The Insulspan™ Panel

The panel is a cost-effective, energy-efficient construction system that saves labor, time and cost.

Insulspan structural panels are high-quality foam core panels suitable for many residential and commercial building applications. They are solid, one-piece structural components that can be used in walls, floors and roofs. Each panel is made of an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) core bonded between two outer layers of rugged Oriented Strand Board (OSB).
Structural panels form a strong, versatile building shell that will significantly shorten construction times, compared with conventional building methods. Because of their energy-saving characteristics, they make an extremely cost-effective building material.

Expanded Polystyrene Foam Core

Each Insulspan panel contains one pound of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for every cubic foot of core. Higher densities are available for special applications. Depending on the strength and energy-efficiency your application requires, you can specify four standard thicknesses for your Insulspan panels.

Structural Integrity: EPS retains its shape indefinitely. It will not shrink, decompose or disintegrate due to age or weather.
Thermal Stability: The insulating value of EPS does not decrease with age.
Toxicity: EPS is formaldehyde-free.
low Water Absorbtion: EPS has a closed cell structure. Its water absorption level is so low that moisture and the elements will not significantly affect its insulation values.
Permenance: EPS is an inert, organic material. It provides no nutritive value to plants, animals or microorganisms. It will not rot and is highly resistant to mildew.
Flammability: Like many construction materials, EPS is combustible. It should not be exposed to flame or other ignition sources. However, you can expect a building made with Insulspan products to survive a fire that would completely destroy a stick-built home. The panels have passed rigorous fire endurance tests required by national codes, and their solid core construction eliminates the chimney effect caused by hollow stud walls. See technical bulletins for further application information.

Energy Efficiency and Comfort

Insulspan panels decrease cooling and heating costs even more than their high R-rating would seem to indicate, because they form a solid thermal envelope around the structure, uninterrupted by the typical studs, sills or headers. This substantially reduces air infiltration compared with conventional construction techniques. The panels' solid core of insulation also eliminates the convection looping that can occur in the gaps and spaces typical in batt insulation.

Insulspan panels provide stable performance year after year. Their efficiency generally allows heating and cooling equipment to be downsized, reducing initial capital costs and operating costs.

Interior and Exterior Skins

The oriented strand board skins on Insulspan structural panels are exterior rated Exposure I by the American Plywood Association (APA). Exterior phenolic resin permits the panels to be used with normal construction delays.

Strength and Durability

The strength of Insulspan panels has been proven through rigorous structural testing required by national code authorities, plus their actual performance through more than 20 years of use. The beam-like properties of Insulspan panels can make them 2-3 times stronger than typical stick-built structures.

Inspections, Ratings, and Reports

National Evaluation Report: Report No. NER-520 (BOCA, SBCCI, ICBO)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Structural Engineering Bulletin No. 1079, Jan. 28, 1985
Product Fabrication Service (PFS): PFS Report No. 511
American Plywood Association: APA FAB SPEC SP-61-EXT

Structural Testing*

ASTM-E72-80 Compressive Load-Wall; Transverse Load Roof; Concentrated Load-Roof
ASTM-E695-79 Impact Load
ASTM-E564-76 Racking Resistance-Shear Value; PFS Report No. 84-116
ASTM-C480-62 (ASTM 1988a) Creep Behavior
ASTM-E413-73 Sound Transmission Performance
ASTM-E96 Water Vapor Transmission (Permeance) PFS Test Report No. 95-07
ASTM-E72-80 Concentrated Load Test
ASTM-E564-76 (modified) Racking Resistance of Timber Frame/Post & Beam-Panel Walls

Fire Endurance*

AASTM-E119-83 Fire Resistance Rating of 60 minutes when tested under imposed load of 1250 lb. per lineal foot. (When panel is used with 2 layers of ½" gypsum board.) SWR1 Report No. 01-8305-029
UL Subject 1256 30 minute test evaluating resistance of roof deck construction to internal fire exposure. (When panel is used with 1 layer of ½" gypsum board.) SWR1 Report No. 01-8302-201
ASTM-D1929-77 Ignition and Flash Point Temperature of EPS and Waferboard. Weyerhauser Fire Technology Unit Report dated Aug. 15, 1985.
ASTM-E84 Flame Spread and Smoke-Developed Ratings of EPS and Waferboard.