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Polystyrene has been around for nearly 200 years, having first been discovered in 1839 by German apothecary Eduard Simon when he isolated a substance from natural resin. So, there has since been plenty of time to find many different uses for polystyrene. And while there’s plenty of obvious examples, there are also a few you might not have thought of.

Despite the doom and gloom stories about Australian manufacturing, there is still plenty of local manufacturing taking place in many sectors. While it is true that the manufacturing sector in Australia has been gradually shrinking (the number of manufacturers in Australia has fallen from 96,000 10 years ago to just under 84,000 last year), Professor Peter Gahan from the University of Melbourne says that manufacturing remains an important contributor to Australia’s GDP.

“All in all, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests the Australian manufacturing sector has, even in a period of decline, continued to represent a core source of economic prosperity for Australia – and should continue to do so. In short, it has outperformed many other sectors in terms of its contribution to Australia’s sustained economic performance and its capacity to generate quality jobs. It still produces around 6.5 per cent of Australia’s GDP.”

As a long-time member of EPSA, Foamex strongly supports recent EPSA messaging regarding the requirements for the safe storage, transportation and onsite management of EPS waffle pods in line with the EPSA code of conduct.

At Foamex, we are committed to our environmental pledges and adhere to specific and stringent policies regarding how our EPS waffle pods are responsibly handled in the field. Foamex Diamond Pods are delivered to construction sites and tightly wrapped together with plastic shrink wrap. They are then further secured on site using netting over the top and all sides, which is then attached to pegs in the ground to minimise the risk of blow-aways and damage. Once the Diamond Pods are laid, our intuitively designed lock-in spacers ensure that all pods are secure and held in place.

Did you know that concrete is one of the world’s most widely used building materials, and has literally been used for thousands of years? During the 700 years of The Roman Empire, concrete was used extensively, with many structures still surviving today.

But it wasn’t until the 1850s that reinforced concrete was developed in both Europe and the US, and more recently the concrete slab became a staple building technique in the post World War II building boom.

The latest decrees for cladding systems used in the residential building market recently issued by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) have taken the building industry by surprise. These new regulations will only add to the confusion for builders, specifiers and customers of these types of products. There needs to be increased clarity around cladding products to ensure that lingering confusion is cleared up.

Expanded polystyrene is one of the most versatile and cost-effective materials for both packaging and building/construction applications due to it being lightweight, easy to handle, durable, strong, flexible, and recyclable.

The interesting similarity between the economical and the environmental is that they are both linked to survival. One deals with the survival of the business, while the other the survival of the planet.

Australia currently has one of the most active green building markets in the world, and the level of activity is expected to grow over the next three years to 2021.

That’s the key takeaway from the recently released World Green Building Trends 2018 SmartMarket Report [1], produced by US-based Dodge Data & Analytics and released in late 2018.

Another typically scorching Aussie summer is just around the corner and certain regions of the country are already experiencing record temperatures. Cairns, in far north Queensland, sweltered through its hottest day on record on November 27, with the mercury topping out at a scorching 43.6C.

As well as summer kicking off, the festive season is nearly upon us and many Aussie homes will soon play host to busy family get-togethers. As such, there’s no better time than now to assess the insulation situation in your home.

The reality for many Australian families and homeowners is that a garage is no longer merely a slab of enclosed concrete for storing vehicles and other miscellaneous household items that we don’t want to keep inside our house proper.

Foamex Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Blocks are a versatile alternative popular within the building and construction industry for their ergonomic trademark. Consisting of almost 98% air, EPS blocks are easy to handle, carry, and install, which can help in minimising construction time. It is also an eco-friendly CFC-free material with thermal and acoustic insulation benefits that help conserve energy. This polystyrene is made from fire retardant raw material that automatically ceases when in direct contact with flame.

EPS blocks are commonly used to help stabilise tunnels, bridges, and roads among other structures. Additionally, they are water and temperature resilient, enabling them to defy extreme weights, and even prolonged exposure to the elements while retaining its original form.

Rigid underfloor insulation panels are seeing a rise in demand in the Australian building and construction industry. As one of the industry leaders specializing in the development of polystyrene products, Foamex designed Expol™ rigid underfloor insulation panels to provide continuous protection for homeowners against extreme outdoor temperatures.

For 36 years, Foamex has provided a multifaceted range of polystyrene products across the Australian market, allowing them to build a formidable working relationship with major industry specifiers. The team positions Expol™ as the material of choice for residential and commercial applications, as it inhibits heat to enter from outside during summer while maintaining convective heat in winter. By using polystyrene underfloor insulation, homeowners can cut an estimated 12% on energy costs, while still enjoying a warm and comfortable indoor climate.

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.

PurlinK® rigid roof insulation spacers are specifically designed to help reduce the amount of heat loss in commercial roof decking applications. In action, PurlinK® provides a thermal break, giving the insulation time to recover its nominal thickness which results in maximised thermal efficiency and increased thermal resistance or R-values.

Foamex developed PurlinK® rigid roof insulation to inhibit thermal bridging. Also known as heat bridge or cold bridge, thermal bridging can be responsible for an estimated 30% heat loss when there is a break in the insulation within the building envelope.

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?