Polyurethane Foam Market Thermal Insulation 2023

Polyurethane Foam Market Thermal Insulation 2023

Disclaimer

IAL Consultants has collated information from publicly available sources (e.g.,

annual reports, company websites and press releases), as well as gathering

economic indicators and interviewing industry experts, in order to generate this

report. The findings and conclusions expressed in this report are those of the

author(s) and not necessarily those of the interview respondents. The information

expressed in this report reflects the author(s)’ perceptions of the market at the time

of writing based on the current market trends and is subject to change from time to

time.

Although every effort has been made to validate the accuracy of the information

provided in this report, IAL Consultants makes no guarantee for the accuracy,

completeness, reliability, currency and/or usefulness of the information provided

herein. IAL Consultants cannot guarantee the report’s compatibility with other

studies published by the company.

The information provided in this report should be interpreted as indicative guidance

only. IAL Consultants will not accept liability for damage of any kind, including loss

of income or profit, incurred in connection with the use of this report.

The report is intended for the personal use of the authorised recipient(s). The

information contained in this report should not be reproduced nor distributed

publicly without prior consent.

Report Overview

This report examines the European market for thermal insulation products and their

different uses in building and in industry, as well as identifying key trends impacting

the industry.

It builds up from previous data held in-house by IAL Consultants. All data has been

reviewed and updated for this new edition.

Scope of Study

IAL Consultants’ report on the European Market for Thermal Insulation Products is

comprised of ‘Country’ and ‘Market’ volumes.

This report is a Market Volume report.

Country volumes focus on identifying the demand for common thermal insulation

materials used in a given country/region.

Market volumes focus on identifying the demand for a given insulation material in

Europe in a country-by-country analysis.

Country and Market Volumes are available as follows:

Country Volumes

The following countries are included in the country volumes:

Austria, Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,

Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK.

Country Volumes cover the following products:

Glass wool, stone wool, expanded polystyrene (EPS – grey and white), extruded

polystyrene (XPS), polyurethane/polyisocyanurate (PUR and PIR) foam, phenolic

foam, flexible insulation materials (expanded nitrile rubber (ENR) and polyethylene

(PE)), renewable insulation materials (e.g., wool, flax/hemp, cellulose, wood fibre),

and vacuum insulation panels (VIPs)/aerogel.

Market Volumes

Market Volumes cover the following products: mineral fibre (glass and stone wool),

expanded polystyrene (grey and white), extruded polystyrene, and

polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam.

Market Volumes provide data for the countries/regions listed above.

Methodology

The information included in this study is based on both secondary and primary

sources. The desk research examined relevant technical and trade journals,

published official statistics, and figures derived from trade associations. The

primary interview programme included high-level respondents in companies

manufacturing, distributing and/or installing thermal insulation materials.

Actual consumption figures are provided for 2022, which has been taken as the

base year. Figures are in volume (m3 and tonnes) and value (€). Typical densities

have been used to convert between the different volume units, and average prices

have been used to convert from volume to value. However, it must be noted that

material densities and prices can vary significantly for a given material according to

the product’s intended end use.

The study also presents five-year forecasts to 2027, derived from industry and

economic indicators, as well as other relevant legislative, commercial and/or

technical issues likely to affect individual countries, thermal insulation materials and

products, and the end uses to where these are applied.

Small discrepancies may appear in the total figures due to rounding.

Given the current uncertainties in the global economic and political situation,

forecasts for 2023 and beyond are based on the latest information available at the

time of publication, and IAL has endeavoured to factor in the latest developments.

However, given the fluidity of circumstances at this time, we recognise that these

forecasts are likely to be superseded by events, and therefore IAL may be updating

them, as appropriate, in any subsequent update of our estimates.

Thermal Insulation Materials Overview

Various factors affect the type and amount of thermal insulation required. These

can include:

Climate

Durability

Ease of installation and replacement at end of life

Cost effectiveness

Toxicity

Flammability

Environmental impact and sustainability

Energy efficiency

A brief description of each of the insulation materials covered within this study is

given below although, in reality, a combination of these can be used.

Mineral Fibres

Mineral fibre, or wool, is a non-metallic, inorganic material normally derived from

glass or rock. Both glass wool and stone wool can be used in similar applications,

except where high temperature resistance and fire protection are required. Stone

wool can withstand temperatures up to 1,177oC, whereas glass wool can only be

used up to 400oC.

Mineral fibres can be manufactured into a wide variety of physical forms and

shapes and to a range of densities, depending upon the intended application. The

most common forms are:

Rolls or blankets, typically for use in loft insulation

Laminated matting, for use in heating, water pipes, ventilation and air

conditioning ducts, containers, cooling and tank systems

Rigid slabs for:

(i) Flat and pitched mansard roofs, loft conversions, cavity walls and ceilings

(ii) Concrete floors

(iii) External wall dry ventilated cladding systems

(iv) Process plant apparatus engineering, furnace construction and plant

engineering

Fibre bonded to plasterboard for dry lining and semi-structural applications

Shells and moulded pipe sections for process plant and domestic cooking

appliances

Sprayed, for asbestos encapsulation, or blown, for loft and wall insulation, in old

or irregularly shaped buildings.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

EPS is a relatively low-cost material with excellent insulating properties. Its

lightweight nature means that it adds little to structural weight, yet still offers high

dimensional stability. The foam is closed cell and therefore resistant to water

penetration, although it is not a water vapour barrier. EPS does not deteriorate, it is

non-toxic, non-irritant, and does not contain blowing agents. EPS has a low thermal

conductivity and therefore good thermal insulation properties. Its chief

disadvantages are its susceptibility to physical damage, its flammability

characteristics, and its low resistance to chemical attack, including substances like

dilute acids, alkalis, methanol and i-propanol. EPS foam can also be used at

extremely low temperatures without any time restriction.

EPS is typically encountered in three forms:

(i) As rigid lightweight slab or board for use in wall, floor and roof insulation and

cavity fill

(ii) EPS sheet bonded to plaster for use in dry lining and roofing extensions

(iii) Loose fill bead for use in cavity fill and loft insulation

For the first time, the EPS market is segmented into grey EPS and white EPS.

Polyurethane/Polyisocyanurate Foam (PUR/PIR)

Produced from a mixture of polyols, isocyanates, process additives and blowing

agents, polyurethane foams can provide very high-performance insulating

products, despite the change from CFC to CFC-free blowing agents. The foam can

be produced in a number of ways depending upon its ultimate use:

(i) Continuous production of slabstock, which can be cut into flat sheets or shapes

(ii) Continuous lamination between two rigid substrates, suitable for structural

building applications

(iii) Lamination between two flexible substrates

(iv) In-situ moulding for refrigerators, pipe sections and cavity walls

(v) Surface spraying for flat roofing and storage tanks.

Polyisocyanurate foams, which offer improved fire resistance, have become

popular due to new building regulations. Polyisocyanurate foams are used in both

rigidand flexible-faced panels.

Polyurethane foams are not as widely used as some other materials due to their

relatively high cost. However, the excellent low thermal conductivity and wide

operating temperature mean that polyurethane can, if specified, be used in virtually

all areas of the construction sector.

Polyurethane is most widely used for the following applications:

Dry lining plasterboard for internal solid wall insulation where space is limited

External/cavity wall insulation

Suspended/floating floors

Pitched roofing for residential, agricultural and commercial buildings

Cold stores and food process plant

Refrigerated transport

Blown in-situ for flat roofs, storage tanks, windows and pipe work

Domestic and commercial refrigerators

Rigid pipe insulation.