Penoplex comfort and the basis of difference

Penoplex Base is expanded polystyrene slabs produced using extrusion technology. It consists of forcing the foamed molten mass through molding nozzles. As a result, under the influence of temperature and high pressure, the material acquires a finely porous structure with small air cells isolated from each other.

The standard width of the base foam sheet is 600 mm, and the length is 1200 mm. Sheet thickness can be 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120 or 150 mm.

For what purposes is it better to buy thin Penoplex

The manufacturer produces extruded polystyrene Penoplex in two sizes: 1185 x 585 x 20 and 1200 x 600 x 20 cm. It is most advisable to use the slabs for:

implementation of atypical projects that require laying insulation of non-standard thickness: 70, 120 or 170 mm. Simply put, you can buy Penoplex 20 as an additional thermal insulation layer in a roofing pie, facade system, for installing heated floors, where you want to “increase” the standard extrusion thickness.
insulation of window slopes where the existing opening needs to be reduced. Thanks to the use of a thin layer of polystyrene, you will not only save on finishing materials, but also speed up the finishing process, reduce heat loss through windows, prevent condensation, and therefore protect your house from fungus and mold.

The difference between Penoplex Base and Penoplex Comfort

In 2015, which has been producing PENOPLEX thermal insulation boards from extruded polystyrene foam for more than 18 years, began production of new brands of Penoplex such as Osnova, Facade and others.
What is the difference between the Basic and Comfort modifications?

The main technical characteristics, such as thermal conductivity, vapor permeability and water absorption, are the same for Penoplex Comfort and Basics.

Only the compressive strength indicator has different values. For penoplex Comfort, this figure is 0.18 MPa, and for Basics - 0.20 MPa. This means that the penoplex Base is able to withstand more load, and accordingly is more rigid.

This is due to the fact that the Comfort penoplex was initially intended only for retail sales, and the Osnova modification is intended for professional construction.

In conclusion, we can say that Penoplex Base is a unique and effective insulation material suitable for most surfaces. It gained its popularity due to its high quality and excellent thermal insulation properties.

Other brands of extruded polystyrene foam

These brands are available to order. The price and other terms of delivery are agreed with the client.

All data on the sale of polystyrene foam presented on the website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a public offer.

ABOUT WHAT

Penoplex - thermal insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam. Let's look at the difference between a professional line and a line for individual construction.

Penoplex: The difference between professional thermal insulation and thermal insulation for individual construction

One of the leaders in the thermal insulation market is Russian, producing various types of insulation for use by professionals and private builders.

Types of Penoplex

For professional construction. The products are used for insulation of buildings for various purposes, for the construction of roads, railway tracks, and for laying pipelines;
For insulation of residential buildings.

Each type of thermal insulation has its own advantages, but the main advantages of the material are:

low level of thermal conductivity; complete absence of water absorption; high flexural and compressive strength; environmental friendliness; resistance to all types of biological influences (fungi, mold); durability.

Thermal insulation for professionals

Thermal insulation for professionals is used for insulation of production, industrial and transport facilities, warehouse complexes, etc. Product types:

"Penoplex Geo". Used to reduce heat loss in buried structures. Penoplex Geo should be purchased to protect structures from freezing when installing a wall-mounted garage. The material also helps reduce groundwater pressure on the foundation;

“Penoplex Osnova” is a universal material; it is used to insulate all elements of building structures. With its help, you can efficiently insulate the floor. If you do not have high load requirements, then it makes sense to buy Penoplex Basis. The price for Penoplex Basis is low.

"Penoplex Roofing" is intended for roofing work, thermal insulation of stylobates and parking lots. The advantages of the material, in connection with which it is worth choosing and buying Penoplex Roofing, are high flammability and compressive strength. It can be replaced with expanded polystyrene GEO or OSNOVA;

"Penoplex Slope" is used in cases where it is necessary to insulate inclined structures: insulate stringers, flights of stairs, etc. You can create a system for directing rainwater to water intakes using Penoplex Slope. The material will help reduce pressure on the structure;

"Penoplex Facade" is a material for thermal insulation of external walls of buildings. You should buy Penoplex Facade if you need to protect walls and basements from mechanical damage, moisture and temperature changes. Penoplex Facade also protects walls from deformation.

The Penoplex Roofing Slope system is needed in cases where it is necessary to create a slope for a flat roof. If you are installing a flat roof on a reinforced concrete base, you should purchase this particular material. It is also effectively used in reconstruction and repair. The use of professional-grade thermal insulation allows you to reduce the cost of heating objects, their maintenance and repair, and prevent the destruction of structural elements due to external influences.

