Pros and cons of using penoplex for insulation. Is it true that foam insulation is harmful to health?

Is polystyrene foam harmful or not to human health?

What insulation should you use to avoid turning your home into a time bomb? After all, any thermal insulation material, with the exception of moss or flax, which is used to insulate wooden log houses, is a synthetic material, which means it contains toxic substances that are potentially dangerous and can harm human health. Particular discussions among users are caused by such questions as “is polystyrene foam harmful as insulation indoors” and “does the harm of extruded polystyrene foam exceed the harm caused by compressed polystyrene foam (ordinary polystyrene)”?

Is the buyer doing the right thing by giving preference to such an easy-to-use, relatively cheap and popular polystyrene foam?

It is dangerous for health to insulate a balcony from the inside with polystyrene foam

Is it burning or not?

There is no doubt that modern insulating materials are susceptible to combustion. Consequently, there is a certain harmfulness of penoplex to the body during the combustion of this insulation. This releases carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide, which poses a danger to humans. Ordinary solid fuel stoves in rural areas are just as dangerous, because in the absence of draft, carbon monoxide can cause death or severe poisoning. When using insulation in the middle of a brickwork or outside, strengthening it on the walls, there is no need to talk about the health hazards of penoplex insulation, since the question: “Is penoplex harmful when burned?” It can be stated with full responsibility that burning penoplex is harmful, just like wood, MDF boards, and window structures. The statement that penoplex is harmful to the body, since when it burns, hydrocyanic acid and phosgene are released, is not true.

Is extruded polystyrene foam harmful to people?

We suggest you find out whether extruded polystyrene foam is harmful to human health? To do this, let’s break down the composition of the material into its components and consider the main dangerous component – styrene.

Styrene – 0.05%. This figure is tens of times less than what is allowed by sanitary standards for residential premises in the Russian Federation. At the same time, the maximum permissible concentration of styrene in the EU countries is at the level of 0.002 mg/m3. But, do not forget that styrene tends to accumulate in the body. It demonstrates a cumulative effect (concentration increases 600 times over 20 years). And styrene is released already at a temperature of 25°C.

The damage to polystyrene foam when exposed to high temperatures is another important aspect. In this case, toxic substances are released: vapors of styrene, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and soot. In this case, the combustion temperature of styrene is 1100°C. At this temperature, even metal melts, which leads to the destruction of the building.

Time is another indicator. The decomposition period of expanded polystyrene is more than a century. During intensive use (20-25 years), its harm to health increases. After all, during this time, about 60% of the decomposed styrene is released.

Oxygen, upon interaction with which formaldehyde and benzaldehyde are formed.

Why is styrene harmful?

phenylethylene (styrene) accumulates in the liver and is not excreted from the body;

adversely affects the functioning of the heart;

exposure to styrene is critical for pregnant women, in particular for the fetus;

entails irritation of the mucous membranes and respiratory tract.

Extruded polystyrene foam: harm or environmental friendliness

Advantages of thermal insulation material

The superiority of polystyrene foam is its cost, which will not be the last thing when deciding on the choice of material. Compared to many other heat insulators, it is the most advantageous when used from an economic point of view. Especially if you compare its undeniable advantages and compare them with its price. At the same time, polystyrene foam is a durable and elastic material, which greatly simplifies the installation process. Thus, the heat insulator is given any shape when cutting it without the help of special tools. To do this, it is enough to use a simple saw or an ordinary knife.

Comparison of thicknesses of different materials with the same heat transfer resistance.

This material is not radioactive and non-toxic. It contains no toxic fibers. For these reasons, working with it does not pose a certain risk to human health. Expanded polystyrene can be handled during transportation, installation, operation and dismantling without the use of additional protective equipment. Touching this type of building material cannot cause irritation. The material is safe for the eyes and respiratory tract of humans or animals.

