Compressive strength performance is one of the main characteristics declared for thermal insulation materials used in floor and roof applications. Insulation is part of a building’s ‘secondary structure’, and a material’s compressive strength must therefore be capable of bearing the loads imposed on it by the building’s use. Nevertheless, the main function of thermal insulation […]
For a conventional warm or inverted flat roof, the presence of a suspended ceiling internally makes little difference to the overall thermal performance of the roof. The ceiling system contributes no thermal resistance of its own (unless it is well sealed). In addition, fixing the ceiling system into the underside of the roof deck does […]
Rules and conventions for the calculation of U-values include ways of adjusting the result to account for repeating thermal bridges like mortar joints in masonry and fixings through insulation layers. When calculations are performed at the design stage, these corrections aim to ensure that the result is a reflection of how the floor, wall or roof will […]
Polyfoam XPS, the Hartlepool-based manufacturer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation, is exhibiting at Futurebuild for the first time. The 2023 edition of the event takes places from March 7th to 9th at ExCel in London. Located in the buildings area of the show, members of the Polyfoam XPS team will be available on the stand […]
ISO 14001 is an international standard that sets out requirements for businesses looking to implement an environmental management system. An organisation’s efforts are recognised through formal assessment, and accreditation is a form of third-party certification, showing a company meets a widely-accepted and independent benchmark. At the time of writing, the current version of the standard is […]
Many years of continuous improvements and manufacturing investments have helped Polyfoam XPS to reduce the amount of waste its factory produces, divert that waste from landfill, and boost recycling rates in all departments. The operations of construction product manufacturers are substantial. Production lines are energy intensive and manufacturing processes can be responsible for significant amounts […]
An in-depth Q&A feature in the latest issue of Contract Flooring Journal (CFJ) gives readers new background about Polyfoam XPS and the company’s role in providing ground floor insulation solutions. The article switches the spotlight, after several years of Polyfoam XPS providing technical articles, features and opinion pieces to the highly regarded publication, produced by […]
When specifying a construction project, what does it mean to choose suitable or appropriate materials? How do you satisfy yourself that something is fit for purpose? And when a material or product is used on site, how do you know it has been installed correctly? An area of building regulations sometimes overlooked is that dealing […]
This month we’re looking at product certification: what is it, why do product manufacturers have it, and what does it mean for your projects? Comments, questions and feedback about anything in the newsletter are always welcome. Get in touch and let us know what you think. How important is BBA Certification One thing that a […]
Regulation 7 of the Building Regulations 2010 sets out the legislative requirement for materials and workmanship as part of building work. As originally written, the regulation only featured one paragraph. However, changes made to the regulation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire brought it to much greater prominence. Arguably, the aspect of the […]