Let's consider the pros and cons

Are you considering using eco-friendly insulation when building or renovating a private home? If yes, that's great! There are several types of insulation. Extruded polystyrene , or penoplex, is one of the most popular.

Advantages

advantages

Extremely low thermal conductivity coefficient . Only 0.032 W/(m×°K) - 22 times less than that of sand-lime brick.
Moisture resistance . The granules of Osnova products do not absorb water, so the performance characteristics remain normal.
Decent durability . The material holds its shape well and is difficult to damage or tear, which cannot be said about foam plastic.
High sound insulation . A nice bonus when there is a noisy highway outside the window, or the house is located in a densely populated area.
Ease of installation . tongue-and-groove locks on the edges of the sheets , so during installation you can do without adhesives.
Biostability . It is not destroyed by putrefactive bacteria and mold fungi.
Environmental friendliness . The thermal insulation contains no harmful substances. After installing it indoors, you won’t have to keep the windows wide open for a month.
Long life span . The manufacturer assures customers that the product will serve faithfully for at least 50 years.

Flaws

Penoplex Osnova thermal insulation also has disadvantages :

High flammability . The insulation belongs to class G4 , which means that its flue gases heat up to temperatures above 450 °C. Even if the polymer just starts to smolder, you will have to stay away from it.
Low vapor permeability . The walls will hardly “breathe”, and the windows will fog up, so you need to equip the room with a high-quality ventilation system.
Susceptibility to UV rays . The insulator is “afraid” of ultraviolet radiation. Under the influence of the sun, the structure of the granules quickly collapses . The solution is to coat the polystyrene with a finish.

The material is lightweight, making it easier to work with. You can cut the sheets using a regular painting knife .

FAQ

Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers related to PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation:

Using PENOPLEX indoors?

The molecules of polystyrene used in the production of PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms, so the material is completely environmentally friendly and safe for humans. Polystyrene, from which PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation is made, is also used for the manufacture of children's toys, disposable tableware, food packaging, medical products, etc. Items made of polystyrene surround us every day in everyday life: refrigerator parts, cocktail straws, egg packaging, yogurt jars and much, much more.

PENOPLEX ® is an environmentally friendly insulation material and does not contain small fibers, dust, phenol-formaldehyde resins, soot and slag. This material can be used as thermal insulation for internal and external insulation of building envelopes of residential, public, agricultural and industrial buildings and structures, as well as for external insulation during the construction of household water supply and sewerage facilities.

According to the results of the sanitary and epidemiological examination, the products of POLYSTYRENE FOAM EXTRUSION PENOPLEX, manufactured according to TU 5767-006-56925804-2007 and TU 5767-006-54349294-2014, meet the established requirements.

Do mice chew PENOPLEX ® and how to protect your home from rodents?

Conclusions based on the results obtained from a study of the attractiveness of extruded polystyrene foam for rodents:

Taking into account the results of biological tests, PENOPLEX ® can be exposed to rodents, but to a much lesser extent than other thermal insulation materials - only in cases where the thermal insulation is a barrier to food and water.

As for protection against rodents, in private housing construction the most widely used method is to protect thermal insulation, which is in the public domain for rodents, using a metal mesh with a mesh size of about 5 mm.

Sound insulation (sound insulation) PENOPLEX ®

Sound insulation of the partition (gypsum board 12.5 mm thick + PENOPLEX ® 50 mm thick) is 41 dB. Such a partition can be used as an interior partition in residential buildings of categories B and C (according to SNiP 23-03-2003).

The index for improving noise insulation in a floating floor structure when using a slab with a thickness of 20-30 mm will be 23 dB, which in most real cases ensures compliance with regulatory requirements for sound insulation.

Differences between PENOPLEX ® and non-pressed polystyrene foam (PSB)

PENOPLEX ® boards and expanded polystyrene (PSB) differ in their production technology. Pressless polystyrene foam is created by “steaming” microgranules with water vapor in a special form and expanding them under the influence of temperature. Thermal insulation PENOPLEX ® is made by mixing polystyrene granules at elevated temperature and pressure with the introduction of a foaming agent and subsequent extrusion from the extruder. That is why PENOPLEX ® expanded polystyrene is called extruded. Also, thanks to the production technology using this technology, PENOPLEX ® receives a closed, fine-porous structure, which in turn ensures high strength, almost zero water absorption, as a result - biostability and the highest durability of PENOPLEX ® boards. An important factor is also the lower thermal conductivity of PENOPLEX ® compared to pressless polystyrene foam (PSB), which makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the required thermal insulation by approximately 30%.

Which insulation to choose: PENOPLEX ® or mineral (stone) wool?

