Some of the most crucial – but often overlooked – information we need to calculate accurate U-values centres on a building’s location. Site-specific information is required in both ground floor and inverted roof calculations. It highlights the importance of requesting calculations on a project-by-project basis, rather than relying on generic guideline calculations or copied specifications. … Read more
Many ground floor U-value calculations feature a simple build-up of materials, in layers that have consistent thickness and performance characteristics. However, structural requirements (such as foundation design) or on-site variables can introduce complexity to U-value calculations, and lead to doubt about the correct way of establishing a floor’s thermal performance. The Polyfoam XPS technical helpdesk … Read more
Year-on-year increases in the specification of our products can trick us into thinking that everybody knows, and wants to find out more, about extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation in the smallest detail. Last month (May 2026) we exhibited at Futurebuild, and the questions posed by visitors to our stand were a useful reminder that, for many … Read more
Many continuing professional development (CPD) sessions offered by construction product manufacturers carry independent accreditation. Assessment by a third-party is designed to show that the session meets certain expectations – usually, that the content is neutral, educational and covers specific learning points, rather than being a biased sales pitch. The importance of quality CPD content cannot … Read more
The updated code of practice for flat roofing, BS 6229:2025, recommends an insulation thickness increase where the design lambda of inverted roof insulation is the same as the declared lambda. The new recommendation for a minimum 2.5% insulation increase replaces a controversial note in BS 6229:2018 that suggested insulation thicknesses may be increased by 10% … Read more
Following a successful exhibition in 2025, Polyfoam XPS will be at Futurebuild once again in 2026. The Hartlepool-based manufacturer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation will have a stand at the event, which takes place on the 12th, 13th and 14th May. This year, Futurebuild is co-located with UK Construction Week, creating an even more compelling … Read more
There is no reason that extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation cannot play a role in the construction industry’s transition from the linear economy to the circular economy. XPS’s combination of performance characteristics – including its robustness, compressive strength, moisture resistance, and long-term thermal performance – mean it has the potential to be retained or reused across … Read more
Two sites, including a large shopping centre in the south-east of England, have been able to recycle extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation removed from existing roofs. Thanks to advice from Polyfoam XPS, the sites were put in contact with a leading polystyrene recycling company, who can recycle XPS even when it is contaminated with other materials. … Read more
In construction projects, sustainability should be defined through clear project outcomes. At a basic level, this means achieving compliance with national building regulations, including energy efficiency requirements. However, there are a host of other factors relating to broader sustainability that go beyond energy use and carbon emissions. A project may go further in reducing energy … Read more
Polyfoam XPS’s factory in Hartlepool has been the site of extruded polystyrene (XPS) manufacturing for more than forty years. Over that time, the business has built up a wealth of knowledge about insulation production (much of which informed the commissioning of our new production line) and building construction. Among Polyfoam’s workforce are people who have … Read more
