Because of their light weight, polystyrene blocks reduce the final weight of the building and are therefore used in construction. These blocks are safe against earthquakes. But they easily lose weight against fire, and the only drawback of these blocks is their low heat and flame resistance. Styrofoam is a better acoustic absorber than concrete and is not a superior sound insulator, so Styrofoam alone has no effect on sound loss. Only if the wall between the two walls of the unit is used, the noise will increase. Thermal insulators are not solely sound insulators and can reduce noise if they are inserted into the system.
Advantages of Ceiling Styrofoam:
- The possibility of replacing one 2.5 kg block of polystyrene with ten kilogram blocks of 120 kg
- 25% savings on foundation and skeleton cost considering low block weight
- Save on joists due to the proper width of the blocks
- Speed and ease of execution of roofs and absence of outages and waste in transportation to the floors using these blocks is supported by the Fuel Conservation Organization.
- The lightness of these blocks minimizes the risk of material collapse during an earthquake.
- Due to the type of expanded polystyrene material, these blocks are the best insulator in terms of moisture, heat, cold and sound penetration and can save up to 70% of energy loss.
Disadvantages of Styrofoam:
- Concrete not filling
- Increased fatalities during fires
- Cracking the ceiling plaster
- Fire Safety Requirements
Advantages of Ceiling Styrofoam:
- The possibility of replacing one 2.5 kg block of polystyrene with ten kilogram blocks of 120 kg
- 25% savings on foundation and skeleton cost considering low block weight
- Save on joists due to the proper width of the blocks
- Speed and ease of execution of roofs and absence of outages and waste in transportation to the floors using these blocks is supported by the Fuel Conservation Organization.
- The lightness of these blocks minimizes the risk of material collapse during an earthquake.
- Due to the type of expanded polystyrene material, these blocks are the best insulator in terms of moisture, heat, cold and sound penetration and can save up to 70% of energy loss.
Disadvantages of Styrofoam:
- Concrete not filling: In executing a ceiling with a styrofoam unit, the styrofoam occupy a large amount of space inside the joists on each side, leaving little space for concrete, and vibration is also not possible as a result of the joining. They perform poorly during loading and earthquake.
- Increased fatalities during fires: In the ceiling with a styrofoam , plastering is usually done directly on the styrofoam , so during a potential fire in the building, the styrofoam loses its volume due to heat and melts as drops. The flame will fall on the occupants with the ceiling plaster, and if the condensate-type styrofoam is not used, the styrofoam will also help to ignite the flames.
- Cracking the ceiling plaster: Usually the ceiling plaster is in place of the side beams and the place of joining the joists with the joists for various reasons, including expansion coefficient differences, the surface of the plaster eats many cracks.
- Fire Safety Requirements: To protect the blocks and prevent any potential fire from coming into contact with them, the roof should be protected by appropriate cover. This cover must be attached to the beams and joists. Direct attachment to the polystyrene block (such as plastering directly on the block without the use of mechanical joints) is not permitted alone. Since walls between independent units (walls between residential apartments or commercial units, independent office, etc.) in each building must be fire-resistant, these walls must pass through a layer of unolithic blocks up to the structural roof. (Ie under joists or concrete) extensions or appropriate fire-retardant materials. In such a way that the polystyrene blocks in this area are not interconnected between two adjacent spaces and to prevent any possible fire between the two spaces separated by fire-resistant walls.