.

A mixed spore suspension of fungi was sprayed on specimens of fomed DYLITE expandable polystyrene, which were then incubated for 14 days at 86° F (30° C) and 95% relative humidity. The suspension con­tained those spores most commonly speci­fied in military specifications for cushioning materials. The spores were those of : Chaelomium glebosum      USDA 1042.4

Aspergillus niger            USDA TC-215-4247, Aspergillus terreus   MOMD 82-J

Pencicillum eitrlnum       A TCC 9849, Fusarium moniforme           USDA 1004.1

After incubation. the specimens were inspected microscopically. There was no evidence of fungal growth or attack on the foamed DYLITE expandable polystyrene. Foamed DYLITE expandable polystyrene has been tested for fungus resistance in accordance with Federal Housing Adminis­tration (FHA) 'Test Procedures to Determine the Acceptability of Perimeter Insulation for Concrete Floor on Ground," June 11, 1956, Paragraph V. In this method, culture dishes with garden soil and feeder blocks (ponder­osa pine sapwood) were steam sterilized for 30 minutes at ISpsig (103 kN/m2) (250° F, 121° C). The specimens (unsterilized), cul­ture dishes, garden soil, and feeder blocks were sprayed with a single spore suspension of each of the following fungi and incubated at 80°F (27° C) and 70% A.H. for 90 days, by which time the feeder blocks were overgrown. The

spores were:

Lenziles Trabea Madison            No.617,   Polyporus Versicolor                No.6917

Coniophora Puleana                   No.515

Following incubation, the foamed DYLITE polystyrene specimens were inspected microscopically, and no evidence of fungal growth or attack was observed.

  Concretek System Information

For more information:

1001 inc. , P.O. Box 977, Ceiba, Puerto Rico, 00735

Tel- (787) 885-4004, Fax- (787)885-3241

email- 1001@concretek.com

Some of the information in this page comes from the following sources:

 http://www.epsmolders.org/1-history.html

http://www.thermapanel.net/ozoneissue.html

 http://www.fibrecrown.com/faqs.asp