Tables of Building Material R-values

Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.

Depending on where you live and the part of your home you’re insulating (walls, crawlspace, attic, etc.), you’ll need a different R-Value. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.

5.0 per inch

R-Value Chart for EnerfoilTM Rigid Foam Faced Insulation

Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) also known as blue board or pink board comes in many different thicknesses and edge profiles. This insulation board is probably one of the most widely used foam board insulation products in the residential construction industry. XPS has an R value of 4.5 to 5.0 per inch of thickness.

Both are manufactured using the same process and contain similar chemical components. The two products also have the same insulating power. However, blue foam boards are manufactured by Dow Chemical Co. whereas the pink foam boards are manufactured by Owens Corning company.

Rigid foam insulation, whether it is expanded or extruded polystyrene, does have to be covered if it is installed in the interior of a building. This wall covering must have a minimum fire rating to protect the insulation from quick combustion during a fire.

Brand Names Pink foam board is manufactured by Owens Corning, and it’s marketed under several different brand-specific product names, including Foamular, Propink, Thermapink, and Insulpink.

Dupont Styrofoam™ Insulation (Blue Board) is a nonstructural, rigid board insulation manufactured of Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS). Blue Board can be used both on exterior and interior walls to give you a continuous insulation barrier that can increase effective R-value of the wall by up to 20%.

The word Styrofoam™ is often used to describe expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam; however, ‘Styrofoam’ is actually a trademarked term for closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam made for thermal insulation and craft applications. EPS foam is the correct term for any form of expanded polystyrene.

Styrofoam Health Risks Exposure to styrene can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, upper respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Overexposure can cause more severe effects such as depression, headaches, fatigue, weakness, hearing loss, and disrupted kidney function.

Styrofoam insulates much more effectively than plastic, which means your cold drinks stay colder longer and your hot drinks stay hotter. Plastic cups are not recommended for hot drinks, and they do not have the insulation properties of Styrofoam.

Styrofoam is a troublesome material because it is comprised of tiny balls of plastic. As it breaks down, these balls are released into the environment. Trash decomposition for naturally derived materials such as paper and cardboard is much faster than plastics, metal, and glass.

So then why do companies sell Styrofoam cups? Likely, because it’s cheap. Chick-fil-A’s manager of social responsibility, Sarah Blackmon, claims it’s for customer satisfaction, because it “keeps the drinks cold for hours.” The restaurant businesses aren’t blind to opposition against polystyrene foam.

According to Business Insider, by the end of 2018, McDonald’s says it will ditch foam cold-beverage cups and trays in every location around the world. The company also plans to use 100% recycled fiber-based packaging globally by 2020.

Every day, Chick-fil-A gives out thousands of beverages inside styrofoam cups to its customers. It’s no Starbucks, but people love that sweet tea and homemade lemonade. Because this fast food joint made sure that their cups were not only able to be recycled, but could actually go to good use after the fact.