In private houses with sealed double-glazed windows and modern doors, the main heat loss in winter occurs through the building envelope. Most of the building materials used to build, for example, walls, are unfortunately unable to provide complete insulation of the interior from the cold in the Russian climate. In order for the enclosing structures made of brick, concrete, foam concrete to reliably retain heat in the house, they must be made either too thick or insulated.
The last method of isolation is, of course, much simpler and cheaper. Various materials can be used as a heater for building envelopes. For example, quite often modern foam boards of 50 mm are used for this purpose. The dimensions of such material are very convenient, and therefore it is easy to install it. Insulates penoplex walls, floors, ceilings, etc. very effectively.
What is
Purely outwardly, foam plastic resembles an ordinary foam plastic well known to many. Howeversuch plates have a higher density, are more expensive and can serve as a heater for much longer. Penoplex is much more resistant to ultraviolet and other adverse environmental factors.
Modern industry produces many varieties of penoplex, differing in technical characteristics. One of the most popular types of this material are sheets of 50 mm. Penoplex dimensions of this thickness are standard, weigh a little, and therefore are very convenient to use, transport and store. The scope of its application is very wide.
How do they do it?
This material is manufactured at enterprises from polystyrene granules using various additives that ultimately improve its performance. The feedstock in the production of foam plastic is preliminarily exposed to high temperatures under high pressure. Next, a special catalyst for foaming is poured into the mass. Then substances are added to the foam that increase its fire-resistant properties, the ability to resist ultraviolet radiation, etc.
Sheet sizes
All foam used in construction has standard dimensions. Due to this, it is very convenient to use it for sheathing enclosing structures and make preliminary calculations of its required amount.
Dimensions foam 50 mm, supplied to the modern market, in most cases has 60x120 mm. It is these sheets that are most common and in demand among private developers.
Many owners of country houses who decide to insulate their building envelope are also interested in how much 50-mm foam plastic in pieces manufacturers put in a package. Depending on the variety, such plates can be sold simultaneously in 7-8 pieces. Sheathe using material from one package, so you can 4.85 or 5.55 square meters of insulated surfaces.
Such sheets are widely used both in private and industrial construction. In the latter case, 50 mm foam boards 60x240 mm in size can sometimes also be used. Of course, it is more convenient to sheathe walls and foundations of high-rise buildings with such sheets.
This material is sold in absolutely all building supermarkets. It is relatively inexpensive. The price for a 50 mm foam pack is about 1500 rubles.
Scope of use and main varieties
Most often, penoplex is used in private housing construction. Walls, ceilings, roof slopes can be sheathed in country houses using this material. Very often penoplex is also used for floor insulation in houses, garages, outbuildings. Of course, this material can also be used to insulate foundations, basements and even garden paths.
In private housing construction, the following types of foam are most often used:
- "Comfort" - universal sheets with a density of 26 kg/m3. This foam can be used for insulation of floors, plinths, walls, roofs, etc.d. absolutely any buildings.
- "Foundation" with a density of 30 kg/m3. This variety is designed to insulate heavily loaded structures, including plinths and garden paths.
- "Wall" with a density of 26 kg/m3. This penoplex is designed specifically for the insulation of walls and partitions. Slabs of this variety with a thickness of 50 mm protect the interior of the house from the cold as effectively as brickwork with a thickness of 930 mm.
In professional construction, for example, such types of foam can be used:
- "45" with a density of 45 kg/m3. This material is capable of withstanding a load of 50 t/m2 and is used for insulation of roads and railways, as well as airport runways. A variety of penoplex is the most expensive.
- "Geo", capable of withstanding a load of 30 kg/m3. Such penoplex is used to insulate the foundations of high-rise buildings, floors in public buildings, etc.
Main technical characteristics of foam 50 mm
Different types of this material mainly only in density. Otherwise, their specifications are similar:
- working temperature of operation - from -50 С to +75 °С;
- moisture absorption coefficient - 0.4% per day;
- vapor permeability - 0.007 Mg/mhPa;
- burning temperature - 450 °С;
- ultimatebending - 0.4 MPa.
The thermal conductivity coefficient of foam 50 mm, depending on the variety, can vary between 0.030-0.032 W / mK. In accordance with GOST 30402, in terms of combustibility, foam plastic belongs to class B, that is, it is a moderately flammable material.
What contact is allowed?
Plus foam 50 mm insulation, among other things, is that it is resistant to various kinds of paints, mortars, acids and alkalis. For example, such plates are not destroyed by contact with butane, ammonia, animal and vegetable fats, alcohol and water-based paints.
Penoplex material is resistant to various kinds of chemicals. However, some of these substances can still have a negative effect on it. These include, for example:
- gasoline and kerosene;
- tar;
- oil paint;
- epoxy;
- acetone and xylene;
- formaldehyde;
- toluene;
- formalin;
- diethyl alcohol.
What consumers think of the material: positive feedback
Technical characteristics foam 50 mm is very good. Accordingly, the owners of country houses have a good opinion about this heater. Consumers attribute the advantages of penoplex, first of all, to its very low degree of thermal conductivity. Worth thisthe material is somewhat more expensive than the same mineral wool. But it also insulates building envelopes a little better.
Consumers consider this material to be especially suitable for covering ceilings, as well as loggias. Very effectively, as the owners of country houses note, such slabs also insulate walls or floors. However, in both of these cases, many consumers advise laying them in at least 2 layers with offset seams. With this technology, thermal bridges can be easily eliminated and the insulation can be made more effective.
The advantages of penoplex include the relative ease of installation of the owners of country houses. Installing such plates is somewhat more difficult than mineral wool. However, if necessary, it will not be difficult to mount penoplex, including with your own hands. Such sheets are attached to various kinds of surfaces with special glue and dowels with large heads.
Are there any negative reviews about foam 50 mm
Some disadvantage of this material, consumers consider mainly only its rather high cost. The price of this type of insulation is higher than mineral wool. Also, the disadvantages of penoplex include its low degree of vapor permeability. This material can be used mainly only for sheathing building envelopes from the side of the street.
Another disadvantage of penoplex consumers consider that in it, as in foam plastic, mouse passages and nests are very often arranged. In houses withrodents, this material for cladding walls, floors and ceilings, respectively, usually has to be used only in combination with a metal mesh with a small cell size. Many owners of such private buildings are also advised to use mineral wool rather than foam for their insulation.