What is better PENOPLEX ® or mineral wool? This is a question that arises quite often among private developers. Each of these materials has its advantages. For example, PENOPLEX ® is practically indispensable in loaded structures and humid environments, while mineral wool performs better in sound insulation. In addition, some types of mineral wool have a lower price, but this advantage often disappears due to the low quality of such wool, which results in high shrinkage, as well as the need for greater thickness of thermal insulation.

PENOPLEX ® is distinguished from mineral wool by a number of characteristics:

lower thermal conductivity coefficient.
high compressive strength
absolute moisture resistance (PENOPLEX ® does not absorb water, due to which it retains its thermal insulation properties throughout its entire service life).
absolute biostability (PENOPLEX ® is not a matrix for the development of bacteria, mold and other microorganisms).
ease of installation (PENOPLEX ® does not require special protective equipment when working with it).

What is the density of PENOPLEX ®?

The density of PENOPLEX ® boards for private use ranges from 23 to 35 kg/m3. For the professional segment, this figure can reach up to 45 kg/m3. It is important to understand that the density of PENOPLEX ® is not a key factor in determining the scope of application of the material. A more important characteristic is compressive strength. The strength characteristics of PENOPLEX ® vary over a wider range. The minimum compressive strength at 10% deformation for PENOPLEX ® slabs is 0.12 MPa; such slabs are used for non-load-bearing structures (for example, for wall insulation). The slabs intended for insulating foundations have higher compressive strength values - 0.3 MPa, since it is these structures that bear the main loads from the building. PENOLEX ® grades intended for road construction and structures with increased loads can have a strength of 0.50 MPa and higher.

A wide range of characteristics allows the use of PENOPLEX ® slabs for insulation of almost any structures, both in cottage and low-rise buildings, as well as in industrial and civil construction.

What is the melting point of PENOPLEX?

The temperature range for use of PENOPLEX ® boards is in the range from -70 to +75 degrees Celsius, which allows the use of this material in any climatic zones.

At temperatures above 75 degrees Celsius, PENOPLEX ® can change its mechanical properties in the direction of reducing the strength of the material.

How many bricks does PENOPLEX ® replace?

If we compare materials in terms of thermal insulation properties, a PENOPLEX ® slab with a thickness of 50 mm (λ = 0.034 W/m2°C) will replace 1280 mm of masonry on a thermal insulating mortar made of solid single brick (λ = 0.82 W/m2°C). (According to GOST 530-2012 Ceramic brick and stone. General technical conditions. Table D.1 - Thermal characteristics of solid (conditional) masonry).

On average, in terms of thermal insulation properties, 1 cm of PENOPLEX ® replaces 25 cm of brickwork, but it should be remembered that for each individual type of brick (silicate, ceramic, clinker) this comparison will be different.

Technical characteristics of insulation

When choosing thermal insulation, you need to pay attention to 2 main technical characteristics:

Coefficient of thermal conductivity . The lower it is, the better, because the material is needed to retain heat inside the room, and not to “heat the street.”
Moisture absorption level . A low score is good. This means that the polymer does not absorb water and, as a result, lasts longer.

“ Penoplex Osnova ” differs from other types of insulation in its decent strength, long service life and structural stability. According to research results, insulation is 1.5 - 2 times higher than the energy efficiency of polystyrene foam and mineral wool.

PENOPLEX COMFORT® and PENOPLEX®WALL - what's the difference?

Each brand of PENOPLEX® thermal insulation has its own characteristics and its own area of application. Let's analyze the similarities and differences between PENOPLEX COMFORT® and PENOPLEX®WALL boards, and note their advantages over insulation from other brands.

PENOPLEX COMFORT® and PENOPLEX®WALL are made of extruded polystyrene foam, which is characterized by high heat-shielding properties (thermal conductivity coefficient not higher than 0.034 W/m∙K), zero water absorption, biostability, and durability of at least 50 years. The material has a wide temperature range of application and is resistant to temperature changes, including alternating ones.

PENOPLEX® does not contain chemically hazardous components. In the production of boards, the same grades of polystyrene are used as for the manufacture of children's toys, food packaging and medical products, and the most stringent sanitary standards are applied to materials for the food and medical industries. We also note that plastic processing waste is not used in its production; only virgin polystyrene is used.

PENOPLEX® is certified with a high degree of environmental safety. The slabs are painted orange, which symbolizes warmth and environmental friendliness.

These are the common features of the two insulation materials. PENOPLEX COMFORT® and PENOPLEX®WALL have the same technical characteristics, except for durability. PENOPLEX®WALL has slightly lower compressive strength, since this parameter is not important for products that are attached to the facade and will not experience compressive loads. The most important difference: in the texture of one flat surface. The PENOPLEX COMFORT® board has both smooth surfaces, while the PENOPLEX®WALL has one of the two surfaces rough.

