Insulation of basement and attic floors with foam glass gravel. Nuances of using granulated foam glass Floor insulation with granulated foam glass

Cullet

Granular foam glass produced in the form of particles having a close to spherical shape. Production is based on the foaming of individual, pre-rounded semi-finished granules in a rotating continuous kiln.

Slab foam glass obtained by foaming billets in continuous tunnel ovens. At the exit, the material is sent for long annealing and then to a sawing machine to give the slabs precise geometric dimensions.

Roof insulation

Cullet

In Russia, at least 5 million tons of glass are generated annually in municipal solid waste alone. Foam glass production is a method of converting cullet from landfills into a highly efficient, energy-saving material.

Production of granulated foam glass

Granular foam glass produced in the form of particles having a close to spherical shape. Production is based on the foaming of individual, pre-rounded granules- semi-finished products in a rotating continuous kiln.

Production of slab foam glass

Slab foam glass get foaming of workpieces in walk-through tunnels ovens . At the exit, the material is sent for long annealing and then to a sawing machine to give the slabs precise geometric dimensions.

Insulation of horizontal surfaces

Granulated foam glass easily fills any unevenness and can serve not only as a heat insulator, but also as a deflection

Insulation of vertical surfaces

Granulated foam glass fills any cavities and creates reliable thermal insulation protection.

Roof insulation

Slab foam glass is an indispensable rigid, waterproof, durable thermal insulation material for roof insulation.

Thermal insulation of process equipment

All over the world, slab foam glass is used at facilities where compromise is unacceptable - nuclear power plants, submarines, factories, etc.

Foam glass is a durable, strong and popular material for insulation. It is easy to install and high efficiency. The technology was invented almost a century ago in the USSR, and practical use invented later in Canada. Massively on the market building materials foam glass appeared recently, when its production technology made it possible to make it affordable and of high quality. Before use, it is worth considering what granules or foam glass slabs are, their main advantages and disadvantages, as well as methods of use for insulation.

Foam glass combines the advantages of two materials at once. It combines silicate glass, which is durable and brittle, and foam - incredibly lightweight material. The production of foam glass involves heating a silicate mass with the addition of a substance that forms a gas. High temperature leads to the melting of the substance, as well as the formation of small bubbles. This technology allows us to obtain a lightweight and durable material that has a high heat resistance.

In the field of thermal insulation, two main types are used:

Slab foam glass. The insulation is in the form of a plate, which has a structure with closed cells. Ideal for insulating basements, facades, ceilings, floors and foundations. The thickness is 6-12 cm, and the size of the plate is 45*60 cm. They can withstand even significant operating loads, do not shrink and are resistant to deformation under mechanical stress.

Slab insulation

Granular material. It is a microporous spherical granule. It is produced in granules of various sizes from 1-5 mm to 7-20 mm. Can be used as insulation for interior walls, ceilings and floors.

Granular foam glass

The technical characteristics of the two types of material are similar, so when choosing it you should base only on the convenience and feasibility of using insulation of one form or another.

Main characteristics

According to statistics, the higher the hardness of the material, the lower its thermal insulation properties. Foam glass is one of the insulation materials that not only withstand heavy loads, but also have a low thermal conductivity.

Other material characteristics include:

Thermal conductivity. Foam glass has a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/m*s. If we compare it with wood, then for this material this indicator is two times lower, and for minimal wool it is higher on average by 25%. Therefore, foam glass perfectly protects against heat loss better than wood, mineral wool and many other insulation materials. High thermal insulation properties are explained by the presence of small closed cells with thin partitions in the structure.
Strength. Square meter insulation can withstand pressure of 40-100 tons, and the strength indicator is 0.5-1.2 MPa. This indicator does not deteriorate over time. However, the impact strength of the material is low. Foam glass can be broken under strong mechanical stress.
Soundproofing. Foam glass can be used effectively not only for protection against heat loss, but also against extraneous noise. The material is capable of dampening sound waves with a force of 45-56 decibels.
Temperature resistance. The insulation is able to withstand temperatures from -200 to +300 degrees, which allows it to be used even at extreme temperatures.
Density. This indicator for the material is very low and is equal to 100-250 kg per cubic meter. And this figure is at least three times lower than the density of wood.
Vapor permeability. Foam glass can also be used as a vapor barrier. The vapor permeability indicator is only 0.005 mg/(m*h*Pa).
Moisture resistance. Foam glass slabs and granules can absorb no more than 2% of water from their own volume. The material not only does not absorb moisture, but also does not change its properties when interacting with it.

