Is XPS insulation material suitable for a residential complex?
anup_ibs
| Posted in Green Products and Materials on
What type of insulation material are generally use for residential building? Is XPS insulation material suitable for a residential building? Have you provided a few residential project names in India, where builders have used XPS material as an insulation material?
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Replies
Anup,
In the U.S., the most common insulation material used for residential construction is the fiberglass batt. (Just because it is the most common type of insulation doesn't mean it is the best).
XPS is commonly used in the U.S. under concrete slabs, at the perimeter of concrete slabs, and to insulate concrete foundation walls (for basements and crawl spaces). It is also used on the exterior side of wood-framed walls and CMU walls, although polyisocyanurate is usually preferred by environmentally conscious builders.
Construction practices in India are undoubtedly different from construction practices in the U.S., and different materials are likely to be available there. While wood-framed construction is common in the U.S., it is rare in India.
In India there are several manufacturers of rock wool insulation (made from steel-making slag), which has the advantage of being fireproof (unlike rigid foam), but requires air barriers to function well. It is a superior product to fiberglass in most residential applications IMHO.
XPS requires fire-resistant materials to be used for fire protection in most building applications (including residential applications.) It is both more expensive, and more environmentally damaging than rock wool too- use it sparingly.