EPS Newsline

Volume 1 | Summer 2013

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Newsline 10 EPS Meets Extreme Cold Storage Challenges When Badger State Fruit Processing began their quest to build a new cold storage facility to house their 200 million pound cranberry harvest they had strict performance and environmental criteria. From long-term R-value to recycled content, the new building had to meet the diverse demands of the largest independent cranberry grower in Wisconsin. Plant manager Mark Konrardy chose EPS roof and wall insulation for the new cold storage facility because it measured up to all of their requirements. The new cold storage facility had to be built to withstand many years of operation. The owner issued a challenge to Mr. Konrardy to keep operating costs on the new cold storage facility low while achieving demanding temperature control requirements. Explained Konrardy, "Our choice to use EPS insulation evolved out of my research into materials that would meet performance, cost, constructability and environmental criteria. We wanted to make sure it wouldn't break down underground – it has to hold up for years of operation and not become damaged by moisture." ACH Foam Technologies provided nearly 2 million board feet of flat EPS roof insulation and over half a million board feet of EPS architectural grade perimeter and underslab insulation to construct the new cold storage facility. When researching the long-term warranted R-value of rigid foam insulations Konrardy found that EPS foam does not lose R-value over time. In contrast, other rigid foam insulations only warrant a percentage of their state R-value because their materials off-gas and progressively lose R-value over time. "I also researched the performance of rigid insulations when exposed to moisture," stated Konraryd, "and found that EPS has a higher permeability than extruded polystyrene (XPS). That extra permeability allows trapped moisture to escape. This is a good thing because it maintains its R-value better." Because Konrardy was very interested in environmental considerations, he wanted to find an insulation that contained recycled content and did not leach chemicals into the ground water. ACH Foam Technologies provided EPS insulation with up to 15% recycled content, the highest percentage of recycled content of all rigid foam insulations on the market. EPS is also recyclable and does not contain leachates. The tipping point, according to Konrardy, was cost savings. R-value to R-value, EPS is 10-20% less expensive than other rigid foam insulations. "My decision wasn't that difficult," Mark added. "I was able to find a material that satisfied the criteria Mr. Gardner set out for me and satisfy my desire to make our planet greener." n Criteria: Badger State Fruit Processing Performance Criteria Warrentied, Long Term In Service R-Value Compressive Strength Water Absorption & Impact on R-Value Water Permeability Environmental Criteria Recycled Content Compressive strength concerns were addressed by using Type XIV (40 psi) EPS insulation for the freezer area and Type IX (25 psi) EPS for the remainder of the perimeter and underslab areas. Recyclability Leachates Cost & Constructability Cost of Product per R-Value Availability of Sizes Photo credit to ACH Foam Technologies

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