Penoplex thickness calculation for insulation

Penoplex is becoming increasingly popular among other insulating materials. It is one of the brands of extruded polystyrene foam. This material has excellent strength characteristics and good thermal insulation properties. Excellent performance characteristics and resistance to harmful factors make this heat insulator universal for any construction projects.

Using Penoplex for thermal insulation

Penoplex is suitable as insulation for walls. It is produced in various thicknesses, which range from 20 to 150 mm. To choose the optimal solution for your home, you need to make some calculations. A special calculator will come to the rescue with this, which calculates the exact thickness of penoplex for insulating specific walls.

Below are some explanations for performing the correct calculations.

Calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with Penoplex

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Using Penoplex for thermal insulation

Below are some explanations for performing the correct calculations.

general information

Penoplex is a material consisting of foamed polystyrene, which is produced by extrusion. It can be used to solve a wide range of problems in the field of thermal insulation of objects. It is actively used not only during work in residential premises. This often happens when it is used to insulate industrial structures.

This product was developed in the USA. A special technique, which involved the use of the extrusion method, made it possible to obtain a new solution with a uniform structure. The insulation contains many small cells with a finishing coating. Their size does not exceed 0.2 mm.

The heat insulator production technology involves mixing polystyrene in granules under conditions of high temperature and pressure. During this operation, a foaming agent is added. Oxygen dioxide is used as such, or a mixture consisting of two light types of freons is used. At the final stage of production, the remaining foaming agent in the cells is easily filled with ambient air. Read also: detailed characteristics and properties of polystyrene foam. In this video we will show you which insulation should be used for your home:

What is important to know for competent calculations

The thermal insulation material used for walls, due to its low thermal conductivity characteristics, replaces the lack of thermal resistance to ensure certain standard values. These indicators are established by current SNiPs. They will differ depending on the climate of certain regions.

So, it is worth considering some features:

the required value can be identified using a special map - diagram. At the same time, three values are indicated for each region, depending on the types of surfaces being calculated;

Schematic map for determining the required value of thermal resistance

the thermal conductivity coefficient of penoplex is already included in the calculation program and does not need to be specified specifically;
It is important to enter the thickness of the surfaces for insulation, as well as indicate what they are made of. It is taken into account that each material has its own thermal characteristics;
An important parameter is the cladding of the walls outside. If ventilated decorative facades are used, then such a layer does not affect the quality of wall insulation. When using wet facade technology with reinforced plaster and external decorative cladding, the thermal resistance indicator is taken into account. Also taken into account is the finishing, which is made from some version of sheet cladding in the form of panels. But at the same time there should be no space between it and the penoplex;
Interior decoration is also important. In this case, the nature of the finish matters. A small layer of putty and painting the walls or wallpapering them will not bring much benefit. But the use of warm plasters, cork cladding or wood cladding can change the thickness of the wall insulation, so they must be taken into account when calculating;
the result is given in millimeters. It will need to be correlated with the standard thickness of the Penoplex material.

If the value given by the program is negative, then external insulation is not needed.

The technology of insulation using penoplex is not so complicated. But even this requires compliance with all recommendations. It is better to find out more information about the nuances of this technology.

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Important points and calculation procedure

First of all, you need to know that polystyrene foam can be used to insulate walls from the outside and inside. The option of external wall insulation with polystyrene foam is used most often, but it is better to carry out comprehensive thermal insulation. The technology for insulating walls from the outside and inside is practically the same, however, to complete the work you will need to use foam boards of different thicknesses.

Calculation of the thickness of thermal insulation material.

It is very important to perform the calculation correctly. You need to understand that in this case, a large thickness of insulation will entail additional costs

And all other things being equal, insulating walls without first calculating the appropriate thickness of foam boards will force the owner to simply waste money. In addition, if polystyrene foam boards are used to insulate indoor walls, the calculation will allow for maximum usable space to be saved, ensuring high-quality thermal insulation.

However, attempts to buy the thinnest sheets of polystyrene foam will also turn against you. A slab that is too thin will not provide adequate protection from the cold. So calculation is a mandatory part of the preparatory stage. It is a well-done calculation that will allow you to organize such thermal insulation that will have the necessary efficiency.

Fastening foam plastic to the wall with a façade metal dowel.

