Summit XPS is part of Swartland’s Summit range of insulation and decorative products, and its commitment to 100% local, green products.
Insulation is no longer just a nice-to-have: SANS 10400-XA building regulations stipulate that proper insulation is a legal requirement for any new structure.
Daneel Pretorius, Category Manager for Swartland’s Summit range, says XPS (Extruded polystyrene) foam board creates a single layer of thermal- and moisture protection on walls, roofs, or floors, greatly boosting buildings’ overall energy efficiency.
“XPS’s production process results in a closed-cell structure with excellent long-term strength and durability, making it suitable for a wide gamut of commercial, residential, agricultural, and industrial thermal insulation applications,” says Daneel. He describes its benefits:
- Lower heating and cooling costs: The objective of insulation is to cut the cost of keeping a building’s interior cool in summer and warm in winter. A well-insulated building is easier and cheaper to cool or heat, as the air indoors stays at a comfortable temperature, and Summit XPS Insulation Board is an incredibly efficient thermal insulator.
- Environmentally-friendly: Summit XPS Insulation Board is a very green material: not only does it make buildings more energy-efficient, but making it yields no harmful waste. It’s 100% recyclable, and its exceptionally long lifespan reduces its overall carbon footprint.
- Versatility: XPS’s wide variety of applications include nail-up ceiling and insulation, as well as ceilinged insulation between trusses for an exposed-truss look, over-rafter insulation, over-purlin insulation, cavity- and perimeter-wall insulation, and under-floor insulation. It’s available in lengths from 1.8m and 8m, and in thicknesses from 30mm to 100mm.
- Easy installation, with no leaks: Summit XPS Insulation Board has tongue-and-groove edging so it’s simple to install, and the tight seal eliminates leakage of hot or cold air.
- Endurance: The insulative capacity of many insulation materials degrades over time, leading to slowly rising utility bills. Not so with Summit XPS Insulation Board: its closed-cell structure boosts its strength, ensuring a much longer lifespan than other materials. This fixes heating- and cooling costs, and also saves money as you need to replace your insulation much less often, lowering the building’s cradle-to-grave carbon footprint.
- No flame-spread hazard: Summit XPS Insulation Board’s B/B1/2/H&V classification in terms of SANS 428 means that it poses no flame-spread hazard. Exposed to fire, it shrinks away from the heat source, with no flaming droplets. Its efficacy is also recognised by the Thermal Insulation Products & Systems Association (TIPSASA.)
- Better indoor air-quality: Because insulation is a barrier between you and the outdoor world, it keeps allergens and environmental pollutants out of the air circulating in your home, improving indoor air quality.
- No mildew: Mould and mildew can harm the health of people, pets, fixtures, and stored goods, as well as buildings’ structural integrity. Summit XPS Insulation Board acts as a barrier against moisture, preventing that.
Daneel says, “Insulation is the easiest, most economical way to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling a new or existing building. Improve its insulation before investing in air-conditioning units, heaters, or even in green sources of energy, such as solar panels or solar water-heating.”
He concludes: “The Summit XPS Insulation Board offers excellent long-term thermal resistance. It offers the best-in-market performance and national after-sales service, which the building industry has come to expect from Swartland.”