High moisture resistance

Biological stability. Foam glass has a high resistance to insects, rodents and microorganisms. The insulation does not absorb water, so mold and mildew do not form in it. And the high hardness of the material protects it from insects and rodents.
Chemical resistance. Foam glass is chemically inert material. Therefore, when in contact with acids, alkalis, gases and oil products, foam glass does not interact. The only substance with which foam glass interacts is hydrofluoric acid.
Ecological cleanliness. Foam glass does not burn, does not emit toxic gases and does not produce decay products. This makes the material safe for insulating residential premises.

The unique characteristics of the material are explained by a combination of properties silicate glass and gas microcapsules.

Main advantages

Using foam glass as insulation has a number of significant advantages. These include:

Excellent thermal insulation characteristics. They are explained by the peculiarity of the structure of the material - small closed cells with thin partitions.
Versatility. The material is universal, therefore it can be used for insulation of facades, roofs, foundations, communications, walls and floors. It can be used even for objects with a high fire hazard.
Long service life. The material can last more than 100 years without loss performance qualities. At the same time, it tolerates high and low temperatures well, as well as their sudden changes.
Good sound insulation properties. A 10 cm layer of insulation can even muffle the sounds of a running tractor engine behind the wall. Therefore, the material can be effectively used not only for protection against heat loss, but also against extraneous noise.
Easy to install. An ordinary hacksaw can be used to cut slabs; the granules can simply be poured onto the prepared surfaces. The material is incredibly light, so working with it is easy.
Safety. The material does not emit hazardous compounds, therefore it can be used in public and residential premises.
Non-flammability. Foam glass does not burn, but at very high temperature It only melts without releasing toxic components or smoke.

The advantages of foam glass have made it one of the most successful and quality materials for insulation of floors, roofs, ceilings, basements, walls and other surfaces.

Main disadvantages

Despite the obvious advantages of foam glass, when choosing it as insulation, the disadvantages should also be taken into account. These include:

High price. On the building materials market, foam glass is one of the most expensive insulation materials. This is due to high energy consumption during production. In addition, production requires expensive equipment.
Low impact strength. The material has a high compressive strength, but is quite brittle. Therefore, when strong blows foam glass may crack, and such cracked slabs can no longer be used as insulation.
Low vapor conductivity. This property of the material is both its advantage and disadvantage. Despite the fact that fungi and mold cannot form in foam glass, the surface it covers does not allow air exchange, so pockets of infection may appear.

Foam glass - high quality and modern insulation For various types surface, however, when choosing it, disadvantages should also be taken into account.

Details of insulating a house with foam glass can be found in the video:

Application

A special feature of the material is its excellent thermal insulation abilities combined with high strength. Therefore, it can be used to insulate the base, foundation, load-bearing walls and pipelines. The low water absorption rate allows it to be used for thermal insulation of basements, foundations and ground floor. Granular material can be used as an insulation additive for concrete. To insulate walls, it is enough to pour it into their cavities.

Insulation with granulated foam glass

Foam glass cuts and drills well, so it’s easy to make pieces from slabs the right size. In addition, the slabs hold plaster, putty, glue and other surface finishing compounds well.

The material can be used not only for residential and public premises. It is used for housings of various technological and industrial equipment that operate at high temperatures.