When working with the material, it is not necessary to use any protective equipment, that is, gloves, special safety glasses, special clothing, masks that provide oxygen. Thermal insulator is widely used in transport, civil, and industrial construction. Over the entire period of operation of the material, it has undergone various changes in its composition and structure. At the same time, the useful properties of the heat insulator were improved, and unnecessary ones were no longer available.

Where is it safe to use polystyrene foam?

in places where there are no potential sources of fire;
in non-residential premises;
use for external insulation of the base, foundation, insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam from the outside.

As you can see, insulation inside the house is unacceptable, and polystyrene foam installed under the slate will not cause harm only if it is installed in a non-residential attic with good ventilation.

Let us note once again, answering the question of whether polystyrene foam is harmful indoors, it is not the styrene itself that is harmful, but its concentration. Expanded polystyrene is a completely safe decor, but is not recommended as insulation for residential premises.

Flammability of penoplex

The popularity of penoplex for insulation is increasing every year.

The main question remains: does penoplex burn? In production, polystyrene foam is used as the main raw material, which is resistant to fire. This was reflected in the characteristics of penoplex.

What flammability class does penoplex belong to?

The manufacturer produces several lines of insulation, each of which has different fire resistance. The flammability class is indicated on the packaging of the material. Penoplex can be found with characteristics G1-G4. Most types of penoplex belong to the G3-G4 class. By adding antiprenes, the manufacturer managed to reduce flammability.

Is penoplex dangerous in a fire?

Previously, extruded polystyrene foam emitted harmful smoke when burned, which had a negative impact on health.

Modern production technologies have made it possible to improve the structure of thermal insulation material, due to which, when exposed to fire, it emits only carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide, such as wood.

Is penoplex flammable or not?

Like other insulation materials, penoplex has pros and cons, one of which is the material’s exposure to fire. There are disputes between experts and manufacturers on this matter. The insulation burns when exposed to direct flame. It does not contribute to the spread of fire, since with indirect influence it does not burn, but smolders. Penoplex ignition occurs extremely rarely, and in minor fires self-extinguishing is possible.

Briefly about the main thing

Penoplex is a new material for insulation. Its main differences are strength, durability, resistance to various temperatures and exposure to water.

The main disadvantages of insulation are its high price, the likelihood of mice appearing inside it, and high flammability. Penoplex belongs to the flammability groups G3 and G4.

Despite the large number of myths, penoplex is safe and does not harm humans in any way during operation. Only products from well-known manufacturers that have passed the necessary tests and received certificates are distinguished by high quality.

In case of fire, sheets can release harmful substances. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to treat them with special solutions.

Sequence of work

To insulate the joints you will need polyurethane foam.
Thermal insulation of a house, garage or bathhouse is an objective necessity. After installing the insulation, heating costs are reduced, and the room temperature remains stable. Placing the heat insulator outside avoids condensation, problems with dampness and reduced space.

It is not always possible to insulate a panel or frame house from the outside. Residents have to insulate the walls of the house from the inside with penoplex. The material's properties are suitable for interior work. To complete the work, you can hire builders or install the slabs and finish the apartment yourself.

Preparatory activities

At the preparation stage, the necessary materials are purchased. To complete the work you will need:

Penoplex slabs in the calculated quantity, plus a small margin for trimming.
A special adhesive composition for extruded polystyrene foam, sold in the form of a dry mixture.
Construction film for insulating joints between slabs.
Reinforcing fiberglass mesh for plaster.
Plastic disc-shaped dowels for fixing the insulation - 5 pieces per slab.
Dry plaster mixture.
Finishing materials – plasterboard, lining.

When thermally insulating concrete and brick walls, a vapor barrier is required. For high-quality surface preparation, a primer is purchased. If finishing with plasterboard sheets is provided, you need to buy wooden slats or a metal profile to assemble the frame.

Tools

Tools for work

What is it and where is penoplex used?

