Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: Following a successful pilot launch during 2014, Dow Building Solutions has announced the commercial roll-out of XENERGY^TM, a brand new, flame-retarded, XPS roof insulation product. In a departure from the blue STYROFOAM^TM boards that the company is widely known for, the XENERGY^TM boards manufactured by Dow Building Solutions' King's Lynn production site in Norfolk County, will be steel grey in colour.

Dow, the inventor of STYROFOAM, has developed XENERGY to achieve a significantly improved λ insulation performance and to deliver a global warming potential (GWP) of less than five. Through combining a manufacturing process which uses CO₂ as the blowing agent and adding infra-red blocking particles to scatter and reflect heat radiation within the foam board, λ values have been increased by 11%.

XENERGY SL, the first XENERGY product available in the UK, is designed to offer highly moisture-resistant flat roof insulation at thinner thicknesses than conventional XPS alternatives. XENERGY SL offers 4mW thermal conductivity gains in various thicknesses.

"The UK is leading the way with the commercial roll-out of XENERGY, a product that has numerous benefits, including significantly improved thermal performance," said Chris Gimson, head of commercial at Dow Building Solutions. "It signifies a new era for the business and demonstrates our commitment to formulating and manufacturing the highest standard insulation materials."