To correctly calculate thermal insulation, you must first take into account the thermal resistance. This is a constant indicator for a specific climatic region.

For Russian conditions, it ranges on average from 3.5 to 4.6 m*K/W. If you insulate the ceiling and floor in parallel with the walls, the calculation will need to be done using increased values.

This parameter allows you to select the most optimal thickness of the foam layer to ensure the required thermal resistance.

The calculation is extremely simple: the thermal resistance index is divided by the thermal conductivity coefficient of the foam boards (depending on the brand, it ranges on average from 0.031 to 0.041 W/m*K).

Calculator for calculating insulation for walls, roofs, foundations

The calculator allows you to determine the type of thermal insulation materials for the foundation, calculate the volume of required materials and get the final cost, including fasteners for the slabs.

Calculator for calculating and choosing insulation for siding

Using this service, you can determine the types of thermal insulation and waterproofing that are suitable for insulating walls under siding. Moreover, the calculator will allow you to determine the cost and calculate the volume of required materials.

Calculator for calculating thermal insulation for a ventilated facade

In order to choose the right materials for insulating a ventilated facade, select waterproofing and fasteners, use this service. By entering the area of the walls and the thickness of the slabs, you will calculate the required volume of materials and find out their cost.

Online calculator for calculating the cost of a plaster facade

The service allows you to determine the types of materials, cost and volume. Based on the area of the facade and the thickness of the insulation, you can calculate the approximate cost of a plaster facade.

Calculation of materials for insulating frame walls

If you are faced with the task of insulating frame walls, then this calculator is for you. Knowing the area of the walls and the thickness of the insulation, you can easily calculate the necessary materials.

Online calculation of insulation for floors under screed

For a floor that is planned to be made using cement or any other, special, durable insulating materials are required.

Online calculation of floor insulation by joists

To choose the right insulating materials for a floor that is laid on wooden joists, use this calculator. He will determine the required density of materials, their quantity and approximate cost.

Calculation of thermal insulation for interior partitions

Select insulation for interior partitions. You will be able to calculate the quantity and type of insulation, its cost, and also immediately make an application.

Calculation of insulation for a pitched roof (attic)

Insulating a pitched roof requires, in addition to insulation, a vapor barrier and a wind and moisture barrier membrane. Using this online calculator, you can easily determine the materials you need and their estimated cost.

Calculation of insulation for a flat roof

To calculate materials for a flat roof, we suggest using this calculator. The calculation also includes a waterproofing membrane and telescopic fasteners.

Gutter calculation calculator

The calculator will allow you to make a preliminary calculation of the necessary materials for installing a drainage system. Preliminarily determine the cost/

Density of floor insulation. Synthetic insulation

Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam belongs to the group of gas-filled plastics, which consist of 87–90% inert gas, due to which this material has low thermal conductivity and is an excellent insulation material. The thermal conductivity coefficient lies in a record low range - from 0.024 W/(m×°K) (theoretically) to 0.035 (in real operating conditions).

Most often, insulation of building structures with polyurethane foam is carried out using spraying technology

Polyurethane foam, as a rule, is applied by spraying, that is, in liquid form. During the chemical reaction that occurs when mixing the components, it expands, filling all voids and large cracks, tightly adhering to surfaces made of any materials, as it has excellent adhesive qualities. After hardening, the layer of sprayed mass acquires a cellular, porous structure, the cells of which are filled with gas.

The material is produced on the basis of petroleum products, such as polyisocyanates and polyols, or from oils obtained from vegetable raw materials. The second option for obtaining this insulation is quite expensive in terms of cost, so this technology is rarely used.

Insulation can have different densities, which depend on the proportion of components used in production. Thus, the following types of polyurethane foams are produced:

Highly elastic insulation.
Visco-elastic.
With increased softness.
Soft material.
With increased rigidity.
Material with normal rigidity.

For floor insulation, rigid polyurethane foam with a density of 30÷80 kg/m³ is used, which has high heat-saving properties. Material with a density ranging from 65÷70 kg/m³, in addition to thermal insulation properties, has the ability to retain moisture, so it can be used as a waterproofing layer.

The characteristic cellular, literally airy structure of expanded and hardened polyurethane foam

Due to its characteristics, this material can be used to insulate any area of the house, including floors.