Foam glass insulation

Foam glass insulation technology

To guarantee high thermal insulation qualities of the material, it is necessary to follow the technology of its installation:

To attach the slabs, it is recommended to use special glue, which must be applied to the back of the slab and the side walls. After which the glue should be evenly distributed over the surface of the sheet.
If the surface has pits, bulges or other irregularities, the adhesive should be applied to the foam glass with slaps to obtain the most even base possible.
When insulating a wooden base, it is recommended to secure the slabs with special dowels. Wood expands when exposed to moisture and temperature, so insulation must be mounted to it mechanically.
When installing the slab on a vertical surface, it is necessary to install the bottom strip using a building level. It is best to use a metal profile or rail as a strip.
The first row of insulation should be mounted on a profile that will act as a support. After the glue has completely hardened, the support can be removed. However, it is best to remove it after the work is completely completed.
When installing slabs on vertical or inclined surfaces, start from the bottom, and on horizontal surfaces, start from the far corner.
The slabs should be laid close to each other with one row offset relative to the other. After applying and completely drying the glue, it is additionally recommended to strengthen the slabs with special dowels.
It is recommended to install heat-insulating boards around windows and doors in one piece. On corner lines, connecting individual pieces of material to each other is not allowed.

Roof insulation with foam glass

Foam glass is high quality, modern and very lightweight material for thermal insulation various surfaces. Proper adherence to installation technology will increase the efficiency of thermal insulation and extend the service life of the material.

Application of granulated foam glass in individual construction

Everyone dreams of making their home a real fortress, and today the latest building and insulation materials, which can significantly increase the thermal parameters of the projects being carried out, help to make their dreams come true. structural elements and improve the microclimate in interior spaces residential building. Many building elements require insulation, a unique set of properties granulated foam glass allows this material to be used quite widely.

Usage granulated foam glass in individual construction, it allows you to create energy-saving buildings that are much lighter than conventional ones, reducing the cost of construction by 20 - 25%; used as a heat-insulating material in the construction of cottages, dachas and other residential premises, as it does not emit harmful substances during operation and environmentally friendly. It is worth noting that this type of insulation is suitable for rooms with special requirements for humidity (baths, saunas, basements).

Granulated foam glass has a unique strength-density ratio. No mineral porous material has such high compressive strength (without any deformation!!) at low density; low thermal conductivity, absolute non-flammability, ease of processing and installation.

Let's look at the features of insulation using some examples.

Foundation insulation

It should be noted that a lot of heat is lost through the foundation if it is not insulated. To eliminate various accidents that could negatively affect the structure, there is the most reliable type of foundation: a monolithic slab foundation, which is a thick reinforced concrete slab reinforced in two layers. Insulating such a foundation with granulated foam glass allows not only to reduce heat loss through the floor of the first floor, but also to avoid uneven subsidence of the foundation. The high strength of granulated foam glass allows the foundation slab to be poured over a layer of compacted gravel.

1- primer
2 - geotextile
3 - granular foam glass
4 - waterproofing
5 - geotextile
6 - foundation slab

Insulation of walls.

One of the private solutions for multi-layer wall structures is effective well brickwork. Insulated brick well masonry consists of three layers: outer and inner walls, rigidly interconnected by vertical diaphragms made of masonry brick, and a layer of wall thermal insulation located between them. When constructing diaphragms, a space is left between the bricks of the diaphragm, which is later filled with bulk thermal insulation - granulated foam glass. It easily fills masonry wells of various shapes to obtain a uniform backfill.

Due to the complete absence of organic matter, granular foam glass does not contain a nutrient medium for flora and fauna, including microorganisms. Thus, foam glass cannot be eaten by rodents and mold will not form on it.

Floor insulation.

If timely thermal insulation of the floor is not carried out, or the floor is poorly insulated, heat loss through the floor will be the norm. Floors carry high static and dynamic loads, so insulation should be calculated so that heat loss through the floor is reduced. For floors, it is better to use a heat-insulating material that has high compressive strength and almost no problems with deformation.

