Knauf Insulation, the UK’s leading manufacturer
of insulation material, has added a Domestic grade of floor
insulation to the Polyfoam® Floorboard range. Created specifically
for the housing sector, the new grade widens the range and offers
designers a greater choice from which to select the ideal product
for their project. Floor insulation that is “tough enough” for the
job is vital if the floor is to be successful and, being made from
high-performance extruded polystyrene (XPS), Polyfoam® Insulation
certainly makes the grade.
Strength is an essential requirement for floor insulation and
‘getting it wrong’ can be a costly mistake. All materials compress
under load and, just as ‘low-strength’ insulation materials will
increase the risk of a floor failing, so ‘high-strength’ ones
reduce it. But ‘strength’ is relative, ranging from low-strength
expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyisocyanurate (PUR/PIR) at the
bottom of the scale to high-strength extruded polystyrene (XPS) at
the top. The figures speak for themselves. The quoted compressive
strength of standard polystyrene flooring sheet (EPS70) is just
70kPa – for extruded polystyrene it can be as high as 500kPa!
Polyfoam® Floorboard is ideal for insulating floors and is suitable
for almost any type of floor construction. Manufactured from
high-performance extruded polystyrene it has a high compressive
strength, an impressive thermal conductivity and is both resistant
to and unaffected by moisture.
The new Domestic grade complements the existing range perfectly
and, by offering a greater choice, helps designers specify the
optimum solution for their project. The Polyfoam® Floorboard range
now consists of four grades specifically designed to suit the
intended use of the finished floor. Domestic; (165kPa) for loadings
encountered in house building, Standard; (200kPa) for light
commercial loads, Extra; (350kPa) for heavy commercial and
industrial loads and Super; (500kPa) for very high industrial
loadings and cold stores. Each grade is available in a range of
thicknesses that are appropriate for their potential
applications.
Knauf Insulation’s Residential Business Development Team is on hand
to offer advice to national and regional housebuilders, working
closely with them to develop insulation solutions that meet all
aspects of the Building Regulations. “Choosing the right floor
insulation may seem a straightforward task but getting it wrong can
be expensive!” said Neil Donald, the team’s director, adding, “Of
the variety of insulation materials available, extruded polystyrene
has to be the material-of-choice for floor insulation as it
provides a thermal and structural solution. The new grade –
Polyfoam® Floorboard Domestic – is aimed specifically at the
housing sector and offers a solution that exactly matches the needs
of the application.”
Knauf Insulation are supporting the range with an advertising
campaign that underlines the importance of floor insulation being
“tough enough” for the job. Free brochures and a series of product
specific datasheets giving a wealth of information about both
Polyfoam® Insulation and floor insulation are also available and
make essential reading.
Further information about Knauf Insulation’s products can be found
on their website at www.knaufinsulation.co.uk or by calling 08700
668 660. Please quote PR 379 05.
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