Below-ground and earth-retaining walls separate the internal environment of a building from the surrounding ground and therefore require particular attention in terms of thermal performance, moisture protection and mechanical resistance.
Thermal insulation installed on the external side of the below-ground wall helps reduce heat transfer through the building envelope while maintaining the continuity of the insulation layer between the underground and above-ground parts of the building.
This application exposes the insulation to demanding service conditions, including contact with the ground, moisture and mechanical stresses generated during backfilling and by the surrounding soil. For these reasons, extruded polystyrene (XPS) is particularly suitable due to its combination of thermal performance, low water absorption and high compressive strength.
X-FOAM® HBT is designed for applications requiring insulation with high mechanical performance. Its four-sided shiplap edges help maintain continuity between adjacent boards, while its compressive strength of ≥ 300 kPa makes it suitable for the thermal insulation of below-ground and earth-retaining walls.