The high strength of foam glass allows you to obtain a flat and rigid base; this factor significantly increases the service life of the floor’s thermal insulation system. Foam glass has a number unique features, which allows it to be used as insulation for wooden and concrete floors in various residential premises, a chemically resistant material, which is especially important when insulating a wooden floor on the first floor, insulating a concrete floor, or insulating a bathhouse floor.

Insulation of the roof (roof).

The roof is one of the most exposed elements of a home to moisture.

IN In this case, insulation with granulated foam glass is optimal. Flat roofs are more popular today. Many designs take into account roofs and architectural solutions, exploiting options such as “winter gardens”, cafes, terraces located in the fresh air.

When insulating a flat roof, granulated foam glass can simultaneously act as a heat-insulating and slope-forming layer.
Flat roof experiences greater snow loads than a sloped one, since there is no rafter system and the load is transferred directly to the floor. The low density of foam glass, combined with high strength, can significantly reduce these loads. In this case, the layer of foam glass required for effective thermal insulation will be significantly smaller compared to the same expanded clay. The high drainage properties of the granulated foam glass layer, combined with the low water absorption of the granules themselves, make it possible to avoid the main problem of inversion roofing - the accumulation and freezing of moisture in the insulation layer. For thermal insulation pitched roof granulated foam glass is poured between the rafters, which also reduces the load on the load-bearing elements and significantly increases the service life of the structure.

Insulation of floors.

Depending on the location, there are attic, interfloor, basement and basement floors. When insulating floors with granulated foam glass, plank flooring can serve as a subfloor; when insulating the floor using joists/beams, cement-sand screed, prefabricated floor systems. To insulate unattended rooms, for example, unused attics, the backfill can be left free.
The use of foam glass in private housing construction when insulating floors will provide increased comfort due to its sound-absorbing properties. The ecology of the house is also important, which is increasingly receiving increased attention, and foam glass perfectly satisfies all the requirements of “cleanliness”.

Insulation of the pool.

When building a swimming pool, its thermal insulation plays a key role, because The main problem of such structures located in open areas is large heat loss. In this regard, the question arises: How to insulate a pool to avoid excessively rapid cooling of the water?

A swimming pool will only be built correctly if all conditions for its operation are met and reliable protection from heat loss. Special meaning in this regard, the bowl of the pool has. Due to the fact that it is located directly on the ground, it must be insulated with materials that have a high heat resistance coefficient. average temperature The soil temperature is about 5-7 degrees, while the water temperature in the pool is more than 25 degrees. Taking into account the fact that heat tries to penetrate into cold areas, insulation of the pool bowl must be carried out even before installation work begins.

Landscape design(garden sidewalk paths)

The purpose of garden paths is to allow plantings to pass through to the right place especially in rainy weather.Functional and convenient - such qualities can rightfully be given garden paths. If the Romans had beautifully laid paths in their gardens, and the Japanese generally endowed such paths with a special meaning, now paved paths emphasize the attractiveness flower beds, greenhouses, connecting with each other different areas and its buildings.

You must clearly know which paths will play a dominant role and which will play a secondary role; their size and the material chosen for paving depend on this. So, in order for a car to drive into a garage, you need a path that can withstand maximum loads, so you need to thinkabout fundamental strengthening.Secondary paths can be made smaller in width. Here granulated foam glass with its own will come to your aid unique properties and characteristics.

Construction of pedestrian paths

Priming
Geotextile material
Granular foam glass
Geotextile material
Support layer
Stone shawl

We looked at several application examples Granular foam glass in individual construction. Granulated foam glass is a relatively new insulation material modern market building materials. When studying and comparing the physical characteristics of the studied building material, we can say that the main advantages are high thermal insulation, not susceptible to temporary destruction, environmental safety, resistance to aggressive environments, moisture resistance, high adhesion, non-flammability and high mechanical stability at low density.

We can confidently say that this material is the future!