Penoplex (“Penoplex”) is a large company that produces construction and finishing materials. The company also produces extruded (melted in a high-pressure oven) expanded polystyrene (EPS, XRS) or penoplex. This is a thermal insulation material that has excellent thermal characteristics. A sheet of material just 2 cm thick retains as much heat as a 20 cm thick wooden wall, 27 cm thick foam concrete or 37 cm thick brick wall.

Compared to foamed polystyrene (foam), penoplex has a higher density, so it better withstands mechanical loads. The material has low moisture permeability and almost does not conduct steam.

Penoplex is used when resistance to stress and low vapor permeability are important. It is used:

For insulation of floors, facades, internal walls, non-residential basements;
On flat roofs;
For insulation of wells and septic tanks;
On paths and playgrounds.

The company produces several grades of material that differ in properties. For example, for insulation of foundations and underground garages, frost-resistant “Penoplex Comfort” or “Foundation” is used (it can withstand heavy loads), for insulation of balconies and external walls - “Wall” with low thermal conductivity, for roofs - non-flammable “Roof”.

At the same time, it is important to establish a ventilation system, which, like penoplex, does not allow steam to pass through. In the home, this can lead to increased humidity and the need for artificial regulation. However, this is not always necessary: for example, when insulating the floor, ventilation is not needed.

Installation of insulation

The slabs are glued to the wall, secured with disc dowels, the joints are foamed.
Penoplex slabs are laid on the insulated surface using adhesive or combined technology. In the second case, they are additionally fixed with disc-shaped dowels. To fix the slabs, a special glue is used, which is diluted before starting work. The surface of the penoplex is passed with a grater or a needle roller to reduce smoothness. The solution is applied to it with a notched trowel. Depending on the size of the insulated surface, the glue is distributed over the entire slab or along the perimeter and middle.

The insulation is installed using a frame or frameless method. Under plasterboard or wooden lining, a frame is assembled from wooden blocks or special guides. Installation begins with marking the ceiling, then the lines are transferred to the walls. The guides are attached in increments of 600 mm - this is the width of the foam boards. When using wooden blocks, the material is pre-treated with an antiseptic. The heat insulator will fit tightly between the sheathing. The frameless method is less expensive and labor-intensive. The finishing material is attached directly to the insulation.

On the walls

Adhesive for penoplex
The technology for installing penoplex depends on the wall material. For concrete structures that do not have external insulation, the use of vapor barrier is recommended. Freezing of the walls will cause condensation and constant dampness. This problem does not arise in wooden houses.

Laying the insulation begins from the bottom corner. In each subsequent row, it is advisable to move the slabs by half the width. Installation in a checkerboard pattern reduces the length of the seams. Fastening to the wall occurs using various compounds:

Bitumen mastic - used as a fixative and waterproofing in rooms with high humidity.
Cement-based mineral adhesive is the most common option. The composition hardens quickly, so it is mixed in small portions. Thorough mixing is required until the solution is homogeneous.
Polyurethane adhesive in cans is easy to use, one package is enough for 12-15 square meters. m.
Polyurethane foam - a universal composition that will ensure reliable adhesion to brick, concrete, and aerated concrete. The foam dries quickly and creates a sealed seam.

Penoplex with glue applied is pressed tightly against the wall and held for 40-60 seconds. For reliability, the slabs are fixed with 5 dowels, the fasteners are hammered in the corners and center.

To obtain a smooth surface, a bubble level is periodically applied to the thermal insulation. By increasing or decreasing the layer of adhesive solution, you can adjust the plane.

The gaps between the penoplex are filled with foam. After drying, the protruding parts are cut off. When insulating using the frame method, the slabs are laid in a similar way.

To the ceiling

The technology for insulating the ceiling is no different from the walls.
Ceiling insulation is carried out from the inside or outside. In a private house, to reduce heat loss, penoplex is laid on the floor of the attic. Fixation occurs with an adhesive composition. Boards are attached to the sheathing on top of the heat insulator. In apartments this is not possible, so insulation is done from the inside. The surface is prepared in the same way as walls - cleaned, leveled and primed.

