XPS is mainly used for thermal insulation of flat roofs as inverted roof constructions. According to this construction principle, the insulation layer is positioned above the waterproofing membrane. This has proven to be advantageous in regard to the durability of the water proofing membrane and of the entire roof. The waterproofing membrane is effectively protected against thermal and mechanical influences during the construction and utilisation period. This function is especially important for roofs which are to be used. The thermal insulation above the membrane requires an insulation material that is durable, resistant against moisture, not biodegradable, and pressure-resistant – in short: XPS.

The inverted roof with XPS has been successful for more than 40 years. The continuous development of XPS and its applications leads to the possibility of using XPS for green roofs as well as for parking decks.

Special products with one-sided mineral coating for retroactive thermal protection-related refurbishments of flat roofs – so called PLUS roof – are also available.

XPS is suitable for a variety of floor constructions. Products with different compressive strength values are available. This enables the thermal insulation of floors in offices, shops, and showrooms, as well as the insulation in industrial buildings, warehouses, and refrigerated storage.

In addition to XPS’s high-pressure resistance and its ability to absorb great stresses or tensions, its elasticity offers a decisive advantage for these applications.

XPS is well suited for the insulation of cold bridges in exterior walls and for cavity wall insulation.

The cold bridge insulation is most important for highly insulated constructions. Beams and pillars in exterior walls, which have to be made of concrete due to static requirements, need cold bridge insulation. XPS insulation products with both natural or grooved surfaces, are very well suited due to their excellent adhesion strength on concrete. Additionally, these insulation boards can be easily plastered in a professional manner.
Due to its high compressive strength and moisture resistance, XPS is especially well suited for cavity wall insulation. XPS has furthermore advantages for the heat insulation of large-sized, pre-fabricated concrete sandwich elements for industrial constructions.

XPS can be used to insulate ceilings in agricultural buildings. In this case the thermal insulation boards are produced without surface patterns and with a high quality surface. The stiffness, the resistance against moisture and the board dimensions are advantages for this application.

XPS boards can also be used as composite boards for the retroactive thermal insulation of a building’s upper floor.

Increasing requirements for thermal insulation result in high thicknesses of insulation layers in pitched roof insulations. However, both the space between the rafters and that below the rafters, is limited for additional insulation material. This is an ideal application for an addition thermal insulation using “above rafter insulation“. The great advantage of this construction is the closed, cold bridge-free exterior thermal insulation. Alternatively, an interior “under rafter insulation“ is also possible.
Thanks to its great bending stability, moisture resistance, and the easy handling at building sites XPS is very well suited for this application.

XPS boards can be used for interior wall and ceiling insulation with plastering for refurbishments. They are also used as a core layer for tile support elements in sanitary areas. Additionally, composite boards with different facings made from plaster, plasterboard, wood, plastics, metal and other products are available.

Sandwich panels with XPS core layers have proven their efficiency over many years and in different technical applications: facade panels for buildings and sandwich elements for the automotive industry and for refrigerated storage constructions.
Various metals, wood, and plastics are used as facings.
XPS is well suited as a core layer because of its good shear strength and high tensile strength as well as its high moisture resistance.

Frost protection is a classical application of XPS.
Special XPS grades are used to prevent roads and railways from frost. A similar effect can be achieved for buildings.

Decades of experience with these applications thoroughly confirm the resistance and durability of XPS, even under extreme conditions, such as the simultaneous impact of humidity and dynamically change of high mechanical loads.