Foam glass is rightfully considered one of the highest quality and most durable thermal insulation materials. Thanks to its truly unique characteristics, this material has found its application not only in individual construction, but even in the construction of industrial facilities. However, for all its advantages, the insulator is not so popular in comparison with other heat insulators, and there are reasons for this. In addition to a lot of positive properties and characteristics, foam glass also has significant shortcomings. Let's figure out what disadvantages of foam glass prevent it from becoming the first among

Expensive production

The problem is that this material uses cheap raw materials such as shrapnel broken glass or sintered rocks, but the manufacturing technology itself is quite expensive. In order to obtain granulated foam glass, a temperature of about 800-900 degrees and molds made of heat-resistant steel are required.

The manufacturing process consists of first heating and softening the glass powder obtained from the raw materials.
It is then foamed by burning a gas-forming agent - usually coal.
The material is then slowly cooled, resulting in foam glass.

The production of insulation is a rather complex and lengthy process, due to which the cost of seemingly cheap raw materials increases significantly.

Foam glass products

The end result of production is blocks with a cellular structure and granulated foam glass. Due to the use of special forms, block products have a higher cost than the same volume of material in the form of granules.

Subsequently, the blocks are cut into slabs, which are used as thermal insulation in complex objects. For example, on roofs with a large area or structures of complex geometric shape, as well as for thermal insulation of underground structures. It is convenient to use foam glass slabs as thermal insulation for swimming pools, bathtubs and other buildings that operate under difficult temperature conditions, and all thanks to the special resistance of the material to water vapor.

Granulated foam glass is used, as a rule, as loose thermal insulation on roofs or as backfill under screed. The second use of this material is as a filler for various mortars to produce light screeds, plasters or foundation blocks.

Both products have the composition and characteristics of ordinary glass, so the advantages and disadvantages of foam glass are based on the properties of this material.

Strength properties of foam glass

This insulation is one of the most durable of all types of thermal insulation. However, we are only talking about compressive strength, which is important for thermal insulation materials, since it is this load that the insulator is usually subjected to. The particular importance of this parameter is due to the fact that with strong compression, the insulation may lose some of its properties: its moisture resistance is impaired, and the insulator begins to conduct heat.

Unlike foam and fibrous materials, which are designed to withstand only small internal forces, which significantly limits their use in some situations, foam glass is completely incompressible, and this allows it to take on part of the load.

Resistance to deformation

Foam glass does not deform under the influence of gravity, which prevents it from sagging, shrinking or shrinking. Thanks to this, the insulation does not require mandatory fastening to metal anchors or pins, which can create cold bridges. The material can be easily glued to hot bitumen, polymer or concrete mastics and specialized adhesives.

But not all strength characteristics of insulation are so ideal. The disadvantages of foam glass are based primarily on the properties of the original raw material, which has low resistance to mechanical shock. Therefore, the blocks are quite easy to break or damage. Moreover, even small surface defects can lead to a decrease in moisture resistance and an increase in thermal conductivity.

Service life of foam glass

The service life of insulation is at least 100 years, which significantly exceeds the service life of most buildings without major repairs, where its use is possible.

Foam glass was created back in the 30s of the last century, so today we can talk about the aging resistance of this material. Experts conducted experimental studies that showed that foam glass blocks over a period of 50 years did not lose their properties and remained practically unchanged.

However, this advantage is irrelevant in private construction, since low-rise buildings require reconstruction no later than after 50 years. Therefore, it is more advisable to use, although less durable, but cheaper thermal insulation materials than to use foam glass, the price of which is quite high (16,000 rubles / m 3).

Environmental resistance

In this case we're talking about about various types of influences of both chemical and biological nature. Thermal insulation materials made of foam glass are not destroyed chemicals, the only exception is But this can hardly be considered a disadvantage, since this reagent can only be found in chemical production.

Since foam glass consists only of various elements, it is not susceptible to oxygen contained in the surrounding air, and therefore to oxidation.

Thanks to this same feature, the insulation is not subject to combustion. When exposed to high temperatures, it melts like ordinary glass, without emitting, unlike most heat-insulating materials, harmful gases and substances.

