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As a committed member of Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA), Foamex developed the Diamond Pods® lightweight polystyrene waffle pods as an alternative solution to the traditional void former system for under concrete slab insulation and construction. In comparison with traditional pours, the lightweight polystyrene waffle pods produce superior insulation suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

The expanded polystyrene used in the production of Diamond Pods® contains natural air pockets which effectively inhibits heat transfer to and from the system. Foamex takes the insulation power up a notch by integrating moulded cells within the unique design of the lightweight polystyrene waffle pods. With a long-term R-value of R1.0 (W/mK thermal resistance), the under concrete slab insulation material is able to maintain a year-round comfortable indoor temperature.

An inside look at efforts by University of Technology Sydney students to find creative ways to repurpose expanded polystyrene.

In a recently published article on The Conversation (1), Tom Lee, a lecturer in the Faculty of Design and Architecture Building at the University of Technology Sydney, outlined potential design opportunities for waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) to be repurposed instead of going into landfill.

The NSW Government has followed its Victorian counterpart and introduced a building product use ban that prohibits the use of aluminium composite panels with a core comprised of greater than 30 per cent polyethylene. Such products were found in the tragic Grenfell Tower and Melbourne Lacrosse building fires.

Announcing the NSW ban, which came into effect on August 15, NSW Commissioner for Fair Trading, Rose Webb, said she considered a broad range of sources, including public submissions, expert advice, national and international reports, and NSW Cladding Taskforce data.

In the world of building and construction, careful consideration must be given to every element of the build to ensure stringent environmental standards are adhered to.

Everything, from the building plans and design through to the very materials used in the build, needs to be examined to ensure it meets the long list of guidelines set out by the relevant governing bodies.

There’s a right and a wrong way to dispose of expanded polystyrene. Which are you using?

The increasing emphasis on sustainability transforms the way industry players are specifying building materials, including versatile extruded polystyrene sheets. It is common knowledge that the energy-efficiency of a building structure depends on the materials utilised in creating its envelope. Hence, choosing the right insulating material is crucial in achieving the required insulation performance of a building project.

With a track record spanning more than three decades, Foamex remains one of the respected industry leaders responsible for the innovation, creation, and distribution of expanded and extruded polystyrene.

If you have purchased an existing home, there is a good chance you’ve had some changes in mind since you first fell in love with your place. Maybe a lick of paint to brighten up some rooms and the outside? Rip up some carpet and let the floorboards shine through?

There is hardly any products as versatile, sturdy or reusable as polystyrene.

The building industry has seen many changes, and evolved many times, in order to find safer and more efficient methods and materials to use. From single to double storey dwellings, wood and stone to concrete, built-onsite to pre-fabricated. Although we are only scraping the tip of the iceberg, all these innovations and changes have enabled homes and buildings to be built faster and safer than ever before.

Polystyrene is well known within the building and construction industry thanks to its inherent strength and insulation properties. But did you know that it is also used to help stabilise bridges, tunnels, roads, and rail infrastructure.

Last month, the Victorian Cladding Taskforce delivered an interim report calling for bans on certain cladding products for multi-storey buildings.  Aluminium Cladding Panels with a polyethylene core of more than 30 per cent, like what was found in the Grenfell and Melbourne Lacross building fires, will be banned on all multi-storey buildings in Victoria.  The polyethelene bears no relationship to the expanded polystyrene (EPS) products manufactured by Foamex.  However, the Taskforce have concluded that expanded polystyrene will be banned on multi-storey buildings.

In February 2010, the Energy Efficient Homes Package, otherwise known as the home insulation scheme, was discontinued in the face of controversy and alleged fraud. Since then, insulation has become somewhat of a little discussed home feature that should be as important as planning your dream kitchen.

Now that the sun has almost set on summer, the predictions for the upcoming winter have started to trickle in like the first cool breaths under the door and through the floorboards. But it doesn’t have to be like that.

Australia can be a land of extremes when it comes to weather. We are able to bear the everyday temperatures quite well, but it is only when things become extreme that we wished we had installed air-conditioning or heating in the home. Once they have been bought and installed, we’re still reluctant to use them because of the energy costs associated with the running them. Yet what most are unaware, is that insulation is one of the best ways in which to lower heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

Generally, we discuss the merit behind the application of foam within the construction industry, however in this blog we will take a detour down a coastal highway. Foam’s versatility has helped evolve a pastime that has been part of the Australian culture since 1915. Surfing.

First introduced to Australia in 1915 by Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku, it wasn’t until the 1950’s that surfing’s popularity really started to take off in Australia thanks to a visit by Hawaiian and mainland American lifeguards. During their display, the crowds were treated to the sight of the increased performance capabilities that fiberglass/balsawood boards possessed. These shorter and lighter designs, now equipped with fins and rocker, were already popular in California and able to manoeuvre and accelerate across the face of a wave.

With 2017 in the rear view mirror, we can now turn our gaze towards the future and opportunities and possibilities that 2018 hold. 

If you are a small business then it may be a good time to look at things that can help promote your business, or give it a more professional edge; your external signage.

The Esky is pretty much a standard piece of equipment for every house in Australia. In some families, there may even be an Esky that has been passed down through the generations. You know the one…

While we have all been in contact with one at some point in our lives, very few know about the history of the humble Esky, so here is a brief history our best friend in summer.

Polystyrene is the material of choice for a range of packaging applications, including electronic equipment, white goods, toys and other fragile products.

The benefits of using polystyrene packaging starts with the fact that it’s lightweight. Not adding any extra weight is a cost effective transportation solution that saves on costs and labour. It can be easily shaped to create form-fitting spaces to provide maximum protection for delicate and fragile items. Polystyrene is strong, sturdy, and has high compressive strength, making it ideal for protecting valuable items. 

With temperatures this week and next going into Christmas predicted to tip about 35-degrees, what else can you do to get your home ready for summer.

Polystyrene ceiling and underfloor insulation are effective to keep the heat out, and the cool air of the air-conditioning in.

When people think of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, or polystyrene foam in general, they tend to think of the foam hamburger containers from the 80’s, which was believed to be responsible for mass pollution and landfill. 

Since then there has been a massive change in public opinion, which has evolved into businesses becoming more responsible for their products, and not leaving it up to the public. This may have manifested itself in the way products are manufactured, such as the change of a process to reduce waste, or the composition of recycled and new materials used to make the product. Or the business could be offering a waste removal service, effectively removing the added responsibility from the end-user back to the producer.