ThermalTight

GPS or Graphite Polystyrene insulation is always Neopor by BASF. It’s a patented technology using graphite to reflect radiant heat energy, rather than harmful blowing agents and gasses. BASF is an industry leader in sustainability and performance in the built environment. 

Neopor® Plus Graphite Polystyrene (GPS) insulation boards are fire and code approved by UL and ICC for ASTM E84, NFPA 285 and NFPA 286 for use in commercial cavity wall with a wide range of cladding approvals.  

Best Overall Value & Performance: Neopor

Unlike some rigid foam insulation materials, Neopor® Graphite Polystyrene increases in R-value as temperatures drop. Made up of small pockets of air rather than harmful blowing agents, the graphite in Neopor GPS reflects radiant heat energy – increasing the material’s resistance to the flow of heat, what we refer to as R-value.

 Maintains the highest long-term R-value of any insulation material on the market.
 Increases in R-value as temperatures drop. R5 per nominal inch @ 75°F; R5.2 @40°F; 5.4 @25°F
 Class III Vapor Retarder, semi-permeable, allows wall to dry
 Reduces the risk of rot or mold in the wall assembly
 Sustainable – zero harmful blowing agents or gasses
 Uses up to 30% less materials in manufacturing process than other insulation types
 Does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
 Versatile – above grade, below grade, under slab, walls, roofs
 Suitable for all climates

Learn more about the sustainability of Neopor here.

EPS or Expanded Polystyrene insulation 

EPS, XPS & Polyiso

If it’s white, pink, blue, green, or shiny silver foil faced –  you’ve seen these common rigid foam types of insulation board.

EPS (expanded polystyrene) is the white one. It’s made of polystyrene beads that expand under heat and fuse together, then are molded into sheets or blocks (ex. ICF, SIPS, and EFIS). EPS offers the lowest R-value (R 3.6), but it’s also the cheapest board on the market. EPS is popular because it’s versatile, widely available, and has no off-gassing, or “thermal drift”. The R-value it provides the day it’s installed is the same R-value it has 20 years later. EPS contains no CFCs or HCFCs in the blowing process, so it’s “greener” than both XPS, and Polyiso. A good entry level material for the price conscious, EPS gets the job done – but it’s not as durable as other types, and it’s a major contributor to trash pollution. That white foam used in packaging and disposable food containers? That’s EPS. 

XPS or Extruded Polystyrene insulation 

XPS (extruded polystyrene) is the one known as Styrofoam. It’s made of up the same small beads EPS is made of, but they’re formed differently. XPS offers a higher R-value than EPS, and more moisture and mildew resistance – but it off-gasses over time, losing R-value due to “thermal drift”. It’s manufactured using HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons ) as a blowing agent to expand the polystyrene. Concerned about global warming and sustainability? XPS isn’t your top pick. It is versatile like EPS, good for above and below grade, under slab, walls and roofs –  while offering more durability. Common brands of XPS are Dow Styrofoam Blue Board, Owens Corning FOAMULAR pink board, and GreenGuard by Kingspan.

Polysio or Polyisocyanurate 

Polyiso has the advantage of offering the highest R-value per inch – and the price reflects it. But that R-value will decrease over time, due to off gassing of blowing agents. Manufactured by blowing foam up against foil or paper, it’s most often foil-faced, and extremely sturdy. Used most commonly for commercial roofs, it’s limited to above grade applications. Polyiso is impermeable – no moisture can pass through, which means it’s not suitable for hot & humid climates. It does a highly effective job in specifically designed assemblies, but can cause some serious moisture issues when it’s used improperly. While it has a low global warming potential, it is considered the least environmentally friendly of exterior insulation materials.

Mineral Wool 

Mineral wool is the most commonly used “natural” exterior insulation material – it’s made from stone wool. Water repellant and extremely fire resistant, it’s a favorite amongst architects and builders looking for maximum fire protection, energy-efficiency, sustainability, and the added benefit of sound-dampening.  It offers an R-value of R4 per inch, and maintains it over time. While mineral wool is quite versatile, it’s the most vapor open of all exterior insulation types, so it cannot be used as any type of vapor retarder or air barrier. The most expensive of the types we’ve compared – it’s dense and heavy to work with, requiring special fasteners to install. Best known types of mineral wool are ROCKWOOL & Thermafiber by Owens Corning.