There is another factor that has an impact on the fire safety of the material - the lack of absorbency. Foam glass fully possesses this property and is not an absorbent material.

Non-hygroscopic material

Thanks to this characteristic, water has no effect on the insulation, no matter whether it is fresh or salty, since there are no soluble components in the composition, and the foam glass structure is closed cells into which moisture simply cannot enter. Thanks to these qualities, the material does not collapse under the influence of low temperatures. Therefore, insulation is often used as

In addition, foam glass, the characteristics of which are identical to those of ordinary glass, has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which means that it can easily withstand seasonal temperature changes, regardless of the region of application. Another positive property of the material is high-quality sound insulation, and all thanks to the dense structure of foam glass.

Foam glass FOAMGLAS

However, the non-hygroscopicity and density of the material also causes some disadvantages of foam glass, in particular its rather large weight in comparison with other heat insulators. This significantly complicates the transportation of insulation, which significantly increases the selling price of the material. And installation becomes quite a problematic undertaking.

However, it allows you to correct this shortcoming. For example, the Pittsburg Corning Corporation produces FOAMGLAS foam glass, which is extremely light, while retaining all the properties inherent in this material.

Therefore, today foam glass is mainly mounted on building mixtures, which simplifies the installation of insulation. In addition, good adhesion of the material is also due to good adhesion of foam glass.

Biological effects

First of all, we note that foam glass is absolutely resistant to rotting, the formation of mold and fungi, since its composition simply does not contain a favorable environment for their reproduction. This factor is especially important in construction, when thermal insulation materials are often used in confined spaces. This property of foam glass makes it possible to guarantee the avoidance of destruction of both the heat insulator and the surface that it protects, be it a roof, a wall, or a foundation.

It is also important that foam glass cannot be damaged by plant roots. It is also completely inaccessible to insects and rodents due to its abrasive properties. This feature of the material has found its application in the arrangement of granaries, warehouses and food refrigeration rooms, when foam glass insulation is also an ideal protection against various biological forms.

What other advantages and disadvantages does foam glass have?

In addition to the main characteristics listed above, the material has several more distinctive properties.

Foam glass is very easy to process and give it the desired shape using ordinary cutting tools. This allows this insulator to be used for buildings of any geometric shape. And here industrial production blocks is a rather complex process, leading to a significant increase in the cost of the material.

Foam glass insulation is an absolutely environmentally friendly material that does not have any harmful effects on human health. And more recently, it was produced using a technology that used hydrogen sulfide as a gas generator. His smell was transmitted to finished material, therefore, the use of insulation in private construction was quite limited due to unpleasant odor"rotten eggs"

Due to its environmental friendliness, foam glass is becoming one of the most popular thermal insulation materials today; moreover, after use, the insulation can be recycled again into a new product.

One of best warmth And soundproofing materials is foam glass. This insulation was created by Soviet scientists in the 30s, but due to the high cost and imperfect manufacturing technology, it was not widely used. Three decades later, Canadians found practical application for it, where foam glass was used as thermal insulation for a building. This material entered mass construction relatively recently, when all the shortcomings were taken into account and production costs were reduced. The article will discuss how to insulate with foam glass.

What is foam glass

This inorganic thermal insulation material has a porous structure. During the production process, the glass melt is heated at high temperatures, the added gas-forming substance forms bubbles with a diameter of a millimeter to a centimeter. Porosity varies between 80-95%.

Foam glass photo

The color of the products can be different: cream, green or black. This property depends on the source raw material, because crushed quartz, sodium sulfate, sedimentary rocks, and irrecoverable glass cullet are used in production.
The insulation is offered in the form of granules, slabs and shaped products (pipe shells). Foam glass blocks are popular and can be of the following sizes:
- length - 200, 250, 400, 475 mm;
- width - 125, 200, 250, 400 mm;
- thickness - 80,100, 120 mm.
Installation is carried out using mechanical fastenings, cement mortars, mastics and other adhesives. The fixation method is selected depending on the type of surface (concrete, iron, wood).

