BANARTA
An XPS board should be selected against a floor, wall, roof or fabrication specification. Starting with a colour or a single thickness leaves important questions unanswered. Write down the available space, required thermal performance, expected loading and exposure before comparing offers.
Thickness and strength answer different questions
Thickness is a dimension. Compressive strength describes material behaviour under a stated test. A thicker board is not automatically a higher-strength grade. Equally, a high short-term compression figure is not a permissible long-term floor loading: the designer must consider sustained deformation and the complete load path.
| Decision | Information to compare | Avoid this shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal insulation | Declared conductivity, thickness and test basis | Choosing solely by foam colour |
| Mechanical support | Grade, test conditions and long-term design data where required | Using a short-term kPa value as a floor load rating |
| Space coordination | Board thickness plus all other layers | Treating insulation thickness as finished-floor height |
| Exposure | Moisture, temperature and compatible adjacent materials | Assuming one board suits every environment |
Make thermal comparisons on the same basis
For a homogeneous layer, thermal resistance can be estimated as R = thickness in metres ÷ thermal conductivity. As an arithmetic example only, 50 mm at an assumed 0.030 W/(m·K) gives about 1.67 m²K/W. This is not a Banarta product declaration or a complete floor U-value. Compare declared data for the exact grades, then account for the other layers and junctions in the building calculation.
Specify the surface and fabrication
A smooth skin, a removed skin and a machined groove describe different supply requirements. Send a drawing if the board will be bonded, laminated or routed. Confirm tolerances and compatibility with the proposed facing or adhesive rather than expecting all XPS surfaces to behave identically.
Graphite-containing board is an option within the Graphite XPS Foam Insulation Board. Its material name should prompt a datasheet comparison, not an assumed percentage improvement. Published ranges may cover several configurations; ask which values apply to the quoted grade.
A useful selection brief
- State the assembly and available height, not just “XPS board”.
- Provide the project thermal target and mechanical requirements separately.
- Specify dimensions, edge profile, finish and any machining drawing.
- Identify the documents required for the destination and intended use.
- Keep the agreed product reference and drawing revision with the quotation.
If two offers differ, first reconcile their specification and test basis. Price becomes meaningful only when both refer to the same deliverable.
Sources & product references
- Banarta graphite XPS product information
- JACKODUR technical data: separate short-term compression and creep properties; external reference, not Banarta certification
Product ranges are not a declaration for every configuration. Use current documents for the selected supply. External references explain general principles and do not certify Banarta products.
