Canada and the United States lead the world in traditional platform construction. They have also led the world in energy efficiency in design of their building stock. These efforts over the past 50 years have led professionals to conclude there are some major issues that need to be addressed. Those issues have been addressed in these new building code that are being introduced. The major issues are:

1. Control or limit structural movement under load and forces. ie. seismically active areas, which cause structural damage and shaking which causes settling of loose fill insulation and loss of insulating values.

2. To limit dimensional change in seismically active areas, to design structures that are strong and securely attached to foundations, yet are flexible enough to allow for minor movement without loss of insulation or structural integrity.

3. To minimize the entry of vermin and insects.

4. To maintain appropriate indoor and outdoor air pressure. Utilizing balanced air exchange systems that can provide full time air exchange to maximize interior quality of air.

5. To limit the amount of uncontrolled air leakage, through the building envelope. This applies to both interior and exterior design at all points, including electrical outlets on the interior. 

6. To eliminate moisture entry through the building envelope at all points from exterior building components like building wraps and exterior sheathing membranes.

7. To eliminate the moisture damage to structural components like sill plates in contact with platform construction and or located on concrete slabs.

8. To eliminate the possibility of mold creation at any and all points in the building envelope.

9. To create a rain screen effect on the exterior of the building envelope, so no moisture will accrue on the interior of any exterior building envelope component. 

10. To limit the amount of uncontrolled thermal transfer through building envelope system components.

11. To create building structures that will last 100's of years and longer.

12. To design building systems that are affordable and cost effective to assemble.​​

There are five myths that have been debunked about the fire safety of EPS board product.

After the Grenfell 24-storey tower fire in the UK that killed 72 people in 2017. Major changes have been made to their building codes. 

EPS insulation (expanded or extruded polystyrene) has taken its place as one of the most popular forms of external wall insulation. In the wake of Grenfell and the Building Safety Bill, insulating materials have received a particularly high level of scrutiny, with the replacement of combustible insulation a national priority.

As the spotlight intensifies on safer building practices and increasing energy efficiency throughout UK residences, especially on the journey to Net Zero, it is important to fully understand the properties and principles of EWI, in particular, the popular EPS.‍

Although it is sought after, there are still detractors who question the abilities of EPS as a true alternative to more expensive options such as mineral wool. Here we address one of the top manufacturers of EPS, Soltherm in the UK. They addressed the top five most common misconceptions about EPS, its properties and suitability for fire safety and energy efficiency.

1. “EPS is not Durable”
   EPS has excellent impact absorption qualities, offering much needed support to surrounding outer building layers and joints. When installed correctly, it serves as a durable barrier that will not attract bacteria or corrosion. While UV does have the potential to discolor EPS, there have been no findings to determine a degradation in strength and impact resistance.

2. “EPS is flammable”
   A popular misconception is that EPS is combustible and should therefore not be used as insulating material. While the base material that makes up EPS is in itself flammable, today it is made with fire retardant additives (FRAs) to enable specifiers to use EPS and enjoy its cost effectiveness and efficiency, without compromising on safety.
   The Ultimate FSC system features a patented composite Grey EPS insulation board demonstrating exceptional fire performance against conventional EPS systems:

3. “EPS is too absorbent”
   EPS is highly resistant to moisture and at the same time, has minimal leaching potential. While some tests involving submerged EPS reported a weight increase of around 1%, it does not lose its durability or insulating properties.

4. “EPS is not environmentally friendly”
   EPS as an insulating material is fundamentally environmentally friendly, reducing energy consumption throughout the protected building. As a manufactured material, it is an organic petroleum-based material that contains no CFC’s or HCFC’s

5. “EPS is not recyclable”
   EPS is 100% recyclable. Specialist foam product processing plants convert ground EPS and EPS resin into many useful household and industrial products. Many manufacturers also offer this service.

 

Soltherm and most EPS board manufacturer globally offer a range of thermal insulation up to A1 fire rated, increasing U-Value to a building’s fabric while decreasing heat loss throughout the structure. This includes a specialist engineered EPS, offering outstanding thermal performance without sacrificing safety or energy efficiency