Polyurethane foam can be used both for floors on joists and under concrete screed:

In the first case, spraying is carried out between the joists, and after the foam has hardened, a wooden or plywood covering is laid.
The second option involves preliminary spraying on the surface of the ceiling.

Upon completion of the stage of expansion and hardening of the thermal insulation layer, it is covered with a layer of waterproofing material, a reinforcing mesh is laid, and then a screed is poured.

The positive aspects of polyurethane foam can be considered its following qualities:

Calculator for calculating ceiling insulation in a house with a cold attic

Significant heat loss in the room occurs through ceilings that do not have special insulation.

Air from heaters and other heating devices rises, but when it comes into contact with a cold surface, it gives off most of the heat.

As a result, it is very difficult to create a comfortable indoor microclimate, since in this case a huge heat consumption is required for heating structures.

Therefore, the ceiling, which is in contact with rooms without heating from above, needs additional insulation. A complete ceiling covering must meet certain criteria.

In this case, different materials are used, which have their own specific characteristics. This affects the required thickness of insulation.

To plan the structure according to all the rules, it is worth using a special calculator to calculate the insulation of the ceiling in a building where there is a cold attic.

Application and installation

Facade

The use of penoplex for insulating the outside of a house has fairly high quality indicators, but will not be available to everyone, since the price of such insulation is several times higher than the price of all similar products (foam plastic of 25 or 35 density).

To carry out the work you will need:

clean the walls from dust, debris and grease stains;
Using a facade roller or a wide brush, prime the base to strengthen it before carrying out the main work;
installation of each sheet of polystyrene foam is carried out using special glue and then fixed using dowels for polystyrene foam;
The final finishing of such a facade after insulation with penoplex is most often decorative plaster - “Bark beetle” or “Lamb”.

All types of penoplex and any thickness are used for walls . The choice will depend on the financial capabilities of the consumer and the characteristics of the building itself.

Base

Dowels for fixing should be evenly distributed over the area of the sheets, the ideal option is 5 pcs. per sheet

This insulation option provides:

gluing penoplex around the entire perimeter of the house at the base level according to the type of facade insulation - with glue, but with additional fastening with dowels;
after this, the insulation must be covered with a special insulation plaster, which can maximally isolate the entire penoplex from the effects of the environment;
The base is finished in a variety of ways: base siding, profile sheets, clinker tiles and even decorative plaster.

Related article: How to fix a mirror on a plasterboard wall

Foundation

After complete completion of the insulation work, the entire perimeter of the foundation must be covered with sand to cover the penoplex.

The most heat is lost through the part of the house that is closest to the ground - the foundation, so its insulation requires a special approach, and penoplex will be the ideal material for this.

The process of carrying out work on insulating the underground part of a building is very simple:

The foundation - the load-bearing wall of the house, which is located below ground level - is cleaned of mortar residues.
Next, waterproofing is applied over the entire area of the base insulated with penoplex. This can be bitumen mastic or a dry waterproofing mixture. The work is best done with a wide brush. (You can read about how to properly waterproof a strip foundation with your own hands in this article).
Next comes the process of installing penoplex - gluing each sheet separately onto the same mastic or special glue for insulation. Foam dowels are used as additional fasteners. The only condition is a continuous coating, which will complicate the escape of heat and prevent the accumulation of condensation.
Penoplex must be covered with a waterproofing film and only then the accompanying drainage work must be carried out.

It is best to use penoplex with a maximum thickness of 50 mm for insulation.

We also bring to your attention an article about the universal type of penoplex “Comfort”.

Balcony

For reliability, seams and joints between the insulation should be sealed with adhesive foam or liquid foam.

This part of the apartment is responsible for preserving the heat that escapes through the balcony block, so you need to act here with all responsibility.

Work on insulating a balcony with penoplex is carried out in stages:

Leveling all insulated surfaces.
The foam is fastened by driving in fasteners - dowels for insulation.
Before decorative painting, the penoplex is completely plastered and left for 12-24 hours until the adhesive mixture dries completely.

When using PVC or MDF lining the process will be slightly different:

the penoplex is fastened by driving in fasteners - dowels for foam plastic;
foam sheets are very quickly and reliably fixed between the sheathing;
finishing the balcony with clapboard does not require an additional insulating layer.