Application of PENOPLEX®WALL boards

For structural reliability, double fastening of PENOPLEX® slabs to the insulated surface is usually practiced: with an adhesive composition and mechanically using a dowel system with self-tapping screws. Mechanical fastening can also be used on the other hand: for finishing materials, for example, siding. But there are types of finishes that cannot be secured with nails or screws. We are talking about plaster and tiles.

The process of constructing a wall with plaster finish is as follows. A layer of base plaster-adhesive composition is applied to the thermal insulation layer of PENOPLEX® slabs with a rough surface, reinforcing mesh is embedded into it, then, after drying, a façade primer is applied, and, finally, a finishing layer of decorative protective plaster. Therefore, for the reliability of such a plaster system, high adhesion (adhesion strength) of the insulation surface with the basic plaster and adhesive compositions is required. On the rough side of the PENOPLEX®WALL slab, this figure is, of course, significantly higher than on the smooth surface of PENOPLEX® slabs and the surfaces of other heat-insulating materials. In particular, it exceeds the adhesion of polystyrene foam by more than 1.5 times, and that of mineral wool by more than 2.5 times. It is important to note that the adhesive strength of the rough surface of PENOPLEX®WALL is 3 times higher than the standard value specified in the technical specifications for the use of adhesive compositions.

Thus, PENOPLEX®WALL slabs are intended for wall insulation followed by finishing with various types of plaster: cement, lime, lime-gypsum, cement-lime, polymer-cement, acrylic, etc. At the same time, PENOPLEX®WALL can be used both for external insulation with plastered wall, and internal with wall decoration with interior decorative plaster.

An example of a wall design with thermal insulation PENOPLEX®WALL and external finishing with plaster on a polymer mesh

From the smooth surface of PENOPLEX COMFORT® insulation, a layer of the base plaster-adhesive composition, polymer mesh, facade primer and decorative protective plaster may fall off over time due to insufficient adhesion.

Application of PENOPLEX COMFORT® boards

PENOPLEX COMFORT® is used where there is no need for a rough surface: for thermal insulation of balconies/loggias; heated floors (warm floor system) or pitched roofs. However, under certain conditions, PENOPLEX COMFORT® slabs can replace PENOPLEX®WALL slabs. The latter go on sale with a factory-quality rough surface. However, you can prepare the material for applying the plaster composition with your own hands. To do this, immediately before installation, notches are applied to PENOPLEX COMFORT® boards to improve adhesion. But it is better to buy a specialized plate that is prepared for plastering work in a factory.

How to attach

Where to buy PENOPLEX® thermal insulation?

is a manufacturer of thermal insulation; distributors sell products. On the website, in the “Where to buy” section, you can select: country, city, partner status and select the supplier closest to you. You can also order PENOPLEX® products in the online store

How to attach PENOPLEX® thermal insulation?

The method of fastening PENOPLEX® directly depends on the structure in which thermal insulation is used.

— When insulating structures located below ground level, such as foundations, plinths, blind areas, preliminary adhesive fixation and weighting using backfilling of soil is sufficient.

— When thermally insulating a floor under a screed, PENOPLEX®, in principle, does not require any fastening.

— As for the walls, preliminary adhesive is required, as well as mandatory mechanical fixation, for which disc-shaped dowels are usually used. In some special cases, mechanical fixation of PENOPLEX® slabs using lathing is possible.

Basic recommendations for installing PENOPLEX® boards with PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® glue

1. It is advisable to make notches on the surface of the slab or process it so that it becomes rough.

2. Special PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® adhesive is intended for installation of PENOPLEX® thermal insulation. Recommended method of application: in even stripes around the perimeter at a distance of 1-3 cm from the edge and along the slab in the middle.

3. To attach PENOPLEX to the facade, in addition to adhesive, it is necessary to also use mechanical fixation.

Basic recommendations for installing PENOPLEX® slabs on dowels

1. To ensure good thermal insulation ability, disc dowels made of synthetic materials with low thermal conductivity are used in the facade system, which prevent the formation of cold bridges.

2. As a spacer element for disc dowels, driven or screw-in spacers made of galvanized or stainless steel with a thermally insulating plastic head are used, which minimizes heat loss.

3. The hole for the dowel is drilled 10-15 mm deeper than the driven part of the dowel itself.

4. If the base consists of heavy concrete, then the minimum length of the spacer part of the dowel entering the wall should be 45 mm. In solid brick masonry, the depth of fixing the dowel is 60-70 mm, in hollow brick masonry - 80-90 mm. In bases made of foam or gas silicate blocks, it is required to fasten to a depth of at least 100 or 120 mm (with a dowel diameter of 8 and 10 mm, respectively).

