Every sandwich panel consists of several layers. The core provides thermal insulation, while the external and internal steel claddings and coatings protect the panel from mechanical damage and corrosion.
Depending on the desired results, sandwich panels vary by length, thickness, core type, profile, protective coating and cladding colour. The core type, for example, is chosen to meet specific insulation and protective needs.
There are usually three basic variants used for the panel core material – EPS, mineral wool and polyurethane. Other core variants have been developed, such as phenolic foam, which comprises of a mix of EPS and phenolic resin for improved fire resistance.
In this blog, we look at the properties of sandwich panels with expanded polystyrene and mineral wool cores.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) core
Expanded polystyrene is one of the most commonly used insulation core because of its economic and versatile properties. The EPS core has great insulation properties, and it is an ideal choice for buildings that need cost-effective thermal insulation.
The EPS core is inferior to the mineral wool core in terms of fire resistance and reaction to fire. However, fire retardant (FR) polystyrene can be successfully employed as an economical fire-resistant solution, as long as it fits the basic requirements.
Specifiers who include Isowall in their design brief can be confident that they have chosen the most extensively tested and proven panel system in the marketplace. All enquiries will be dealt with by our experienced and friendly staff who will give you prompt and courteous service.
Mineral wool core
The mineral wool core is recommended for stringent fire resistance to minimise potential losses resulted from fire damage. It is also used to provide superior soundproofing efficiency to limit excessive noise.
Isowall uses Rockwool mineral wool core that provides both resistance to fire hazards and excessive unwanted noise. It is a non-combustible material used where a fire rating of up to 60 minutes is required, which delays fire propagation and inhibits further ignition.
According to application requirements, building contractors and engineers can employ both fire retardant (FR) grade EPS and mineral wool sandwich panels to provide improved fire resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation.
Isowall produces and distributes Isopanels sandwich panels with various core materials. All panels are automatically mass-produced and uniform in profile, thickness, length and width, which can be customised to fit customer specification.
Click here to find out more about Isopanels.