Polystyrene Bead Insulation R Value

Loose fill polystyrene is a hazard.

Polystyrene bead insulation r value.

Polystyrene loose fill or bead insulation typically has a lower r value compared to the foam board. Products with a higher r value have a higher cost but have an increased capacity to resist heat flow and therefore provide greater insulation. Also called styrofoam insulation this is the least expensive material. Another application in construction for polystyrene beads is retrofit insulation of un insulated exterior walls.

Polyisocyanurate insulation materials polyisocyanurate or polyiso is a thermosetting type of plastic closed cell foam that contains a low conductivity hydrochlorofluorocarbon free gas in its cells. Material costs are about 0 31 per square foot for each inch of thickness plus installation costs. Expanded polystyrene foam eps is the cheapest and least used foam board product on the market. In this application the puffed beads are poured into the wall cavity between the studs by drilling a hole in the top of the wall.

Each type comes with unique advantages. Department of energy while inspectapedia reports the r value of polystyrene beads at 2 3 per inch. Select 2 to 4 items to compare. Your images show mechanically crushed eps polystyrene.

It provides r values that range from 3 6 to 4 2 per inch. Recent concerns have been raised about the brominated flame retardant hbcd hexabromocyclododecane for the organic chemists among us see flame retardant used in polystyrene to be banned by eu that is found in all polystyrene insulation both extruded. Additional r value for a masonry wall constructed using these materials needs to add the insulating value of additional wall components typically included such as 1 solid foam polyisocyanurate r 8 extruded polystyrene r 5 expanded polystyrene r 4 or 1 of perlite r 2 7 and for an exterior air film winter no wind r 0 17 an interior. Expanded polystyrene insulation is similar to the foam used for packing peanuts and it s typically used for insulated concrete forms also knows as icf s.

If the puffed beads fill the cavity the space can obtain r values close to that of fiberglass insulation. Insulation is a critical component of buildings. Perlite and vermiculite granular fill offer an r value of up to 2 4 per inch according to the u s.