Insulation of the floor under the screed with extruded polystyrene foam occurs by connecting the sheets using the existing grooves.

If you plan to install a wooden floor, then sheets of Penonlex are laid between the joists, having previously covered the floor with a waterproofing film.

The installation of a heated floor with insulation such as penoplex is quite safe even without the use of additional insulation.

Insulating the floor in an apartment building will also create an additional layer of sound insulation. It is advisable to use insulation sheets of maximum thickness - 40-50 mm.

Read about how to insulate the floor in a private house with your own hands here.

Considering all of the above, we can conclude that insulation such as penoplex can be used in any room and in any weather conditions. The options described are not all; for example, penoplex can be used to insulate a bathhouse and even a garage. The only condition will be the thickness of the foam sheet, on which the quality of the insulated surface directly depends.

We bring to your attention a video dedicated to comparing different types of penoplex:

What does thickness depend on?

Calculation of the thickness of insulation for walls should begin with determining the main indicators of construction technology. Such indicators include the thickness of existing walls and the material from which they are made, the material of the heat insulator, as well as the climatic conditions of your region, the design and wear of the building walls, the internal dimensions of the room and other current indicators.

Let's take a closer look at the calculation elements for a wall heat insulator.

The thickness of the walls, as well as the materials from which they are built, are indicated in the technical passport of your housing, which can be viewed at the housing office or at the management company. These indicators are important because each climate zone has its own standards for construction and subsequent thermal resistance.

The insulation material is important because the subsequent reduction in heat loss in your apartment depends on it. Each material has its own thermal conductivity coefficient, as a result of which the minimum permissible insulation thickness will also differ.

Wear and construction of the walls also affect the insulation process, since depending on the side (external or internal), the insulation process may need to be coordinated with utility services, who will tell you how badly the wall is damaged. If the building has not undergone cosmetic repairs for a long time, then in addition to a thicker layer of insulation, during the installation process, puttying joints, cracks and strengthening the floors will take a large amount of time.

It should be noted that the thickness of the insulation for external walls is not calculated with such scrupulousness as for internal ones. The reason for this neglect is the inability to predict the weather. If inside the apartment you can determine the temperature level in winter based on annual indicators during the heating season, then outside the weather conditions are impossible to predict. Therefore, for external insulation, a thickness exceeding the minimum by at least 1.5 times is taken. This way, you won’t spend money on unnecessary materials and will insulate your walls.

Features of fastening to different types of walls

Houses and industrial buildings are built from various materials, each of them has features of wall insulation technology.

Brick

Rough brickwork has pronounced differences in height and unevenness, which interfere with the tight fit of the penoplex and reliable fixation with glue. Therefore, experts recommend combining different fastening methods:

assembly adhesive;
liquid Nails;
dowels;
self-tapping screws;
cement mortar;
polyurethane foam.

Before installation, the rough base should be prepared and primed. Use a hammer drill to drill holes for the dowels.

To attach penoplex to a brick wall, it is recommended to combine methods, for example, use glue and dowels

Wooden

It is better to insulate wooden walls from the outside to avoid reducing the space of rooms and excessive humidity inside the house. Walls insulated with penoplex stop breathing - this is a disadvantage of such insulation. Under the influence of changes in humidity and temperature throughout the year, wood changes its size and remains unstable. A wooden house must last at least one year and shrink.

Preparation of the base consists of leveling the surface with a plane, sealing cracks and impregnation with antiseptics and fire retardants.

For fastening, a two-component adhesive is used that retains elasticity after drying; it prevents the sheets from detaching during thermal expansion of the wood.

Additionally, the sheets are fixed with self-tapping screws. If the final cladding of the facade is planned using a frame, then the insulation panels are laid in the cells of the sheathing.

It is recommended to cover wooden walls with insulation on the outside

Block

Aerated block walls cannot be left open; they absorb moisture and become damp. Before insulation, be sure to treat the wall with impregnation, which reduces glue consumption and strengthens the structure of the base.

If the wall is uneven, it can be processed with a drill with a chisel attachment, cutting off the protruding parts. Fastening is done on the sheathing if the finishing is chosen in the form of wall panels and on glue and dowels if frameless cladding is planned.

