Examples of houses built
Check out the gallery of completed projects where our ICF blocks were used.
Raw materials for the blocks
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)?
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a material derived from petroleum refining by-products. At first glance, we are far from having ecological values! However, styrene molecules, a by-product of the petroleum industry, are processed to produce EPS. The styrene is then expanded and heated with steam to obtain small polystyrene beads that can reach 50 times the original volume. These balls are compressed to obtain a material that consists of 98% air! Industrial waste of less than 1% is recycled and then reused in the next cycle! There is no waste in the production of expanded polystyrene!
This industrial process only requires water vapour. Without the use of any raw materials, it helps to protect natural resources and does not harm the environment or damage theozone layer!
Ecological benefits of expanded polystyrene
Despite popular belief, expanded polystyrene (EPS) is not a pollutant, quite the contrary. Crude oil refining by-products are recycled in EPS production. The EPS production process consumes few resources and therefore contributes to the protection of natural resources. The production of expanded polystyrene (EPS) does not produce any gases that destroy the ozone layer, EPS does not pollute the soil, and it is 100% recyclable, just like PVC or cardboard. EPS permanent formwork blocks are light. They effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport: less weight means fewer trucks and therefore less CO2 emissions.
EPS - a healthy material that does not pose a health risk!
Composed of 98% air, expanded polystyrene (EPS) is an inert, biologically neutral and stable material over time, and it does not decompose. It does not contain fibres or produce particles. It does not promote the development of bacteria and does not cause allergies. It is a non-irritating and non-toxic material that is widely used in many fields, such as microbiology, food packaging production and, of course, construction.
Its main component, styrene monomer, is found naturally in resins of various plants and foods, such as strawberries, nuts, beans, beer or wine. It does not pose a risk to people who manufacture, transport, install or use it in construction. As it does not contain any fibre, no special protection is required when working with it, and no EPS-related occupational disease has been identified so far.
Neopor
Neopor® is a type of expanded polystyrene, a light and durable thermal insulation material made of rigid polystyrene granules with the addition of graphite filler. Graphite absorbs and reflects heat radiation, thus increasing the thermal insulation properties of EPS by almost 20%.
Specifications
- Origin: Neopor® insulation was invented in 1995 by the German BASF Group, on the basis of the classic white Styropor® polystyrene foam, which has been used worldwide since 1951 as an effective thermal insulator.
- Thermal conductivity: 0.032 V / (m2 K) – this is the principal insulation indicator. The lower it is, the better the insulation properties of the material. Neopor® performance is 20% better than that of traditional white EPS, thanks to graphite that stores and reflects heat radiation.
- Water vapour permeability: 0.15 mg/m2 per annum * Pa, resistant to water, most acids and alkalis.
- Fire resistance: Class E, does not support combustion, and is self-extinguishing.
- Density and labelling: EPS 150–25 kg/m³
- Biological effects: absolute resistance to microorganisms, no fungi, mould or any other microorganisms grow on its surface or inside the material, does not lose its shape, is resistant to loads, insoluble in water, chemically neutral, no data on harmful effects on human health!
The excellent efficiency of insulation materials made of Neopor® provides architects, engineers, craftsmen and builders with a significant advantage in construction.
Infrared absorbers or reflectors in Neopor significantly reduce thermal conductivity. The thermal permeability of this material is lower than that of conventional EPS plates. With Neopor, significantly improved insulation performance is achieved, especially for very low density thermal insulation materials. Comparing EPS and NEOPOR material with the same density of 15 kg/m3, NEOPOR achieves thermal conductivity of ≤0.032 W / (m2 K). In turn, the thermal conductivity of EPS is ≥0.037 W / (m2 K). The special properties of the product provide insulation boards made of this material with up to 20% higher performance than conventional EPS, thus further reducing energy consumption.
Other significant advantages of the material:
- Water repellent
- Provides vapour diffusion
- Environmentally friendly with high eco-efficiency
- Resistant to ageing and decay
- Easy to transport due to weight advantages
- No dust, no fibre
- Installation regardless of weather conditions
- Not irritating to skin