Expanded Polystyrene Vs. Fiberglass Insulation

Expanded Polystyrene

• Expanded polystyrene (commonly called EPS) is an insulation material used for both residential and commercial purposes to insulate walls and ceilings. It is made from polystyrene pellets with are mixed with various chemicals to produce a liquefied substance. A blowing agent is injected into substance, which turns it into a thick, foamy material, which is poured into molds and dies of various shapes, thicknesses and sizes. EPS insulation is often shaped as a flat panel, while commercial applications might require large blocks.

Fiberglass

• Fiberglass insulation is made of glass and recycled materials. Fiberglass replaced asbestos-based insulation during the 1960s due to health risks associated with asbestos products. As a replacement, homeowners opted for the “new” pink and yellow blanket-like rolls and continue to rely on fiberglass insulation today. Installing fiberglass is easy enough for homeowners to do themselves. Essentially, you roll the blanketed insulation onto the floor or hang it from the ceiling to the floor, and then staple it into place. Fiberglass also comes in blow-in and foam formats to insulate hard to reach crevices around pipes and corners. However, blow-in and foam fiberglass insulation requires the use of equipment and is typically installed by professionals.

Similarities

• Expanded polystyrene and fiberglass have properties that make them easy materials for homeowners to install by themselves. The flat, panel shape of EPS is easy to cut and attach to insulate ceilings. You can measure the size of the panel you need and cut out the shape you need with a utility knife or razor. Fiberglass is just as easy, and only requires rolling, cutting and stapling.

Differences

• The very properties that make EPS and fiberglass similar in terms of ease of application also make them different. EPS is only available as a flat panel insulation material, so as a result, it best on flat surfaces such as walls and ceilings. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is available in a multitude of formats, from the popular roll-on batts, to blow-in and foam insulation. This gives fiberglass, as a material, more versatility in terms of its use in comparison to EPS. You could essentially insulate just about any type of surface with fiberglass. For example, you could apply the roll-on format on floors, walls and ceilings. Insulating cracks and crevices could be accomplished with blow-in fiberglass, and you could use spray-on foam fiberglass to insulate pipes and around intricate areas such as electrical work. Expanded polystyrenes do not provide comparable insulation formats and options. However, because EPS can be molded, it is commonly used for non-home insulation applications, such as food packaging for egg cartons and fruit containers, and as an insulation packaging material for electronic equipment. Fiberglass is only used for insulation purposes.