Before attaching penoplex, the block wall must be treated with a special impregnation

The joints of the slabs should not coincide with the technological seams; each subsequent row should be fastened with an offset. The adhesive composition should not contain aggressive chemicals that can damage the penoplex.

Calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with Penoplex

Penoplex is a popular brand of extruded polystyrene foam, the name of which has become a household name. This material is characterized by excellent thermal insulation and strength characteristics, excellent durability and resistance to negative external influences, which makes it a universal insulation material for a wide variety of building structures, from the foundation to the roof.

Calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with Penoplex

Very often it is used for wall insulation. But here’s the question: Penoplex is available in a fairly wide variety of thicknesses, from 20 to 150 mm. Which option should you choose for your home? The best thing is to carry out some calculations, with which the calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with Penoplex will help us

Some explanations on the calculations will be given below the calculator.

Calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with Penoplex

Explanations for calculations

The “work” of any insulating material is that, when included in the overall structure of the wall, due to its significantly low thermal conductivity, it would compensate for the “deficit” of thermal resistance necessary to achieve the normalized value. These heat transfer resistance values are established by the current SNiP for various types of building structures and for different regions of Russia, depending on local climatic conditions.

It will be more convenient for the user to determine the desired value using the diagram map located below. Please note that each region has three different values. In this case, we are naturally interested in the indicator “FOR WALLS” - it is indicated in purple.

Schematic map for determining the required value of thermal resistance

The thermal conductivity coefficient of penoplex is already included in the calculation program and does not need to be specified.
Next, you need to enter the thickness of the insulated wall and indicate the material of its manufacture: each building material has its own thermal characteristics.
The next item is the external wall decoration:

— If a decorative cladding scheme is used according to the “ventilated facade” principle, then the finishing layer will not have any effect on the overall insulation of the wall, and it is not taken into account.

— When using the “wet facade” technology, that is, with the application of a reinforced plaster layer and then external decorative plaster, the finishing can be taken into account in the overall calculation, since its thermal resistance will be added to the overall indicator of the wall.

- Similarly, you can take into account the finishing made from one or another sheet (panel) cladding, if there is no ventilated gap left between it and the penoplex.

The last block of the calculator contains similar questions, but this time concerning the interior decoration of the wall. It is clear that some materials, for example, a thin layer of putty followed by painting or wallpapering, will not bring anything significant to the insulation “piggy bank”. But wooden cladding (or wood composite materials), cork finishing, plastering, especially using “warm” plasters, can seriously affect the required thickness of external wall insulation, and it makes sense to take them into account.
The result will be given in millimeters. It is easy to compare it with the standard thickness of penoplex in order to select the desired type of insulation boards.

Foam Attachment Guide

The advantage of polystyrene foam is saving material consumption.

At this stage of work you will need the following:

Foam plastic from 5 cm thick.
Container for preparing adhesive solution.
Construction mixer or drill with a special attachment.
Hammer, dowels.
Wide paint brush.

First of all, you need to prepare the glue. There is a fairly large selection of mixtures, so during the preparation process, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The glue must be mixed thoroughly. The finished mixture should not contain lumps or any other foreign inclusions. Do not deviate from the manufacturer's instructions, as... this may negatively affect the quality of work.

Layout of fasteners for foam plastic.

Apply the prepared glue to the foam sheet. There is no need to lubricate the entire stove. Make a few dense dots in the center or apply stripes around the perimeter. Take the first sheet, lower its lower edge into the previously secured plinth and press firmly to the surface. Make holes for dowels in the middle and in the corners of the slab. Use an electric drill for this. The depth should be such that the drill penetrates the wall at least 5 cm. Hammer the dowels. Fill the entire bottom row with foam. Move the next row a little

It is important that the vertical joints of the slabs do not coincide with each other. Fill the entire surface

Polystyrene foam is a material with good performance characteristics. However, it is extremely unstable to both mechanical and atmospheric influences.

Therefore, after the entire intended surface is filled with foam, it will be necessary to apply a special reinforcing painting mesh on top of it.

Diagram of the main heat losses in the house.

After attaching the mesh, the surface will be plastered. At this stage you need to prepare:

Glue.
A mesh with small cells.
Rollers, spatulas.

You can start installing the reinforcing mesh immediately after all the foam has been glued. First you need to apply a vertical strip of glue from the corner of the house.

