EPS offers outstanding benefits in construction projects:

• Thermal Insulation:
  Due to its closed cell structure, comprising 98% air bound by a cellular polymer matrix, EPS has exceptionally low thermal conductivity. In the construction industry this results in greatly reduced heat loss and buildings with significantly improved energy efficiency. This insulation performance will not degrade over time, ensuring full thermal efficiency across the lifetime of the building. The energy used to manufacture the EPS is recovered in just six months after the building comes into use.
  
  
• Material and Labour Saving:
  In addition to being an extremely cost-effective material (typically 20% less than mineral wool or poly-isocyanurate), EPS requires only one waterproof membrane compared with two for the alternative materials. It is also easy to handle, transport, store and cut on site without the need for safety measures such protective clothing, masks or goggles. This represents significant savings in labour and material costs.
  
  
• Lightweight:
  EPS is 98% air, helping make it one of the lightest of all construction materials. This brings significant beneficial impacts when it comes to handling, transportation and fuel costs.
  
  
• Mechanical Strength:
  EPS can be manufactured with different levels of mechanical strength to suit specific applications including high compressive strength for load-bearing applications.
  
  
• Versatile and Durable:
  EPS can be used in foundations or in conjunction with common building materials such as concrete, cement, mortar, plaster, brick, masonry, steel, timber and bitumen-based DPM. It is non-hygroscopic which means it does not readily absorb or retain moisture from the atmosphere. It is also rot-proof, making it ideal for direct contact with earth in substructure applications. It does not require dry indoor storage and does not become friable or saturated.
  
  
• Environmentally Safe and Recyclable:
  EPS is non-toxic, inert and contains no CFCs or HCFCs. It does not support fungal, bacteriological or animal growth. EPS can easily be recycled or beneficially recovered where facilities exist. BRE Environmental Profiles give EPS outstanding cradle-to-grave credentials, scoring just 0.043 over a sixty year life span – much lower than alternative materials. Read more about EPS in the environment.