Wetherby is the first EWI provider in the UK to gain BBA certification for a grey EPS insulation board to be used with both silicone and dash render finishes.
Following the EpsiTherm insulation board completing all BBA testing in May, the new BBA certifications allow Wetherby to provide a fully approved EWI solution utilising a graphite-enhanced EPS insulation board.
The new certifications approve Wetherby’s EpsiTherm insulation board to be used with its Epsiwall (silicone) and Epsicon (dash) systems for new and existing domestic and non-domestic buildings. The key factors assessed to achieve the certification were thermal performance, strength and stability, along with behaviour in relation to fire and risk of condensation.
There has been increasing demand for grey EPS insulation systems among housing associations, social housing providers and contractors, since it thermally outperforms standard white EPS due to its lower K-value, meaning that lower thicknesses are required to achieve required U-values. However, many have been hesitant about utilising a grey EPS EWI solution to date as there has not been a fully approved system available to specifiy that offers both a pebble dash and silicone finish option.
Joe Ragdale, technical manager at Wetherby, comments: “Gaining these BBA certifications reassures housing associations, local authorities and contractors that they are specifying an industry approved product. The demand from the industry for a system comprising grey EPS is huge and with EpsiTherm approved for use with both of our Epsiwall and Epsicon systems, we can now offer customers a complete enhanced EPS EWI solution to meet a variety of project requirements.”
EpsiTherm insulation comprises expanded beads of polystyrene that incorporate a graphite component, which are fused together in a pressurised steam-heated mould. The inclusion of graphite ensures the product offers an enhanced thermal insulation material and using a thickness of just 90mm, EpsiTherm can meet required u-values without much disruption to the external envelope.