Our products meets all minimum physical properties required by regulation CAN.ULCS701.

Like many building materials, EPS is flammable. Styro Rail insulation is manufactured with a flame retardant.  However, it is likely to burn if exposed to a large continuous flame or a heavy heat source including a naked flame blowtorch. Polystyrene insulation must be covered with a protective or thermal barrier to conform to applicable building and municipal codes.

EPS should not be exposed to volatile hydrocarbons, such as fuels, oils, gasoline, and some alcohols. Petrolium based solvent and anhydrous acids may also affect EPS.

Expanded Polystyrene: A Stable Product.
EPS can withstand wide temperature variations and provide long-term performance.  At Dynatech Research and Development Company in Cambridge Massassuchett, EPS core samples removed from aged, existing freezer walls proved that EPS withstands freeze/thaw cycling without losing its structural integrity or other physical properties.  Source: "Expansible Polystyrene Insulation", EPS Molders Association.

The "R" factor of a product is a measure of thermal resistance.  A high R value indicates a better resistance to the thermal flow.  The R value of Styro Rail insulation is stable because of its manufacturing process.  The closed cell structure of the EPS contains no chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) or of partially halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC).  Since the expansion agent used in the EPS manufactur is diffused after a few hours after the moulding process, EPS insulation does not undergo reduction in its insulating capacity.  Its R value remains constant during its entire life cycle.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause a light discoloration of the product.  However, this change of color does not affect the physical properties and the integrity of the insulation.  In order to limit discoloration, EPS insulation stored outside must be protected by an opaque material that does not let sunlight through.

When a roof is insulated using EPS, the application temperatures of hot asphalt should not exceed 121 °C (250 °F) when in direct contact with the insulation.  Avoid the contact between the EPS and the high temperature equipment.

Many allergy sufferers avoid certain products during the construction of their new house.  Fibrous products and, adhesives emitting harmful emissions are avoided.  Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is completely inert, does not emit any toxic vapor, is hypo allergenic and completely safe to human and animal health. 

People are familiar with expanded polystyrene and usually use it.  Did you know that foam coffee cups are made of expanded polystyrene?

Aim for healthy comfort!
Styro Rail insulation is made of rigid and closed plastic cells to ensure optimal thermal performance and excellent water resistance.  It does not contain CFCs and respects all environmental standards.  Easy to transport and handle, Styro Rail insulation is inert, stable and does not represent any food value and will not attract animals, insects, parasites or plants.

Recycling
EPS can be recycled!  Industry waste can be reused directly in the production.  Post-production waste can also be recycled, up to 40% of recycled product for 60% of virgin raw material.  Although it is easy to recycle the EPS during production, the recycling of general consumer products made of EPS is not as easy. EPS is included in the plastic category No 6.  Unfortunately, few cities and municipalities have the necessary installations to recycle No 6 plastic (foam coffee cups, plastic plates, appliance foam packing, etc).

Interesting Comparisons
There are three types of rigid insulations:  expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and polyisocyanurate insulation. 

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the only insulation to contain an expanding agent which does not harm the ozonosphere.  Extruded polystyrene (XPS) contains the blowing agents HCFC-1412b and HCFC-22 while polyisocyanurate contains HCFC-141b.  This is why expanded polystyrene does not have the same insulating factor as extruded polystyrene.  The air contained within EPS results in an insulating factor of R4 per inch compared to R5 per inch for XPS.  The HCFC blowing agent still contained in the XPS gives it a higher thermal resistance.  Because of the harmful effects caused by the HCFC contained in XPS (and other products), the Montreal Protocol requires the progressive reduction in the use of HCFCs.  The Montreal Protocol gives until 2030 for industries to eliminate them completely.

HCFCs are tolerated in construction materials even if they are harmful to the environment.  The Montreal Protocol allows some time to companies to develop less harmful products. Companies that produce extruded polystyrene insulation and polyisocyanurate are developing products that will replace HCFCs by HFCs.  As long as these new products have not been proven reliable, expanded polystyrene remains the most ecological choice.