5. If PENOPLEX® thermal insulation is attached to a waterproofing layer, then it is necessary to use weld-on fasteners instead of dowels.

How does PENOPLEX BASE® differ from PENOPLEX COMFORT®?

The main differences between PENOPLEX® materials are in different areas of application. Thermal insulation PENOPLEX OSNOVA® is used at industrial and civil construction sites.

PENOPLEX COMFORT® slabs are intended for private housing construction. They are used for insulation of country houses or city apartments in structures where special load requirements are not imposed. PENOPLEX COMFORT® boards can be purchased at hardware stores.

Does PENOPLEX® burn? What is its flammability class?

The PENOPLEX® material has a flammability group of G4. At the same time, many design solutions developed using PENOPLEX® thermal insulation have a fire hazard class of K0.

Design solutions indicating the fire hazard class can be found at RAPEX STO:

Technical solutions for roofing systems are separately described at the link on the website:

How to insulate a loggia/balcony?

The basic principles and recommendations for insulating balconies and loggias can be found by following the link:

What thickness of PENOPLEX® should I choose?

The thickness of the insulation is a very important parameter that must be calculated based on the region in which the work is being carried out, the purpose of the object (residential building or outbuilding), as well as the existing materials of the enclosing structure.

All these values can be taken into account in our calculator on the website and find out the required minimum value of thermal insulation thickness for your case. In addition, the calculator allows you to make an aggregate calculation of the total number of slabs.

How to buy PENOPLEX® 35?

How many slabs does PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® adhesive last for?

One bottle of PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® glue is enough for 100 linear meters of seam. We recommend applying PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® adhesive in one strip in the middle of the slab and along its perimeter, at a distance of 1-3 cm from the edge. With this method of application, one cylinder of PENOPLEX® FASTFIX® is enough for gluing up to 10 m2 of PENOPLEX® boards.

What is the volume of packaging, what is the volume of slabs?

In the “Catalogue” section of our website you can find data on the filling and occupied volume of packaging of slabs of all brands of PENOPLEX®.

Where can I find the price? What is the price?

is a manufacturer, we work through a network of regional dealers, the list of which is located at the link: “Where to buy”

You can also check prices and order PENOPLEX® products on the official online store

Features: advantages and disadvantages

Previously, such insulation was called “Penoplex 31 C”. The high technical characteristics of this material are largely determined by its cellular structure. Cells ranging in size from 0.1 to 0.2 mm are evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of the product. This distribution gives strength and a high level of thermal insulation. The material practically does not absorb moisture, and its vapor permeability is 0.013 Mg/ (m*h*Pa).

The insulation manufacturing technology is based on the fact that polystyrene foams, enriched with inert gas. After this, the building material is passed under pressure through specialized press nozzles. The slabs are manufactured with clear geometry parameters. For comfortable joining, the edge of the slab is made in the shape of the letter G. The insulation does not contain harmful substances, so the material can be installed without using protective equipment.

Specifications:

thermal conductivity index – 0.03 W/ (m*K);
density – 25.0-35.0 kg/m3;
long service life - more than 50 years;
operating temperature range – from -50 to +75 degrees;
fire resistance of the product;
high compression rate;
standard dimensions: 1200 (1185) x 600 (585) x 20,30,40,50,60,80,100 mm (for internal thermal insulation of a room, slabs with thickness parameters from 2 to 10 cm are used, for external finishing - 8-12 cm, for roofing – 4-6 cm);
sound absorption – 41 dB.

Slab sizes

Extruded insulation is available in the form of slabs of standard parameters, which are easy to install and also easy to cut to the required size.

50x600x1200 mm – 7 slabs per package;
1185x585x50 mm – 7 slabs per package;
1185x585x100 mm – 4 slabs per package;
1200x600x50 mm – 7 slabs per package;
1185x585x30 mm – 12 slabs per package.

Where is it used?

The performance qualities of Comfort penoplex allow it to be used not only in a city apartment, but also in a private house. If you compare insulation with other building materials, you can notice significant differences. Similar insulating products have a narrower specialization of application: thermal insulation of walls or roofs.

Penoplex "Comfort" is a universal insulation material that is used for thermal insulation of balconies, foundations, roofs, ceiling structures, walls and floors. The insulation is also perfect for thermal insulation of baths, swimming pools, and saunas. Penoplex Comfort insulation is used for both internal and external construction work.

Almost any surface can be finished with Comfort insulating material: wood, concrete, brick, foam block, soil.