Make it so wide that it is slightly larger than the width of the reinforcing mesh. Place the mesh on top of the glue and press firmly, roll with a roller, apply a new layer of adhesive mixture to completely cover the mesh. Apply this stripe by stripe until you cover the entire wall. Let the surface dry for 24 hours and begin plastering work.

Scheme of wall insulation with foam plastic under siding.

To do this, prepare:

plaster;
primer;
brush;
putty knife.

Prime the surface thoroughly. This will ensure the most reliable adhesion of the plaster layer to the surface. Mix the solution according to the manufacturer's instructions and carefully spread it over the surface using a spatula. Do not rush to take too much solution at once; without appropriate experience it will be difficult for you to level it.

Spread the plaster in an even layer (usually a 3mm thick layer) over the external wall. Remove any excess with a spatula. It is impossible for any defects to remain on this layer. Otherwise, the quality of the entire finish will significantly decrease. If desired, the plaster can be given texture. At this point, the work on external wall cladding with foam plastic is considered complete.

Penoplex size matters

A well-known saying when installing thermal insulation should be: “Count seven times, insulate once.” The meaning of the saying is clear: “Think more than once so that you don’t have to redo it.” Before you start insulating, you will need to climb with a tape measure and ruler, work with paper, pencil and calculator. Before starting work you need to know:

insulation area;
insulation thickness;
number of slabs (packs);
mass of adhesive composition;
number of disc dowels;
time to carry out work;
and, of course, the cost of materials and labor.

How many positions did you get? Seven. So the saying is true. Despite the importance of the remaining initial data, the dimensions of the penoplex are still the basis for calculations.

What can replace Penoplex?

replacement for penoplex in terms of characteristics

— Technoplex, a material with very similar physical characteristics. It is also a derivative of polystyrene, obtained by foaming followed by extrusion. Technoplex has half the water absorption, but also has a minus - twice the flammability.

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Only two lengths

The length of the slabs has two standards. Thermal insulation with a density of 25 and 35 kg/m3 has a linear length of 1200 mm. The area of such a sheet is 0.72 m2. Insulation with a density of 45 kg/m3 has a slab length that is 2 times greater, equal to 2400 mm. The area also increases in direct proportion to 1.44 m2. Sheets of short length can be transported even in the cabin of a passenger car, and large ones can be transported in the trunk of the same car (just remember to secure the sheets longitudinally during transportation in order to avoid breakage of the plates under the influence of the oncoming air flow).

Any thickness to choose from

The most important indicator of penoplex is thickness. The range of thicknesses of mineral insulation does not pamper the consumer and greatly limits his choice. The lack of materials of the required thickness on sale often dooms to forced overconsumption of material with inevitable material losses. After all, it is impossible to put a thinner layer of insulation; there will not be the required insulation coefficient.

Insulation materials made from extruded polystyrene allow you to “go wild” and are available for sale in slabs of various thicknesses, which allows you to set a thickness close to the calculated one.

A foam board with a density of up to 35 kg/m3 comes in a thickness of 20; thirty; 40; 50; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150 mm. Penoplex sheets with a thickness of 40; 50; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150 mm have a density of 45 kg/m3.

The presented range of thicknesses with the same length and width allows you to combine different installation options to achieve maximum insulation efficiency. The required layer of insulation can be easily obtained by adding two layers of insulation, especially since this installation option is recommended by the manufacturer. Materials with a thickness of 20 and 30 mm are used mainly for internal thermal insulation, which allows saving the internal volume of insulated rooms. It should be remembered that the selected size of insulation does not have an L-shaped protrusion.

Types of Penoplex: application features

Insulation is classified according to its purpose. The manufacturer took into account the characteristics of the material’s operation under different conditions and “corrected” a number of parameters.

Understanding the classification is not difficult. The name itself speaks about the scope of application of pressed insulation:

Penoplex-Wall. External insulation, installation under plastered facades. Finishing the base increases the energy efficiency of the house and creates a noise barrier. The density of the material is 25-32 kg/m3, the strength index is 0.20 MPa.
Penoplex-Foundation. In addition to the main area, it is in demand for insulating septic tanks and arranging garden paths on a cement-sand base. Density – 29-33 kg/m3, strength – 0.27 MPa.
Penoplex Roofing. Suitable for attic insulation, used as a thermal insulation layer as part of a roofing pie. Density – 28-33 kg/m3, grade strength – 0.25 MPa.
Penoplex-Comfort. A universal material used for insulating floors, loggias, walls, and roofs. Density is 25-35 kg/m3, compressive strength is 0.20 MPa.