Glue is applied to the surface of the slabs, then they are pressed firmly to the ceiling. Fixing with dowels securely fastens the insulation. If a frame is provided, penoplex is placed between the guides. All seams are filled with construction foam.

Finishing

After the adhesive solution has completely dried, the final finishing begins. The first step is applying reinforcing plaster. This will require putty; you can use a mineral adhesive composition. A reinforcing mesh is laid on a layer of wet mortar. Another layer up to 3 mm thick is applied on top of it. After drying, a finishing putty remains, which is the basis for tiling or wallpapering.

If installation of drywall is planned, plaster is not required. After the glue has dried, the gypsum board sheets are screwed to the frame with self-tapping screws, the fastening step is 30 cm. The joints of the sheets and the places where the screw heads are recessed are puttied using reinforcing tape. The finishing gypsum putty is applied in a thin layer and carefully sanded. The final stage is wallpapering.

The excellent heat and sound insulation properties of penoplex have made it a popular insulation material. The material is safe for health, so it can be used for interior work. Simplicity and speed of installation allow you to do the work yourself.

Do mice chew penoplex?

Penoplex has no nutritional value for mice

The common misconception that foam is the favorite food of rodents is incorrect. Penoplex does not contain biologically active substances, therefore it cannot be of nutritional value for rodents, but they are able to gnaw through thermal insulation, making nests, looking for water and food. In order to protect against rodents, the heat insulation slabs are covered with a metal mesh. If the mice have grown excessively, deratization will be required.

Since penoplex is biologically neutral, it is not of interest to harmful insects, is not susceptible to infection by mold, does not rot, and does not decompose.

What are the disadvantages of using a heat insulator?

Thermal insulator expanded polystyrene: benefit or harm

Table with characteristics of some thermal insulation materials.

Extruded polystyrene foam, like any other material, has its own pros and cons, which those who choose this insulation need to know about. It must be emphasized that not only the positive, but also the negative aspects of any building material are based solely on its properties.

Extruded polystyrene foam consists of granules that are glued together at very high temperatures. The granules contain air. In this case, the structure contains the main quality of the material. The air contained in the cells is maximally capable of retaining heat, so among all natural materials it will be one of the best.

The high level of performance of expanded polystyrene is combined with its high protective characteristics, which make it possible to protect the house from cold, the penetration of insects, bacteria, and moisture. This material is of no interest to insects because it is inedible.

The cellular structure gives the material almost everything, but it is worth highlighting the main thing - the material perfectly performs the main task, while at the same time solving the emerging difficulties associated with protection in conditions of high humidity or preventing the destruction of wooden elements of houses from insect pests.

General recommendations

To make working with penoplex easy, pleasant and safe, you need to follow a few basic rules:

Work with penoplex should be carried out at positive temperatures in the range of 5-30 Celsius. Violation of the temperature regime can affect the quality of thermal insulation.
Penoplex does not tolerate the effects of certain organic substances and solvents - white spirit, creosote, acetone, which simply corrode it. Therefore, when working, you need to use special adhesives or mounting adhesive foam without toluene.
For convenience, it is better to choose corrugated rough slabs, which provide increased adhesion to insulated surfaces. This is especially important when it comes to insulating buildings made of smooth foam and gas blocks.
When purchasing, you should pay attention to the quality of the insulating board. It should be smooth, dense, without cracks or chips. It shouldn't smell. Chemical smells indicate that the heat insulator was produced in gross violations of technological standards. Products must be stored in a closed warehouse and have all the necessary sanitary, environmental, and fire safety certificates. The marking must contain complete information about the manufacturer, as well as a detailed description of the thermal and physical and mechanical properties of the product. It is better to choose penoplex enriched with fire retardants - it has the letter C on it.