Installation Tips

Insulation of external walls

Preparatory work. It is necessary to prepare the walls, clean them of various contaminants (dust, dirt, old coating). Experts recommend leveling the walls with plaster and treating them with an antifungal agent.
The insulation board is glued using an adhesive solution onto a dry wall surface. The adhesive solution is applied to the surface of the slab.
Mechanical fastening of the slabs is carried out using dowels (4 pieces per 1 m2). In those places where windows, doorways and corners are located, the number of dowels increases (6-8 pieces per 1 m2).
A plaster mixture is applied on top of the insulating board. For better adhesion of the plaster mixture and insulating material, it is necessary to make the surface slightly rough and corrugated.
Plaster can be replaced by finishing with siding or wood.

If it is impossible to provide thermal insulation from the outside, then the insulation is installed indoors. Installation is carried out in a similar way, but a vapor barrier is placed on top of the insulating material. Foil-coated polyethylene film is suitable for this purpose. Next, they install the gypsum boards, onto which wallpaper can be glued in the future.

In the same way, work on insulating balconies and loggias is carried out. The joints of the plates are glued with special tape. After installing the vapor barrier layer, the joints are also taped, creating a kind of thermos.

Insulation of floors with Comfort penoplex under screed may vary in different rooms. The rooms located above the basements have a colder floor, so thermal insulation will require a larger number of insulating layers.

Preparatory work. The floor surface is cleaned of various contaminants. If there are cracks, they are sealed. The surface should be perfectly flat.
The prepared floors are treated with a primer mixture.
For those rooms that are located above the basement, it is necessary to perform waterproofing. A mounting tape is glued along the perimeter of the room at the bottom of the walls, which compensates for the thermal expansion of the floor screed.
If there are pipes or cables on the floor, a layer of insulation is first laid. After that, a groove is made in the slab, in which communication elements will be located in the future.
When the insulation boards are laid, it is necessary to install reinforced polyethylene film on top of the layer. This is necessary to protect the insulating material from moisture.
A reinforcing mesh is laid on top of the waterproofing layer.

Insulation technology

Penoplex Base is excellent for insulating both floors and walls.

Insulation of a wooden floor with joists

Firstly, all damaged areas on the boards and joists are replaced.
Next, all wooden surfaces are impregnated with antiseptic agents to prevent rotting. Recesses and cracks found on the boards must be filled with special wood putty. Next, all wood surfaces are primed. After the primer has dried, the installation of insulation sheets begins. They are cut according to the distance between the joists and the length of the room and placed on boards.

The joints between the foam boards should remain as tight as possible; they are additionally secured with construction tape. Next, sheets of vapor barrier material are laid overlapping on the foam boards. Boards, plywood or chipboard are attached to the vapor barrier layer. The final stage is the installation of flooring (linoleum, laminate, parquet).

Floor insulation when laid on the ground

When insulating floors in a house with a pile or strip foundation, the method of laying insulating material on the ground is used. First, you need to level the layer of earth and then compact it.

Next, crushed stone and gravel are poured onto the ground. Sand is then poured in and compacted. Penoplex sheets are laid on the sand “pillow”, starting from the corner, pressing tightly.

To protect against moisture penetration, a waterproofing membrane is laid on the foam sheets so that its edges extend 10-15 cm up the wall.

To strengthen the structure, the screed is reinforced with metal mesh. Next, a cement-sand mixture is used for the screed, which is poured over the mesh. Finally, after the cement layer has completely dried, linoleum is laid on it or laminate or parquet is laid.

Insulating the floor under the screed

When using this method of insulation, it is recommended to choose the Foundation modification of penoplex.

Insulation of walls from the inside

Penoplex Base is often used when insulating the internal walls of a house. Firstly, the walls are cleaned of the old coating and a layer of primer is applied. Next, they begin to attach the foam sheets to the walls.

First, the underside of the base foam sheet is passed with a needle roller to ensure better adhesion. Next, an adhesive layer is applied to the sheet, the sheet is applied to the wall surface and held for half a minute.

Gluing begins from the bottom corner, then moving up and to the side. The glued foam sheets are additionally fixed with plastic dowels with an umbrella cap. After the glue has dried, use foam to fill the gaps between the sheets.

Important: recesses more than a centimeter wide must be filled with scraps of foam sheets.

At the next stage, the fiberglass plaster mesh is attached with glue or using dowels. Next, a leveling layer of plaster is applied, and then a finishing layer of putty. Finally, the surface is painted or wallpaper is glued to it.

Insulation of external walls

When insulating the walls of buildings and structures from the outside, it is recommended to use Penoplex Facade, which contains special flame retardant substances to reduce the risk of fire.

