As required by the Approved Documents for the Fire Safety Clauses of the New Zealand Building Code, POLYFOAM must be protected in certain situations from direct exposure to a potential fire by surface coatings, claddings and linings, and concrete slabs. Such 'protection' can significantly reduce the temperature that POLYFOAM is exposed to.POLYFOAM also meets the FLAME PROPOGATION and SURFACE FINISH criteria stipulated in Acceptable Solutions C/AS1. 

The performance of POLYFOAM in a fire situation depends on the temperature that the product is exposed to. above 500 degrees C, the combustible gas formed when POLYFOAM melts will self ignite (i.e does not require piloted ignition). Between approximately 350-500 degrees C, an ignition flame is required to ignite the combustible gas mixture. Below 350 degrees C, although a combustible gas is present above 200 degrees C, burning will cease when the ignition source is removed. At lower temperatures POLYFOAM will shrink and retreat from a heat source and will not ignite. 

A CSIRO report on toxicity of combustion products from cellular plastics (POLYFOAM), concluded as follows:- ".... the potential toxic hazard appears to be no greater than for wood. Carbon monoxide is the principal toxic gas evolved and the toxicity due to any other gas is believed to be insignificant. Relatively little carbon monoxide is produced unless the polystyrene is flaming and, since it retracts from the flame, the likelyhood of high concentrations must be considered small in most fire situations...". For further informaion please contact Plastics NZ

POLYFOAM in various thicknesses can be used as an insulation material  in slab-on-ground concrete slabs. Best practice suggests that a minimum of 60mm S grade POLYFOAM sheet is laid on top of the DPM, sand blinding and hardfill before  the reinforcing is laid and concrete is poured. The R value of 60mm S grade POLYFOAM is approximately  1.6  plus the additional R value of the concrete.

Adding Polyfoam insulation into a concrete floor is particulary important:- for small floor slabs (<80m2), when heating elements are incorporated into the slab, when the water table beneath the slab is less than 1 m below the surface, when the slab is designed to act as a thermal store for solar heat gain

POLYFOAM is very easily cut into architectural shapes that can be used to enhance the look of your home.

POLYFOAM is an ideal insulating material for the cavity in timber framing construction or as a core in insulated panel. It can also be use as a core in concrete tilt slab panels or in the ceiling spaces.

POLYFOAM has is an excellent cladding for EIFS rendered plaster finishes.

POLYFOAM is great for  formwork.  It can be used as protective sheet anywhere

A layer of POLYFOAM will protect blockwork and applied waterproofing mebrames from potential damage. The impervious nature of EPS will assist in deflecting water and runoff away from the building.