Modern Penoplex insulation - myths and reality

Myths existing among consumers concern not only how harmful Penoplex is to the human body, but also that a real house should “breathe.” Unfortunately, only wood can provide natural microcirculation of air. A beautiful wooden house outside the city is wonderful, but how to build high-rise buildings from such material? In city apartments, windows and supply and exhaust ventilation provide the necessary air exchange in the room. The supposed harm of penoplex in the house, which consists in the fact that it does not allow the walls of the house to breathe, only testifies in favor of its use, since a house built in accordance with modern requirements should be like a thermos.

But the “vapor permeability” of walls is not only a myth, but real misinformation, the harm of which is much greater than even talk about hypothetical harmful substances in penoplex. It is simply impossible to imagine a multi-story building with steam coming out of the walls on a frosty day. As a result, the walls would be covered with ice, and we would have to talk not about the harmful emissions of penoplex, but about the need to save residents from chronic colds.

A lot can be said about whether penoplex insulation is harmful to health. And we can only remember that slabs of extruded polystyrene foam were used in the construction of a bathhouse at the Novolazarevskaya international scientific station in Antarctica, which indicates their environmental safety.

What kind of insulation should it be?

Since there is no objective data about the allegedly harmful effects of penoplex on humans, we will figure it out ourselves.

When choosing insulation, many buyers, having familiarized themselves with the performance characteristics of the products of PENOPLEX SPb LLC, ask the question: “Is penoplex harmful to health?” There are no words, there is a lot of talk about the harmful effects of penoplex, but let's try to figure it out. The selected insulation for buildings or structures must meet the following requirements:

Safety:
phenol-formaldehyde resins and similar harmful substances are absent in penoplex, which allows us to give a negative answer to the question: “Is penoplex harmful or not?”;
whether penoplex is harmful to the environment and human health can be judged on the basis that no means are used in its production that destroy the Earth’s ozone layer;
when the insulation is used from 50 degrees below zero to 75 degrees above zero, as recommended by the instructions for penoplex, there are no harmful emissions for humans, which is confirmed by the sanitary-epidemiological and environmental conclusion.
Moisture resistance:
modern penoplex insulation is so resistant to moisture that it is not afraid of either drainage water or swelling soils.
High level of thermal protection:

;

high resistance to thermal conductivity makes it possible to achieve a noticeable reduction in heat loss with a slight increase in wall thickness.
Compressive strength:
Even prolonged use will not lead to deformation or change in the dimensions of modern insulating material.

Pros and cons of the material

Advantages of the material
Penoplex is a synthetic material made from polystyrene. It is produced in 600×1200 mm slabs of various thicknesses. There are 5 types of penoplex: 31, 31C, 35, 45 and 45C. They have different densities and strengths, while thermal conductivity remains unchanged. The indicator is not affected by humidity level or temperature. This is the main advantage of insulation. In addition to excellent insulating properties, other advantages of EPS can be highlighted:

The material is resistant to biological influences, freezing and temperature fluctuations.
The slabs have high strength values and can withstand significant loads.
The ease of installation allows you to insulate walls inside the house with penoplex yourself.
Extruded polystyrene foam is not afraid of the effects of chemical compounds - bitumen, cement mortar, lime, plaster.
Penoplex insulation for walls inside houses is environmentally friendly.
The minimum water absorption rate allows the material to be used in conditions of high humidity without additional waterproofing.
EPS protects against cold and prevents noise transmission. The porous structure makes it a good sound insulator.
The insulation has a long service life, at least 50 years. The specified parameter is not the limit; the material does not deteriorate even after half a century.
The light weight of the slabs does not make the structure heavier and simplifies transportation and unloading.