Characteristics of foam glass

This is a lightweight material, its density is 120-200 kg/m. cube
As for the compressive strength, this indicator is very high and varies from 0.5 to 1.2 MPa.
Thermal conductivity is even better than that of wood - 0.06 W/m*s versus 0.09 W/m*s, respectively.
The absorption index of sound waves by a 100 mm thick slab is 50 dB, which provides increased comfort.

The amount of sorption is negligible and does not exceed 4% of the volume.
The temperature range for using the material is very wide - from -200 to +500C. At higher temperatures (from +540C), the slabs begin to deform, but do not emit toxic gases or vapors. Heat resistance makes it possible to use foam glass in facilities that have increased fire safety requirements.
Chemical inertness is at a high level. The material does not interact with acids, alkalis, petroleum products and other aggressive environments.

Advantages of using foam glass

In addition to high physical and technical characteristics, absolute environmental cleanliness can be noted among the advantages. The material is recommended for use in buildings with increased sanitary and hygienic conditions.
The mats do not change their size throughout the entire service life. Glass cells do not deform under operational loads and seasonal temperature changes. Thus, the formation of cold bridges due to compression, sagging, swelling or shrinkage is prevented.

Foam glass is not subject to rotting and the development of corrosion processes. It is also not attractive to microorganisms, mold, fungi and rodents, which indicates biological resistance. Thanks to the above advantages, the service life of the blocks is at least 100 years.
Thermal insulation material is easy to process. It can be cut, drilled and sawed without forming crumbs or cracks. It is compatible with almost all types of building materials: cement, brick, iron surfaces, and holds finishing compounds well.

Disadvantages of foam glass insulation

The main disadvantage is the high cost, because the manufacturing process itself is a complex technological task. To produce insulation in the form of a shell, additional equipment is required, which entails an increase in the cost of the finished product.
One more drawback can be noted - low resistance to shock loads. But this indicator is not critical, since the insulation is not subjected to such tests.

Attention! "Analogues"

There is a cheaper analogue on the market, which is made from liquid glass. The finished product is not durable or moisture resistant. At its core, it is porous glue.
The only advantage of this material is its low cost, which can be 2 or even 3 times less than that of foam glass products made from solid raw materials.

Foam glass application

Due to its thermal insulation properties, the material is used:

in civil engineering. It is widely used for thermal insulation engineering communications. This material is used for “warm floors”, used roofs, attic spaces, basements, foundations. They also insulate internal and external walls;

in sports facilities. Block and granular material is widely used in the construction of ice arenas, swimming pools, playgrounds and other facilities that have special requirements;
in industrial facilities. Foamed glass melt works to reduce operating costs due to its high thermal resistance. Therefore, its use is relevant not only for above-ground, but also for underground structures, such as: buried tanks and other containers;
in the national economy. Crushed foam glass makes it possible to erect buildings on clayey and marshy soils. It provides reliable thermal insulation of farms intended for breeding poultry, cattle, etc.;

in the improvement of personal gardens. Foam glass bulk material found its application in the construction of greenhouses and greenhouses. Performance characteristics allow you to shape the terrain on the site, arrange pedestrian paths, create gabions, use in drainage systems and diversions groundwater. They also insulate buried containers.

Increased efficiency

When choosing the thickness of the slabs, it is necessary to take into account the thermal insulation properties of the material used to build the house. So, for external insulation of brick, concrete and silicate walls, foam glass slabs with a thickness of 120 mm are used.
This thermal insulation material with a thickness of 80-100 mm is suitable for buildings made of wood, foam and expanded clay concrete blocks.
Internal insulation work is carried out using foam glass 60 mm thick. The plates are fixed using adhesives, thin dowels and steel L-shaped brackets.

Granular material is used for the “warm floor” system, foundation and interfloor (attic) floors. It will fill all voids and provide the necessary thermal insulation. Layer thickness calculation is based on temperature conditions region of residence.

