KORE's guide to the technical features of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation highlights the features and benefits of using EPS in your next new build or retrofit project. EPS is designed to be sustainable, lasting the lifetime of every building where it's installed while exceeding building regulations. For more information visit http://www.kore-system.com or download our technical documents at http://docs.kore-system.com.

1. KORE EPS
Technical Features of Expanded Polystyrene
V1/0515/EPS/GG01

2. KORE Expanded Polystyrene
Why Choose EPS?
Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS, is a well-known and long-es-
tablished product with many uses in the architectural, con-
struction and packaging industries. Now known under the
more consumer-friendly brand airpop®, expanded polysty-
rene has become the go-to choice for building insulation
due to its long safety record, high performance and ease of
use. This EPS guide will focus on the technical features of
the product to prove why it is increasingly specified among
architects in the building industry.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Standards
The following EPS standards (European Standards - EN) help
define specifications for the product, including how to test,
marking and labeling and the required level of AVCP (Assess-
ment and Verification of the Constancy of Performance). The
standards were taken from the EPS White Book EUMEPS Back-
ground Information on Standardisation of EPS:
• EN 13163:2012 – Thermal insulation products Factory
made products of expanded polystyrene (EPS) specifica-
tion.
• EN 13499:2003 – Thermal insulation products for build-
ings – External thermal insulation composite systems
(ETICS) based on expanded polystyrene – Specification.
• EN 14309:2009 + A1:2013 – Thermal insulation products
for building equipment and industrial installations – Facto-
ry made products of expanded polystyrene (EPS) – Spec-
ification.
• EN 14933:2007 – Thermal insulation and light weight fill
products for civil engineering applications – Factory made
products of expanded polystyrene (EPS) – Specification
• EN 15037-4:2010 + A1:2013 – Precast concrete prod-
ucts – Beam-and-block floor systems – Part 5: Lightweight
blocks for simple formwork
• EN 16025-1: 2013 Thermal and/or sound insulating prod-
ucts in building construction – Bound EPS ballasting – Part
2: Requirements for factory premixed EPS dry plaster
• EN 16025-2: 2013 – Thermal and/or sound insulating
products in building construction – Bound EPS ballasting –
Part 2: Processing of the factory premixed EPS dry plaster.
In addition, two other EN standards are currently under devel-
opment for expanded polystyrene (EPS):
• prEN 16809 – Thermal insulating products of buildings
– In-situ formed products from loose-fill expanded poly-
styrene (EPS) beads and bonded expanded polystyrene
beads – Part 1: Specification for the bonded and loose-fill
products before installation
• prEN 16809 – Thermal insulation products of buildings
– In-situ formed products from loose-fill expanded poly-
styrene (EPS) beads and bonded expanded polystyrene
beads – Part 2: Specification for the bonded and loose-fill
products after installation

3. Expanded Polystyrene and Sustainability
EPS is a recyclable material – meaning it can be reused during
many stages of its lifecycle.
• During the manufacturing process of EPS, on-site waste
can be reused in production to create additional EPS
products. There is no residual waste as all leftover and
unused material can be reprocessed.
• EPS does not degrade over time and will last the useful
lifetime of any building where it has been installed.
• When the building’s useful life has been reached EPS
can be recycled at a growing number of collection points
across Europe. In fact, EPS accounts for less than 0.1% of
all Municipal Solid Waste
• Recycled EPS can be used to manufacture products such
as CD and DVD cases, synthetic timbers, coat hangers
and cutlery
Expanded polystyrene has an A-plus summary rating in the
BRE Global Green Guide to Specification. While it is derived
from crude oil, it accounts for less than 0.1% of global oil as
a feedstock. In fact, EUMEPS (European Manufactures of Ex-
Application in the Construction Industry
EPS can be used in a variety of applications across the con-
struction sector, most notably as thermal insulation in build-
ings – including roof insulation, wall insulation (cavity and sol-
id block) and floor insulation (including insulated foundation
systems and under floor heating systems). For example, EPS
can be injected into cavity walls in bonded bead form, used as
part of an External Wall Insulation System or supplied as a fully
engineered insulated foundation system.
KORE EPS is currently available in two grades of material, orig-
inal white polystyrene and thermally advanced silver polysty-
rene containing graphite flakes. KORE Silver can achieve the
same thermal performance as white EPS insulation while using
up to 50% less raw material, depending on U-value require-
ments and application.
In addition as an insulation material for residential and com-
mercial applications, EPS can also be used for sub-structures
and void-fill blocks for civil engineering, clay heave protec-
tion, bridge, rail and road widening schemes and interior and
exterior decorative mouldings. EPS has many uses outside of
the construction industry, including packaging for consumer
panded Polystyrene) state that EPS “can save up to 200 times
its own resource in thermal energy savings.”
Expanded polystyrene contains 98% air. It is manufactured by
steam-heating pentane gas to form closed cells of EPS. The
expanded bead can then be moulded into the desired shape
(boards of insulation, loose-fill bonded bead) and any leftover
material can be reused in the production of other EPS prod-
ucts.
The manufacture of EPS uses no CFCs or HCFCs. The pentane
gas used during the steam-heating process has a zero ozone
depletion potential and low global warming potential. EPS is
a lightweight material that, when compared to other products
in the construction industry, uses less energy in the transport
from plant to job site, again reducing its carbon footprint.
products and pharmaceuticals. According to APME, building
and insulation make up 70% of the EPS market, followed by
25% for packaging and 5% for all other applications.