Foam plastic - advantages and disadvantages

Polystyrene foam consists of 98% air, which is enclosed in microscopic thin-walled polystyrene cells. This material is considered biologically safe; food is even packaged in it. Foam plastic is not exposed to moisture for a long time, but to maintain this property it is necessary to seal it with a layer of plaster or putty. It can be used to insulate walls, ceilings, roofs and floors.
Also, the advantages of this material include its lightness, ease of processing, the ability to glue foam plastic with other building materials, ease of mechanical fastening - these are the inherent advantages of this material. There are also disadvantages - it ignites quickly, and if not protected from direct sunlight, it begins to crumble over time.

Disadvantages of insulation?

When purchasing insulation, you must remember that all manufacturers, when advertising their products, emphasize only the positive aspects of their product.

The myths about orange insulation discussed below are those facts that you will not find in advertising brochures, but which have a direct impact on human safety and health.

Fireproof or not so much?

Insufficiently high fire resistance is one of the main disadvantages of orange insulation. In general, the issue of flammability of foam plastics is not as simple as it might seem if you do not delve into the essence of the matter.

For the reason that their various modifications have different degrees of fire safety and, in terms of flammability, belong to materials of different categories - from G1 (low-flammable) to G4 (highly flammable).

Pure polystyrene foam is a flammable material, which is its main disadvantage. It ignites easily from any open flame - a lit match, a burning blowtorch, even welding sparks. Therefore, unmodified foam plastic is rarely used in construction.

To increase its fire safety, combustion inhibitors are added to it - flame retardants (substances that prevent fire). Foams with fire retardant additives are called self-extinguishing.

Burning or smoldering of polystyrene foam produces thick black smoke, which can be very toxic due to the additives it contains.

In addition to carbon monoxide, it may contain hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, hydrogen bromide, etc. Inhalation of such substances has a detrimental effect on the respiratory system and nervous system of a person and can lead to rapid death.

It would seem that the issue with the fire resistance of polystyrene foam is easily resolved: add more fire retardant - and the problem is solved. But, firstly, this makes the material more expensive, and secondly, some types of fire retardants contain toxic substances.

Such, for example, as hexobromocyclododecane, which is a bioaccumulative toxin and has been banned for use in the European Union since 2015.

Insulation service life

One of the requirements for insulation materials is that their service life must be commensurate with the durability of the object that is insulated with it. Domestic standards provide for insulation materials to operate for at least 25 years.

If you believe the manufacturers, their polystyrene foams more than provide this period.

Some sources indicate the durability of foam plastics to be 50 years or more. But objective research does not confirm this. The experiments carried out revealed that after 10 years of operation, signs of destruction begin to appear in polystyrene foam.

Speaking about the durability of polystyrene foam, you need to pay attention to one more aspect - the safety of the material that is insulated with it. Although polystyrene foam is a vapor-permeable material, its vapor permeability is low.

Moisture that penetrates into wooden structures from the inside or outside is unable to completely leave them through the insulation layer to the outside. This lack of insulation contributes to the formation of fungi and mold on the wood, leading to its rotting.

Although polystyrene foam is not a breeding ground for fungi, they feel quite comfortable on its surface, especially if this surface interfaces with wood.

Safety and environmental friendliness

As for pure polystyrene, it is truly safe, but the same cannot be said about the components and additives used in the production of expanded polystyrene.

As mentioned above, fire retardants added to polystyrene foam can pose a direct threat to human health and the environment. But the matter is not limited to them alone.

In the production of expanded polystyrene, at the foaming stage, sometimes not only safe CO2 and isopentane are used, but also chlorine- and bromine-containing freons. When heated, the latter are capable of releasing toxic substances, in particular, the well-known phosgene, which is the main component of some types of chemical weapons.

In addition, freons have a detrimental effect on the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from solar radiation. In addition, their greenhouse activity is more than 1000 times higher than that of carbon dioxide. It is not for nothing that the use of freons has been prohibited in the European Union since 2010.

Conclusion from all of the above

When choosing a thermal insulation material for your home, pay attention to the entire range of its characteristics, and not just the heat-insulating properties. Not only the comfort and economy of your home, but also the health of all family members depends on the right choice.