Penoplex 45 is suitable for thermal insulation of flat roofs and areas subject to significant loads, such as roads. Brand density is 34-47 kg/m3, strength characteristics are 0.50 MPa.

Getting ready for transportation

The ready-to-use heat insulator is packaged in a polyethylene shell. The dimensions of the penoplex bale are as follows: length - 1200 mm, width - 600 mm, thickness about 400 mm. Volume approximately 0.3 m3. To find out how many slabs are in a pack, simply divide 400 by the selected sheet thickness.

The package size of the high-density insulator is 2400x600x300 mm or 1200x600x300 mm and contains 2 sheets of 150 mm thickness. These packages occupy a volume of 0.44 and 0.22 m3, respectively.

To determine the possible insulation area with one package, we multiply the number of slabs by the area of one slab (0.72 m2 - standard, 1.44 m2 - extended length).

Calculations are necessary for preliminary planning of insulation work. You can check the calculation by reading the information printed on the number and density of slabs, volume, area, weight on the product packaging.

How many Penoplex boards are supplied in one package?

How many slabs of extruded polystyrene foam in a package depend on the thickness of the material you choose. This insulation can have a thickness from 20 to 150 mm, and the number of sheets in one pack depends on this. The greater the height of the sheet, the fewer of them there are in the pack, which is done to ensure ease of storage, loading/unloading and transportation of materials.

How many pieces are in a pack of penoplex, depending on the thickness of the sheet? See here:

20 mm – 18 pcs.;
30 mm – 12 pcs.;
40 mm – 9 pcs.;
50 mm – 7 pcs.;
60 mm – 7 pcs.;
80 mm – 5 pcs.;
100 mm – 4 pcs.;
120 mm – 3 pcs.;
150 mm – 2 pcs.

It should be noted that according to standards, the number of sheets in a pack is always the same.

First we count, then we insulate

The parameters necessary for making the right decision are defined at the beginning of the article and do not cause difficulties in calculations. The only catch is the thickness of the penoplex slabs. What should it be like? It is impossible to act at random in resolving such an issue. But there’s nothing difficult about it either. A page in a notebook, a pen, or a calculator will help you calculate the thickness.

We determine the required heat transfer resistance of the building envelope. You can find it in table 1b of SNiP II-3-79, having previously calculated the degree-day in a particular case, multiplying the number of days of the heating period by the room temperature.

For the sake of simplicity, we will assume the furnace firing duration is 180 days and the room temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. We get the number 3600. Using the table, we find the required coefficient for walls equal to 2.8, for floors – 3.7 (only part of the table is presented here to understand the order of calculations).

What to consider when calculating the thickness of insulation

If you take on the design yourself, thoroughly study the special literature and sanitary standards and rules governing these issues. Let's bring together all the factors that need to be taken into account when choosing the thickness of penoplex for insulating a house. They are all important.

The required thermal resistance value of a building and its structural elements is different for each region. You can find it out from SNiP 02/23/2003 “Thermal protection of buildings”
First you need to calculate the thermal resistance of existing structures; without this it is impossible to calculate the thickness of penoplex insulation.
The thickness of the foam insulation boards can vary within 1 cm - choose the nearest smaller value, and obtain the required thermal resistance through internal insulation and finishing.
Too much insulation thickness is just as dangerous as not having enough. But you shouldn’t assume that the production of penoplex at NSC is to blame for everything, since they use exclusively the latest technologies. Another thing is that it is almost always possible to additionally insulate a building, but removing polystyrene foam that has been installed according to all the rules may turn out to be an impossible task.

Penoplex thickness for insulation

Penoplex is a derivative of the extrusion of polystyrene foam, a higher quality type of foam, to which improvers are added when pressed through a mold. There are quite a few brands of penoplex, and the choice of a suitable material for insulating a house outside or inside depends not only on the properties of a particular class of penoplex - the functional purpose of the room, the thickness of the penoplex, installation parameters, and many other factors will play a role here. To navigate the properties of this insulation, you should study its characteristics.