4. Technical Features of Expanded Polystyrene
1. EASE OF USE
As EPS is made up of 98% air captured within a 2% cellular
matrix all KORE products are extremely lightweight and easy
to handle and install. On-site health and safety risks are signifi-
cantly reduced when using expanded polystyrene, especially
those associated with lifting heavy construction materials. In-
stallers require no special safety gear to handle EPS products
as the products leave no dust and are chemically inert.
Due to the light weight nature of the product, time-sensitive
projects will benefit from decreased load and fill times. In ad-
dition, EPS can but cut to desired shape on-site with no special
tools required.
2. STRENGTH
A report published by EUMEPS in its EPS briefing found that
strength tests performed on EPS that had been in the ground
for 30 years showed no loss of strength. For this exact rea-
son EPS has been used in many civil engineering applications
such as bridge and railway infrastructure. Creep deformation
(or cold flow) was found to be significantly less than predicted
with long-term exposure to sustained loading.
EPS is a strong material. A standard Cavity Wall KORE dou-
ble L passive slab ringbeam as part of the Passive Slab Insula-
tion Foundation System, for example, is typically designed to
take 7.2 tonnes per linear meter. Typical loads for a two- story
house built with standard concrete block work are 4.5 to 5.5
tonnes. The Passive Slab can be designed to handle larger
loads, if necessary. This strength does not diminish over time.
3. MOISTURE RESISTANCE
Expanded polystyrene is resistant to water. This means that
products made from EPS do not act as a food source for
mould growth and do not rot over time – helping to promote
a healthy building and living environment. Our condensation
risk analysis for each product group proves its performance in
regards to moisture resistance.
In addition, EUMEPS have found that 30-year-old samples of
EPS taken from locations close to groundwater level (200mm)
have less than 1% water content by volume. In fact, blocks that
have been totally submerged for a period of time show less
than 4% water content. Absorbed moisture has little notice-
able effect on compressive and flexural strength while retain-
ing 95%-97% thermal efficiency. Building regulations and de-
sign best practices should still be followed with the installation
of vapour and moisture barriers.
4. FIRE RESISTANCE
Expanded polystyrene is available in a fire-retardant grade that
limits the spread of fire when exposed to a flame. While EPS is
a combustible material, the specifications for installation itself
limit the exposure to a naked flame. EPS should be installed
to the exacting standards specified by the manufacturer to re-
duce risk (i.e. between cavity walls, under concrete screed and
underground). EPS insulation is generally only affected when
the surrounding materials fail to protect the product from ex-
posure to fire.
EPS is available in a fire retardant grade that is self-extinguish-
ing and a non fire-retardant grade depending on the needs of
the client.
5. SOUND PROOFING
It’s a fact that EPS absorbs sounds. When used as an insulating
material within walls EPS helps to limit outside noise coming
into the living environment and vice versa. When used be-
tween shared walls it helps to limit noise exposure from neigh-
bours and also works to absorb sound when used under floors.
Although not specifically made for soundproofing purposes, it
is an inherent benefit. Users may find soundproofing benefits
more apparent when used in combination with harder building
materials such as concrete.
6. LOW U-VALUES
EPS provides low U-values in every application. The product
can be used in partial fill cavity wall insulation, full fill cavi-
ty wall insulation, insulated foundation systems, floor insula-
tion, pitched roof insulation, insulated attic flooring systems
and external insulation. In addition to meeting all of the UK
and Ireland’s building regulations, EPS products can be used
to achieve the strict requirements when building to a passive
house standard.
Not only does EPS provide U-values in new build applications,
most EPS products can be used when retrofitting an existing
structure. KORE provides U-value calculations for typical appli-
cations and can provide custom U-value calculations specific
to your project.
7. COST
Insulating a new build with EPS typically costs 20% less when

5. Technical Features of Expanded Polystyrene
compared to other insulating materials such as mineral wool
and polyurethane. When using EPS in a foundation, typical
savings can be expected in the amount of labour required, the
amount of concrete needed to cover the foundation and the
requirement for only one waterproof membrane. Due to the
lightweight nature of the product, shipping costs and labour
are also reduced.
EPS can be used to insulate a building from top to bottom –
meaning the product can be sourced from one manufacturer
rather than having to purchase different varieties of insulation
dependent on the application, further helping to reduce costs.
8. CERTIFICATIONS
KORE EPS carries BBA Approval, NSAI Certification and is
manufactured at an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Assured Compa-
ny. Many of our products are Irish Agrement Board Certified,
including KORE Fill, KORE Floor, KORE ICF, KORE Key and
KORE Lock.
In addition to numerous certifications and accreditations,
KORE is a member of the National Insulation Association of
Ireland (NIAI), the Irish Concrete Federation and Insulated
Concrete Formwork Association of Ireland.

6. A Product of
The Green, Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan, Ireland