What is EPS?

What is EPS?

EPS is the acronym for expanded polystyrene, a lightweight, closed cell rigid foam. Available in various compressive resistances sizes, and shapes, EPS is a highly versatile product that is commonly used as insulation in the building envelope, as a structural alternative to soil in infrastructure projects, as well as for specialty applications such as packaging or structured insulation panels.

How is EPS Used?

In building enclosures, EPS is widely used as continuous insulation over foundations, floors, walls and roofs, to eliminate thermal bridging, increasing total effective RSI/R-value for increased energy-efficiency and reduced energy costs. In infrastructure projects, EPS is used as a non-shifting alternative to soil, to stabilize and reduce lateral loads in various engineered applications including roads, highways, bridges, retaining walls, etc. EPS is also used in geotechnical engineered applications such as the insulation of utility lines. Lastly, EPS is used in a variety of non-construction applications. For instance, it is commonly used for building components, buoyancy component material for floating structures, for packaging, display and numerous other custom applications.

How is EPS Made?

EPS is made from polystyrene beads that are expanded (using pentane and steam) and molded together with no additives or dyes. EPS is fully sustainable, does not degrade over time, and is free of HCFCs, which enables it to have stable R-value (no thermal drift), resulting in long-term thermal performance (unlike other rigid foams alternatives that lose R-value over time due to off gassing). The closed cell structure assures constant thermal performance and excellent resistance to moisture absorption. It is also inert to a wide range of chemicals, and will not support the growth of insects, parasites or animal and plant life.

Tell Me About Plasti-Fab’s Solutions

Part of Carlisle Companies (NYSE: CSL), Plasti-Fab is leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of EPS serving the Canadian market (for the U.S, refer to Insulfoam). Plasti-Fab produces EPS in both standard and customizable shapes and sizes, in densities ranging from R3.75 per inch to R4.7 per inch, and compressive resistances from 10 psi up to 60 psi. 

Plasti-Fab EPS solutions for commercial business use are marketed under the PlastiSpan^® (unfaced products), Enerspan^® (laminated products) or Energreen^® (graphite enhanced polystyrene products) trademarks. For homeowners, our insulation panels are available exclusively through Home Depot Canada under the Durospan^® brand name. 

For infrastructure projects, GeoSpec^® is our brand name for moulded blocks used as structural, lightweight fill material, whereas GeoSpan^® and GeoVoid^® are the trademarks used for compressible fill between concrete structures and expansive soils. PlastiSpan insulation is also used in geotechnical engineered applications such as the insulation of utility lines. 

Plasti-Fab has been manufacturing and supplying EPS product solutions since 1968. Recognized as a leader in the North American EPS industry, we are committed to continuously developing new products and applications and using our technical expertise to assist customers in making the right product choice for their applications