Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Israel: Chemicals company ICL has launched VeriQuel R100, a reactive phosphorous flame retardant for rigid polyurethane (PU) insulation. VeriQuel R100 chemically bonds with the polymer matrix in PU insulation. ICL invested US$2m in the development of VeriQuel R100. Four US-based roofing producers also launched products featuring VeriQuel R100, with six more reportedly ‘in development’ in the US and Europe.

Netherlands/Israel: ICL has completed ramping up its compaction capabilities and is now producing a range of its sustainable polymeric flame retardant at full capacity, to 12,000Mt/yr, at its Industrial Products (IP) plants in Israel and the Netherlands. The flame retardant, which is marketed by ICL IP under the brand name FR-122P, is an alternative for customers transitioning from hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardants currently used by the building industry in extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation products.

FR-122P is now available from both plants in three grades of products: powder material, EPS compacted grade and XPS compacted grade using ICL IP’s in-house compaction technology. FR-122P is manufactured by ICL IP using technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

Israel: The release of asbestos fibres from hundreds of roofs that were shattered by missiles fired on southern Israel has caused a spreading environmental hazard, according to state authorities. A plan to remove and replace all of the asbestos roofs built in the border area before 2015 was announced.

Asbestos roofs are becoming a dangerous threat, according to the Environmental Protection minister Amir Peretz. "I have informed the regional council that, in order to protect residents from the threat of asbestos, we will prepare a joint programme with all the relevant bodies to replace the asbestos roofs on hundreds of houses along the front line with Gaza," said Peretz.

Israel banned the use of asbestos in building projects in 2005. Replacing all asbestos roofs in the Gaza perimeter region will cost an estimated US$2.3m, part of which will be covered by the residents.