STYROFOAM-A from Dow sets new eco standards
Sustainable insulation solution to help meet Code demands
19 June 2008
STYROFOAM™-A foam insulation products from Dow Building Solutions are being made available for the first time in the UK - supporting the government-introduced mandatory ratings for new housing under the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The new insulation materials use recycled carbon dioxide - as well as CO2 naturally occurring in the air - as a blowing agent to create the famous blue extruded polystyrene foam materials, which are used to insulate floors, walls and roofs in commercial and residential buildings.
"Better performing insulation products are increasingly in demand as regulations around the thermal performance of buildings become tighter and we move towards the zero carbon home targeted for 2016," said Jayne Law, UK and Ireland sales manager for Dow Building Solutions.
"We believe recovering CO2 and using it to create thermal insulation products that in turn increase energy efficiency of buildings provides a win-win situation, giving specifiers and architects the ideal choice when looking for products to help meet increasingly stringent sustainability targets."
STYROFOAM-A foam meets the Code for Sustainable Homes Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five. It also maintains properties the building industry has come to rely on from STYROFOAM insulation products - lightweight yet robust performance, high strength and excellent moisture resistant properties. STYROFOAM products are also 100% recyclable meaning zero waste potential.
Dow Building Solutions is offering its famous ROOFMATE™, FLOORMATE™ and PERIMATE™ products in STYROFOAM-A foam grade versions, meaning environmentally better insulation solutions for roofs, floors and even below ground.
All new homes must be rated against the Code for Sustainable Homes since May 1 2008, and all new social housing must now be built to a minimum Code level 3 (a 6 star rating is the highest sustainability a home can achieve). Nine sustainability categories are listed in the Code: energy and water efficiency, materials, surface water run off, waste, pollution, health and well being, management and ecology.
Dow Building Solutions' STYROFOAM products can help the construction industry in meeting demands set in a number of categories, particularly energy efficiency, materials and waste.
The process of extruding polystyrene foam generates a mass of small, homogeneous closed cells which give the final product high design loads, low water absorption and of course excellent insulating properties. Such features have made the material suitable for a wide range of applications, from inverted roofs to below ground insulation, and from commercial and industrial floors.
STYROFOAM not only improves thermal efficiency of buildings, but it is easy to cut with standard tools, making it easier to shape thereby generating less waste on site. It's also not easily damaged if dropped or walked on.
For more details on stockists, contact Dow Building Solutions' customer service team on 020 3139 4000.
Notes to editors:
Dow Building Solutions, a division of The Dow Chemical Company, is dedicated to supplying the construction industry with innovative and effective solutions. The product range includes STYROFOAM blue extruded foamed polystyrene insulation, GREAT-STUFF™ polyurethane foam sealant, FROTH-PAK™ polyurethane foam spray systems, INSTA-STIK™ polyurethane adhesives and a range of accessories.
For media information contact:
Kirsten@kdpr.co.uk
01295 780152
Customer contact:
Dow Building Solutions
Diamond House, Lotus Park,
Kingsbury Crescent, Staines,
Middlesex, TW18 3AG
Tel.: 020 3139 4000
Fax: 020 3139 4013
