Polystyrene insulation is fairly common, but people tend to take it for granted. It’s a particular type of foam that is used to provide insulation for a variety of reasons. It’s primarily used in commercial buildings, where it acts as insulation for the walls in the building to keep the temperature somewhat regulated.
Closed cell foam from Canada is fairly standard when you’re trying to insulate something. Closed cells aren’t very porous, which means there is no breathability to them. Heat is either trapped inside, or outside, of the foam and that helps to insulate the room. If you pump cool air, the closed cells won’t let that air seep out.
On a microscopic level, there are lots of small holes all over a building that will let air out. Taken into consideration, those holes combined might make up the surface area of your front door, or a set of double doors. Polyurethane foam sheets help to plug some of those holes with an additional layer of mostly solid material.
Placed between walls, these add a sound dampening effect to the building as well. Office buildings rely on this basic insulation to keep suites separated from one another, otherwise the office environment would be a lot louder.
Insulating foam is also fairly inexpensive, as far as insulation costs are concerned. It’s not the perfect solution, and there are definitely better forms of insulation available. What this foam does is provide a long-lasting solution to a fundamental problem. Outside of extreme climates, it does the job fairly well at a cost that is far more budget friendly on a large-scale construction project.
The Foam Factory, Inc. sells closed-cell foam to Canada and the United States. For foam products, contact the Foam Factory.