Guarantees the absence of interactions and incompatibilities between extruded polystyrene (XPS) and waterproofing materials, enlarging the life cycle of the inverted flat roof
This material is an improvement of the extruded polystyrene (XPS) for the inverted flat roof. An aluminum foil covers the extruded polystyrene board, forming XPS-AL, which avoids the possibility of degenerative interactions between the extruded polystyrene board and the main waterproofing materials, enlarging the durability of them and therefore, of the inverted flat roof. This solution increase substantially the protection offered by the auxiliary separating layers usually placed to split up the XPS from the waterproofing materials. Auxiliary separating layers would not be necessary, reducing labor and material costs, and increasing the chemical protection of the inverted flat roof.
In the inverted flat roof the insulation material is placed above the waterproofing membrane, limiting the thermal variations that the waterproofing material bears up to the end of its life cycle. This constructive system is widely used, nowadays this is the most common way of setting up the materials on a flat roof.
XPS may interact under certain conditions of pressure and temperature (usual conditions for the inverted flat roof) with different types of waterproofing materials, such as PVC-P and EPDM laminas, asphalt membranes, etc.
XPS-AL consists in the adhesion of an aluminum foil on the side of the extruded polystyrene board that was to be in contact with the waterproofing material. A metallic barrier guarantees the absence of interaction between these materials. Auxiliary separating layers only cut down the interactions; XPS-AL improves the protection.
“XPS provides thermal protection to the waterproofing material in the inverted flat roof. XPS-AL adds chemical protection”
Construction
“An appropriate solution for insulating the inverted flat roofs, avoiding interactions, reducing costs, and enlarging the life cycle”
XPS-AL contact
Antonio Pedrosa
e: a.pedrosa@alumnos.upm.es
Mercedes del Río
e: mercedes.delrio@upm.es
UPM contact
Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Area
Centre of Support for Technological Innovation – UPM
e: innovacion.tecnologica@upm.es