The main criterion for choosing insulation

Insulation is selected according to its heat-protective ability. This property is quantitatively expressed in thermal conductivity, which shows how much thermal energy per second will be released from the room by one meter thick insulation when the temperature difference between inside and outside is one degree. Extruded polystyrene foam, from which PENOPLEX ® slabs of all brands are made, has low thermal conductivity: from 0.029 to 0.034 W/m•K. In this, the material is superior to other widely used thermal insulators - mineral wool and polystyrene foam, whose thermal conductivity, respectively, fluctuates in the ranges of 0.037–0.055 and 0.041–0.059 W/m•K. Thus, to create the same temperature conditions in a room, a layer of thermal insulation made of mineral wool or polystyrene foam will need to be 30–70% thicker than PENOPLEX ® slabs. Useful space is saved.

How much does 2 cm of foam replace?

In order not to bother with calculations, there is an approximate ratio for replacing building stone with polystyrene foam. It is possible to replace a 370 mm brick wall with a 2 cm thick foam block.

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Stability is a sign of class

PENOPLEX ® boards of all brands are durable. The service life of extruded polystyrene foam, according to test results at the Research Institute of Construction Physics, is at least 50 years. During all this time, the material stably retains its heat-protective properties due to zero water absorption. Water has a higher thermal conductivity than insulation and impairs the thermal insulation properties of non-moisture resistant materials, including fibrous mineral wool and granular foam.

Zero water absorption of PENOPLEX ® also deprives the source of life for bacteria, fungus, mold and other harmful microorganisms, for which this material, moreover, is of no interest as a food product. Thus, PENOPLEX ® is characterized by absolute biostability, which is confirmed by tests in mycological centers.

PENOPLEX® for individual housing construction - thermal insulation of great potential

As an advertisement
For the construction of large objects for various purposes, as well as the construction of small private houses and renovation of apartments, PENOPLEX ® slabs of various brands are widely used today.

Thermal insulation capabilities are determined, first of all, by the heat-shielding ability, which is quantitatively expressed by the thermal conductivity coefficient. The smaller it is, i.e., the worse the material conducts heat, the better it retains it in the insulated room. Among modern insulation materials, this indicator is the lowest for PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation boards made of extruded polystyrene foam. The thermal conductivity coefficient of this material does not exceed 0.034 W/m∙K. Other most common insulation materials have a higher thermal conductivity coefficient. For mineral wool, it ranges from 0.037 to 0.055 W/m∙K, for foam plastic (more precisely, non-pressed polystyrene foam) - 0.036–0.059 W/m∙K.

Thermal protection using PENOPLEX ® is not only effective from the point of view of thermal engineering, but also reliable in design. The edge of the plates is L-shaped, which ensures their tight joining and the creation of a continuous heat-protective contour without voids. This is not possible for structures with mineral wool, which settles over time, forming cold bridges.

PENOPLEX ® also surpasses its closest competitors in strength. Its compressive strength at 10% deformation is at least 15 t/m2, and the strongest slabs, which are used in the construction of airfields, can withstand loads of up to 70 tons per m2. For the most durable mineral wool insulation, this figure will not be higher than 7 t/m2, for polystyrene foam - up to 15 t/m2.

An important advantage of PENOPLEX ® is zero water absorption. Water conducts heat well, and insulation that can absorb moisture loses its heat-protective properties over time. This happens with fibrous mineral wool and granular foam.

In addition, PENOPLEX ® does not pose any harm to human health; the material is certified with a high degree of environmental safety. The raw material for its production is general-purpose polystyrene of the same grades that are used to make food and medical packaging, as well as children's toys. In the production of PENOPLEX ® boards, no waste from plastic processing is used; the material does not contain components harmful to health, such as soot, dust, slag, phenol-formaldehyde resins, and small fibers. The latter create many problems in the process of insulating a house with mineral wool - they irritate the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract. Therefore, when working with mineral wool insulation, it is necessary to wear safety glasses, gloves and a respirator. When installing PENOPLEX ®, such precautions are not needed; moreover, it is convenient for cutting and does not require complex tools - it can be cut with an ordinary construction knife.

During operation, PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation will never be a breeding ground for fungus, mold and other unwanted microorganisms. The biostability of the material has been proven through special tests in mycological centers. And in the laboratories of the Research Institute of Building Physics, tests were carried out that made it possible to determine its minimum service life - 50 years.

All brands of PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation have these advantages, including three brands offered by the manufacturer for use in individual housing construction:

Each of them has its own area of application, partly reflected in the name.

Safety first

There are no toxic components in the composition of PENOPLEX ® boards. In their production, the same grades of polystyrene are used as for the manufacture of children's toys, food packaging and medical products. Materials for the food and medical industries are subject to strict sanitary standards. Consequently, PENOPLEX ® does not pose a danger to human health. We also note that plastic processing waste is not used in its production; only virgin polystyrene is used.

