Airpop insulation is a hot solution for reduced heating bills in new UK homes

The potential offered by airpop engineered air (formerly known as expanded polystyrene) to reduce home heating bills in new build properties is significant, according to the Chairman of the material’s group within the British Plastics Federation (BPF).

David Emes says the use of airpop will make cold, non-insulated flooring a thing of the past in new houses and apartments, where cavity wall and roof insulation are the accepted norm.

A recently released video showing how the material can be advantageous to house builders is being promoted in order to highlight its potential for energy conservation, reduced fuel bills and significant savings of time and installation costs on site, whether used in simple slab or tailored ‘beam and block’ applications.

“We wanted to make this video to show the ease and simplicity that airpop brings to flooring insulation. The film is sponsored by the UK’s main manufacturers of airpop and each of them is able to offer expert advice on the use of the material on any project large or small,” explained Emes.

The constant insulation value across the full life of a building – means thermal performance for grey EPS/Airpop is 0.03 W/mK and for white - 0.038 W/mK for EPS 70 falling as low as 0.032 for higher density EPS 500.

The new video, which can be viewed here, demonstrates that airpop is exceptionally lightweight and can be transported to site and lifted into place where it is easily cut and installed with no special equipment needed.

Once in place, it provides a firm, level insulation ready to take the final screed. It can also create a ventilated airspace and even act as a stable ‘carrying board’ for underfloor heating systems below the screed.

As well as high impact strength, lightweight and design versatility, airpop also offers outstanding environmental credentials. It is 98 percent air - bound in a polymer matrix.

It’s recyclable at the end of its life and has BBA Approval, BRE Certification and many wider industry accreditations. It also comes “closest of any modern building material to fulfilling the 60-year performance life target set by the UK Building Regulations,” added Emes.

As an extra reassurance to housebuilders, he added, is the fact that airpop is non-toxic, chemically inert, non-irritant and rot-proof. Fungi and bacteria cannot grow on the material and it is insoluble and non-hygroscopic.

“Moisture contact will not lead to product or performance deterioration which means it can also be used as clay heave protection in foundations,” Emes concluded.