Fusion's premium light gauge steel frame buildings, with 'Fusion Therma Shield 162' external walls, will ensure excellent energy and sustainability ratings. Fusion's low U-value and associated high air tightness levels are of great benefit when it comes to designing buildings to achieve an excellent energy ratings or meeting the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes. U-values as low as 0.12 W/m2K are achievable with the use of complimentary insulation products. The 'Fusion Therma Shield 162' system has excellent thermal performance properties (Psi values) – the system can be designed to achieve a thermal bridging Y-Value of 0.04.
The Neopor® EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation that Fusion mould into their 'Fusion Therma Shield 162' external wall panels is produced in its raw product form by BASF. Fusion expand and fuse the raw product into the final Expanded polystyrene bead product within the light gauge steel frame panel. BASF have provided Fusion with written confirmation that the OPD of Neopor® is zero and the GWP of Neopor® is <5.
Fusion's EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation has ZERO Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), as the process contains no CFC's or HCFC's and the blowing agent used by BASF in Neopor® is a hydrocarbon called Pentane (Pentane has zero ODP). EPS is 98% air. It uses no CFCs or HCFCs in manufacture and all emissions are controlled strictly within environmental regulatory frameworks which apply in the EU.
Key Sustainability Facts for Neopor® / EPS Insulation used by Fusion:
* The quantity of CO2 generated by the breakdown of Pentane used in the production of EPS is insignificant when compared to the greenhouse gas emissions saved as a result of Neopor 's® insulating efficiency over a building's total life.
* EPS is the closest of any modern building material to fulfilling the 60 year design life set as a performance target by the UK Building Regulations.
* EPS boasts a BRE ECO Points projected rating of only 0.043 (over a 60 year life). This acts as a clear assurance to specifiers of the eco-credentials of EPS and its significant benefits when it comes to environmental impact assessment.
* EPS manufacturing units do not produce residual solid waste from the production process. All process waste, off-cuts etc, is recycled into the production process.
* EPS has outstanding thermal insulation qualities which make it a first choice material for many construction applications. EPS reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50% - making sure it more than offsets its small carbon footprint – giving maximum return for minimal resource.
* Heating and cooling of buildings accounts for around half of Europe's total energy consumption. By acting as a highly efficient thermal insulator, EPS can also make a significant contribution to reducing fossil fuel for these purposes. In turn, this helps reduce SO2 and SO3 emissions – a major cause of acid rain.
* An A+ rating is achieved for EPS under the BRE Green Guide to Specification - making it one of the 'elite' groups of construction materials with the lowest environmental impacts.
For further details on Fusion's premium insulation please click here to contact a member of our sales team.
