The benefits of using Ravatherm XPS floor insulation for floors and basements | Should you use it for your construction project?

Here, we outline what Ravatherm XPS can offer for floor and basement insulation as part of a construction project. We also advise you on the different Ravatherm XPS flooring grades available, helping you to choose the right option for your project.

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• The benefits of Ravatherm XPS - Find out why you may want to use Ravatherm XPS for your project.
• How does XPS compare to other types of polystyrene? - Read how extruded polystyrene compares to expanded polystyrene.
• Which Ravatherm XPS flooring grade do you need for your project? - Find out which Ravatherm XPS flooring grade you need to specify for your project.

This versatile, high-performance extruded polystyrene insulation is available in a range of grades. It is capable of meeting the needs of buildings such as warehouses and industrial environments, as well as domestic buildings. The insulation material boasts a range of advantageous properties that ensure its suitability across a wide range of applications in the construction industry. It is hailed as one of the leading materials for effective and efficient insulation.

Ravatherm XPS can be installed prior to the concrete floor. It is ideal for new build commercial or domestic floors. Key benefits of Ravatherm XPS include:

• Outstanding thermal conductivity performance. Ravatherm continuously measures low on the K-value scale (rating its thermal conductivity), determining it is an effective insulating material by industry standards.
• Designed with a thermal resistance that will meet U-value requirements for building regulations. Thermal resistance (the R-value) is a function of material thickness and the K-value, measuring the rate of heat flow through a material. With its range of thickness, Ravatherm has a high thermal resistance and energy efficiency, designed to achieve necessary U-values.
• Impeccable water and moisture resistance. With its closed-cell structure, Ravatherm assures low and mitigated water and moisture absorption, preventing the degradation of thermal conductivity. This material is a closed-cell design capable of long-term insulation that is even resistant freeze-thaw cycle which degrades the moisture resistance of alternative materials.
• Environmentally friendly. Ravatherm is an environmentally friendly option for under-slab floor insulation, making it a popular choice for insulating floors.

Find out more about Ravatherm XPS here.

Ravatherm is a type of XPS insulation: an effective, reliable choice constructed from extruded polystyrene with rigid closed-cell structures. On the other hand, EPS (expanded) insulation is formed from expansion and comprises small foam beads which are fused to each other in an open-cell structure. Due to this design, there are voids between each bead making this form of insulation vulnerable to water absorption and performance degradation.

Flooring grade Ravatherm XPS foam is available in three compressive strength grades to make it suitable for the loading requirements of most your construction projects. For example, a domestic building would require far less strength than the floor of a factory or commercial building and therefore Ravatherm XPS X 300 SB is the usual grade for most domestic applications. Ravatherm XPS X 500 SL with compressive strength of 500 kPa, is ideal for commercial floors. For cold stores or other heavy-duty spaces, Ravatherm XPS X 700 SL with compressive strength of 700 kPa is ideal.

Contact us for more advice on your requirements.

Panel Systems is one of the leading suppliers of Ravatherm XPS in the UK. We offer end-to-end knowledge, experience, and service in the industry with exceptional client support and expertise in bespoke projects.

We are proud to deliver high-quality and reliable service, ensuring that project deadlines and specifications are met. Enquire today about Ravatherm with Panel Systems.