EPS on concrete floor
In response to a piece on BBC Breakfast on 25 October 2024 examining EPS used as an insulation material, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has published the following statement:
The BPF has concerns that this news item did not adequately reflect the stringent safety standards that expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation material and EPS products used in construction has to meet. Comparing EPS insulation with EPS material used in packaging is incorrect because the former is treated with appropriate flame retardants while also complying with numerous safety and building regulations that are specific to the construction sector. Fire-retarded EPS insulation is a safe building material. This has been demonstrated by several large-scale façade fire tests under the umbrella of the EU project “Finalisation of the European approach to assess the fire performance of façades SI2.825082”, where EPS insulation performed excellently under very severe fire conditions.
It is worth noting that the recently published report into the Grenfell tragedy did not mention EPS at all, as it did not play a role in the fire. In addition, the relevance of the video showing insulating material failing a Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) fire safety test in Australia in 2020 should be questioned. The Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) reviewed this test early in 2021 and concluded the UK has “very different” insulation systems to the one shown in the CSIRO video.
At the time, INCA stated: “The design of the EPS system tested, notably, the absence of fire barriers, the wall construction selected for the test and the resulting conclusions stated in the above report are in no way representative of EPS based external wall insulation systems (specified historically pre-December 2018) by INCA members for use on multi-storey buildings in the UK.”
Fire safety is of paramount importance to those that supply EPS materials and products to the construction sector. The BPF hopes that legislators and building insurers take the opportunity to understand the critical details in this matter and acknowledge how UK-compliant EPS that is installed correctly and meets the relevant building regulations is a safe, highly effective and cost-efficient material.