PENOPLEX ® is certified with a high degree of environmental safety. The slabs are painted orange, which symbolizes warmth and environmental friendliness.

A guarantee of high quality construction

PENOPLEX ® is stronger than other common heat insulators. Its compressive strength at 10% deformation is at least 15 t/m2. For the strongest mineral wool this figure does not exceed 7 t/m2, for polystyrene foam - 4.5 t/m2, which is why it is never installed on the roof.

Reliability is also important in construction. PENOPLEX ® has an L-shaped edge, which allows the boards to be tightly joined and thereby create a continuous heat-protective contour without cold bridges. This geometry, combined with the homogeneous structure of the material, distinguishes it favorably from mineral wool, which settles over time and voids form in the heat-protective system.

Soil requirements

The vegetable is very demanding on soil fertility, moisture and acidity. He does not like clayey, sandy, wetlands. Grows well in soil with a neutral and slightly acidic reaction within the range of 6.2-7.5 pH.

Preparing the site before sowing seeds requires completely clearing the ground of weeds. After 2 weeks, repeat weeding the newly grown grass. Continuous herbicides will help clear the area of perennials. They should be used in the fall, after harvesting.

Deep plowing and loosening of the subsoil layer are carried out on the cleared plot of land. In the fall, when digging, add organic fertilizers (compost) and wood ash. In the spring, before planting, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are added to the soil.

Application Limit

Features of the use of PENOPLEX COMFORT ® and PENOPLEX ® WALL are contained in their names. The first involves creating comfort, the second is intended for thermal insulation of wall structures. Let's consider the areas of application of these two products recommended by the company.

The scope of application of PENOPLEX COMFORT ® is as follows:

- insulation of apartment walls;

— thermal insulation of heated floors is allowed ("warm floor" system);

— thermal insulation of pitched roofs.

The first item on the list of areas of responsibility for PENOPLEX COMFORT ® are walls, which can be confusing. To prevent this from happening, let's look at the similarities and differences between the two brands.

They have the same technical characteristics. They differ from each other only in the texture of one flat surface. The PENOPLEX COMFORT ® slab has both smooth surfaces, while the PENOPLEX ® WALL has one rough surface, which is achieved by factory milling. Why process a smooth surface and thereby increase the cost of the product? Where is it appropriate to use it?

Rough nuance

This is advisable where a rough surface is indispensable. PENOPLEX ® WALL slabs are used for thermal insulation of walls with finishing without mechanical fastening. In other words, where the finishing material cannot be attached using nails or dowels with self-tapping screws, but you have to rely only on adhesive forces (adhesion). We are talking about finishing with plaster and tiles.

Let us remind you that the plaster system is erected as follows. A layer of base plaster-adhesive composition is applied to the heat-insulating layer of PENOPLEX ® slabs with a rough surface, reinforcing mesh is embedded into it, then, after drying, a facade primer is applied and, finally, a finishing layer of decorative and protective plaster. Therefore, for the reliability of such a plaster system, high adhesion (adhesion strength) of the insulation surface with the basic plaster and adhesive compositions is required. On the rough side of the PENOPLEX ® WALL slab, this figure is, of course, significantly higher than on the smooth surface of PENOPLEX ® slabs and the surfaces of other heat-insulating materials. In particular, it exceeds the adhesion of polystyrene foam by more than 1.5 times, and that of mineral wool by more than 2.5 times. It is important to note that the adhesive strength of the rough surface of PENOPLEX ® WALL is 3 times higher than the standard value specified in the technical specifications for the use of adhesive compositions.

Thus, PENOPLEX ® WALL slabs are intended for wall insulation with subsequent finishing with various types of plaster: cement, lime, lime-gypsum, cement-lime, polymer-cement, acrylic, etc. At the same time, PENOPLEX ® WALL can be used both for external insulation with plastered wall, and internal with wall decoration with interior decorative plaster.

An example of a wall design with thermal insulation PENOPLEX ® WALL and external finishing with plaster on a polymer mesh.

PENOPLEX ® WALL is a highly specialized insulation, in contrast to PENOPLEX COMFORT ®, which can be called a wide-profile insulation.

Concluding the story about the differences between the brands PENOPLEX COMFORT ® and PENOPLEX ® WALL, we note another important possibility of using thermal insulation. PENOPLEX ® WALL slabs go on sale with a factory-quality rough surface. However, you can prepare the slab for applying the plaster composition yourself. To do this, immediately before installation, notches are applied to PENOPLEX COMFORT ® boards to improve adhesion. But it is more advisable to purchase specialized PENOPLEX ® WALL boards, which are prepared for plastering work in the factory.