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Airboard Insulation + Vapor Barrier

Insulation + Vapor Barrier

Airboard® combines closed cell Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) rigid insulation with advanced polymeric facers for fast installation and excellent durability. The reflective metallic facers can boost the effective insulation value if installed like a radiant heat barrier against dead air space. Airboards are vapor barriers and serve as an air barrier when the seams, penetrations and transitions are properly sealed.

Airboard EPS Insulation + Vapor Barrier

Benefits

   Exceptional Insulation Value

Budget-friendly, stable Long-Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) with a radiant heat barrier

   Cozy, Healthy Indoor Environments

Continuous insulation blanket with no formaldehyde nor off-gassing during normal use, does not promote the growth of mold or mildew

   A Breeze to Install

For high jobsite productivity, Airboards are multi-purpose, large, lightweight & easy to handle and cut with 2" markers

   Environmentally Responsible

Excellent durability while using air as insulator - not global-warming gases such as CFC, HCFC, or HFC

   Reduced Waste & Damage

Double-sided lamination greatly increases board strength & flexibility and keeps jobsites cleaner


Applications

Continuous Rigid Insulation + Vapor Barrier for new construction & retrofits of foundation walls, concrete slabs, tilt-up walls, interior of above-grade walls (in heating climates), floors, frost walls, crawl-spaces, cathedral ceilings, attics, radiant floor heating systems, snow melt and de-icing systems and more in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings

Airboard Vapor Barrier Applications

Airboard EPS Insulation + Vapor Barrier

Airboards are 4' x 8' [1.22m x 2.44m] with thicknesses from 1" to 6" [25-152mm] packed in bundles up to 12½" high. The EPS insulation core is laminated on both sides with 1 mil [25.4μm] metallic reflective facers made of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and other polymers. EPS is closed cell foam insulation that uses air as main ingredient. Airboard® Insulation meets the requirements of CAN/ULC-S701 "Standard for Thermal Insulation, Polystyrene, Boards and Pipe Covering" and ASTM C578 "Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation".

Property Units Airboard® VB Types Test Std.
100 160 250
Third-Party Certified EPS Type Canada 1 2 3 CAN/ULC-S701
USA I II IX ASTM C578
Compressive Resistance1,4
@ 10% Deformation, minimum
psi 10 16 25 ASTM D1621
Proc.A
kPa 70 110 172
Thermal Resistance1,2,3 Minimum at mean temperatures of:
R-value/inch thickness ft²•hr•°F/ (BTU•in) 25°F: 6 4.2 4.6 4.8 ASTM C518
or C177
40°F: 6 4.0 4.4 4.6
75°F: 3.75 4.04 4.27
RSI / 25mm thickness m²•°C/ (W•25mm) -4°C: 6 0.73 0.80 0.83
4°C: 6 0.69 0.76 0.80
24°C: 0.65 0.70 0.74
Air Permeance2,6
tested at 1" thickness
CFM/ft² at 1.57 psf 0.0002 ASTM E2178
l/(s•m²) at 75 Pa 0.001
Water Vapor Permeance1,2
tested at 1" thickness
perm 0.13 0.13 0.03 ASTM E96
desiccant
ng/(Pa•s•m²) 7.5 7.4 1.5
Water Absorption1,5
tested with facers @ 1"-thick
% by
volume
USA     0.3 ASTM C272, 1 day
Canada     0.7 ASTM D2842, 4 days
EPS Water Absorption1,5
maximum without facers
% by
volume
USA 4 3 2 ASTM C272, 1 day
Canada 6 4 2 ASTM D2842, 4 days
EPS Flexural Strength1
minimum without facers
psi 25 35 50 ASTM C203
Proc.B
kPa 172 240 345
Density7 Nominal 6 lbs/ft³ 1 2 ASTM D1622
Minimum7 kg/m³ 14.4 21.6 28.8

¹ The test methods used to determine the material properties provide a means of comparing different cellular plastic thermal insulations. They are intended for use in specifications, product evaluations and quality control but they are not intended to predict end-use product performance.  ² Values are for 1 inch or 25mm thick samples with laminated skins intact and seams, fasteners & penetrations properly sealed. Better values will result for thicker materials.  ³ R means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.  4 The elastic limit is between 1% and 2% strain. Compressive resistances at 10% strain are provided for applications where the intended end-use can tolerate plastic (permanent) deformation under load.  5 The lab-test methods for water absorption use complete submersion under a head of water for 24 or 96 hours, so the values are applicable to specific design requirements only when the end-use conditions are similar to test method requirements.   6 not part of all the industry consensus standards (ASTM C578, CAN/ULC-S701) and provided AS-IS solely for informational purposes  7 Minimum Density only applicable to USA-bound products per ASTM C578 (not Canada-bound products per CAN/ULC-S701).

Additional Properties of EPS

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) resists mold & fungi growth per ASTM C1338 and has no nutritional value for insects. To protect against termites place adequate physical barriers such as membranes around below-grade EPS.
Max. Service Temperature: Long-Term Exposure 75°C [167°F], Intermittent Exposure 80°C [176°F]
Thermal Expansion coefficient: 5-7•10-5/°K
Dimensional Stability¹: max. 1.5% linear change per ASTM D2126 (7 Days @ 70±2°C)
Solubility: Insoluble in water and in general chemically inert. EPS dissolves in hydrocarbons (e.g. fuels, oils, tar), organic solvents (e.g. acetone/ketones, benzene, paint thinner), ethers, esters, aldehydes and amines. Capillarity: None
UV-light surface degradation: white EPS can be exposed to direct sunlight for a few weeks. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light creates a yellow dust on the surface of EPS products which has negligible impact on the products' properties but may require removal before adhering other materials such as stucco or self-adhesive membranes.
Surface Burning Characteristics Canada CAN/ULC-S102.2: Flame-Spread Rating ≤295, Smoke Developed Classification over 500.   USA ASTM E84 (UL 723)ª: Flame Spread Index ≤25, Smoke-Developed Index ≤450 up to 6" thick
Limiting Oxygen Index: min. 24% per ASTM D2863. Airfoam's EPS for construction applications contains a polymeric (non-HBCD) fire retardant modifier.
CAUTION: EPS products are combustible and must not be exposed to excessive heat, sparks, open flames, or any other sources of ignition. A protective barrier or thermal barrier is required as specified in the appropriate building code. If stored/used in closed containers, confined, or low-lying areas, ensure adequate ventilation to prevent accumulation of flammable pentane vapours. Prevent inhalation of smoke, fumes or dust from burning or fabrication activities. GHS Classification: Non-Hazardous, see SDS

ª Ceiling measurement only, conducted through determination of flame spread index and smoke-developed index with the removal of any contribution of molten materials ignited on the floor of the Steiner tunnel.