Nov 12 2014
Just one year ago, ACH Foam Technologies changed the insulation industry by releasing Foam-Control Plus+, an architectural grade EPS insulation. With a range of high compressive strengths and high R-value, Foam-Control Plus+ is a premium grade insulation available at a lower cost than other rigid foam insulations.
ACH Foam Technologies’ EPS Foam-Control Plus+ absorbs less moisture and retains its R-value better than XPS alternatives.
During the past year, Foam-Control Plus+ has given architects, designers, and contractors a high-quality insulation alternative with the same strength, energy efficiency, and moisture resistance that they depend on. From frost-line to roof-line, Foam-Control Plus+ has been used for perimeter insulation, under-slab insulation, cavity wall insulation, sheathing, pre-cast concrete applications, green roofs, plaza decks, and waterproofing.
Foam-Control Plus+ has proven to be a cost-efficient, quality alternative to XPS because of its superior ability to maintain its R-value when exposed to moisture in real-life conditions. Moisture diminishes the R-value of all polystyrene resins, whether expanded or extruded. EPS insulation, such as Foam-Control Plus+, has a higher permeability than XPS insulation and releases moisture more easily. This means that over the life of the product, EPS insulation actually holds its R-value better.
EPS's permeability provides the material with the ability to dry out after absorbing water, making it a more effective insulation over time. That permeability gives EPS foam an advantage over XPS insulation in real life situations.
In a study that began in 1993, scientists placed XPS and EPS side-by-side as exterior vertical wall insulation that separated the heated foundation from the soil in a building in St. Paul, Minnesota. Samples were removed in the summer of 2008 and tested immediately upon excavation for R-value. Researchers found that EPS retained 98% of its stated R-value and had only 4.8% moisture content. On the other hand, XPS retained 52% of its stated R-value and had a moisture content of 18.9%.
Not only does EPS retain its R-value better than XPS over time in tests that simulate real-life use, it also costs significantly less. At equal R-values, ACH Foam Technologies' Foam-Control Plus+ architectural grade insulation costs 10% to 30% less than XPS.