Penoplex production

Specifications

Penoplex has the ability to breathe, but does not allow water to pass through

the insulation is resistant to mechanical stress - resists compression;
moisture-resistant material – does not accumulate moisture;
practically non-flammable - does not ignite;
the material acts as a sound insulator - absorbs extraneous noise;
durable insulation - not affected by fungus, does not rot;
Light weight - easy to install.

All of these qualities give penoplex versatility of use and allow it to stand out among other insulation materials. It is produced in the form of sheets, which consist of polystyrene foam pressed under high temperature.

Penoplex sheets have a little more weight than regular foam, but the thickness is the same: 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm. Most often, the thickness of penoplex determines the area of its application.

Features of the heat insulator

The production of penoplex for wall insulation includes the following technological operations:

Granules of the material are loaded into an extruder, where they are heated to 130-140°C;
Foaming agents – porophores – are added to the portion;
The thickened mass is squeezed out of the extruder onto a conveyor belt, after which it is cut into dimensional slabs;

The mixture of semi-finished penoplex for external wall insulation consists not only of polystyrene foam and foaming agents - it also contains antioxidants designed to prevent thermal oxidation during processing and damage to the integrity of the insulation during operation, fire retardants to increase fire resistance, as well as antistatic, light-stabilizing and modifying additives that protect thermal insulation material from the influence of external factors.

The main positive parameters of the material:

Low moisture absorption of expanded polystyrene is the main advantage;
The minimum coefficient of thermal conductivity, which allows, when calculating the thickness, to choose thin slabs;
High vapor permeability of penoplex: a 20 mm thick slab replaces one layer of roofing material, but at the same time also insulates the working surface;
High compressive strength and other mechanical loads. The extrusion method in the production of thermal insulation allows the cells of the material to be evenly distributed, improving the quality of density and strength;
Easy and quick installation of insulation due to its low weight and good density;
Long service life of extruded foam – up to 50 years;
Excellent sound insulation and minimal chemical activity.

Composition and production of extrusion insulation

Extruded heat insulator is made from small polystyrene granules and a foaming agent. The entire production process can be divided into the following stages:

Polystyrene granules are poured into an extruder and the substance is heated to 130-140°C.
Foaming additives - foaming agents - are added to the mixture.
The formed foam is squeezed out of the extruder, and the composition enters the conveyor.
The continuous fabric is cut into mats of the required size and packaged.

The extrusion method provides a dense insulation structure with tiny pores. Freon evaporates from the cells, and atmospheric air fills its place.

To improve technical characteristics, in addition to polystyrene and porofols, the composition contains a number of additives:

flame retardants – reduce flammability;
antioxidants – prevent destruction of the insulation during operation and prevent thermal oxidation at the processing stage;
modifiers, antistatic agents, light stabilizers - increase resistance to negative external factors.

How to calculate the thickness of a heat insulator

For accurate calculations, use the formula Q = R x Y, where:

Q reflects the wall thickness in meters;
R is the heat transfer resistance coefficient, which varies depending on the climatic zone of the region. The average value is 2.1 square meters. m•°C/W;
Y – Thermal conductivity value of the material, W/sq. m•°C.

Extruded polystyrene foam is used in industrial and individual construction for thermal insulation of foundations, insulation of basements and basements, external walls, floor surfaces and interfloor ceilings, internal walls and partitions, thermal insulation of attics and attics, balconies and loggias, terraces and verandas.

Graph for calculating the thickness of the thermal insulation layer made of penoplex

What to consider when calculating the thickness of insulation

The required thermal resistance value of a building and its structural elements is different for each region. You can find it out from SNiP 02/23/2003 “Thermal protection of buildings”
First you need to calculate the thermal resistance of existing structures; without this it is impossible to calculate the thickness of penoplex insulation.
The thickness of the foam insulation boards can vary within 1 cm - choose the nearest smaller value, and obtain the required thermal resistance through internal insulation and finishing.
Too much insulation thickness is just as dangerous as not having enough. But you shouldn’t assume that the production of penoplex at NSC is to blame for everything, since they use exclusively the latest technologies. Another thing is that it is almost always possible to additionally insulate a building, but removing polystyrene foam that has been installed according to all the rules may turn out to be an impossible task.