Foam glass installation

To attach the mats, a special foam glass adhesive is used. It is applied to the reverse side and 2 side walls. Cement-containing solutions and bitumen-based compositions are evenly distributed around the perimeter.
If there are minor bulges or depressions on the surface, then it is recommended to apply the adhesive mixture to the foam glass in “slaps” (at least 5 pieces per slab). With this method, glue consumption will increase, but the base will become as smooth as possible.
For wooden surfaces use special dowels. This is explained by the fact that wood is subject to thermal expansion. In this connection, the slabs must be fixed mechanically, which will allow the foam glass blocks to “move” after the wood.
Before installing the slabs on vertical surfaces at the level of the plinth, a horizontal strip under the level is installed. This can be a beam or a metal profile; if necessary, wedges are placed between the base and the rail. The empty space is filled with foam.
The first row of insulation is installed on a profile that acts as a support. After the adhesive composition has hardened, the support is dismantled. To be safe, it is better to remove the horizontal bar upon completion of all work.

Foam glass mats are mounted on walls and sloping roofs from bottom to top, on horizontal surfaces (for example, on interfloor ceilings, foundations) in the direction - “towards you”, that is, from the far corner.
Laying of foam glass products is carried out close to each other with the obligatory displacement of one row relative to the other (with bandaging of the seams). If, in addition to glue, you plan to additionally use dowels, then they are fastened after the binder mixture has completely dried.
Thermal insulation boards around window or door openings, chimney pipes and other elements are mounted in one piece. Joining foam glass blocks on corner lines is not allowed.

Foam glass laying technology

Knowing the method of fastening this material, you can easily and quickly insulate any objects under construction. Proper placement of all layers will help increase the efficiency of thermal insulation.

Unique physical and technical properties make it possible to reduce the thickness of the “pie” and abandon the use of wind and moisture-proof membranes. Below are the most common uses of foam glass slabs.

Wall with heavy cladding. Products made of foam glass are glued to reinforced concrete or brick surfaces. Additional fixation is done mechanically (4-5 dowels per slab). After the entire perimeter has been laid, they proceed to installation. metal profile, intended for facing stone. This option is also applicable for arranging the basement.

Plastered wall. On brickwork or walls built from foam or aerated concrete blocks, foam glass mats are attached using an adhesive composition. Before applying the finishing material, the slabs are covered with an overlapping mesh (at least 100 mm). It is fixed with disc-shaped dowels with pressure washers. The thickness of the plaster layer can be up to 30 mm.
Wall with facing brick. The brick base is covered with foam glass slabs. It is more convenient to insert flexible connections after laying the insulation, and not before its installation. Next, the masonry is erected from facing bricks. Here you can also use granular material, which is poured between the main and facing wall as the latter is being erected (the distance between the masonry is at least 250 mm).
Wall under profiled sheet. Wall surfaces are covered with foam glass mats. On top of them there is a sheathing made of wooden slats or metal profile. Fasteners are selected depending on the material from which the walls are built. Profiled sheets are installed using the appropriate technology (from bottom to top and from left to right, overlapping horizontally and vertically).

Internal walls (partitions). Indoor work is not much different from the external installation of the presented insulation. Also, insulation is attached to the surface, which is covered with a layer of plaster (you can mount the profile under plasterboard sheets).
Roof under roll materials . Reinforced concrete slab if necessary, it is coated with a bitumen-polymer primer, which provides a high level of moisture protection. Next, hot bitumen-based mastic or an adhesive solution is applied to the foam glass block and fixed to the surface with gentle pressure. The finished canvas is treated with hot bitumen. Using a torch, a waterproofing layer of EPP is fused, and then a rolled material of the EKP type is fused.

Roof with a slight slope for sheet coverings. Foam glass blocks are glued to the reinforced concrete floor. You can use special adhesive compositions or bitumen mastics. Upon completion of the work, the foam glass surface is covered with a hot bitumen-polymer mass. To increase the waterproofing of the roof, fused rolled materials are used. After hardening, a sheathing is made corresponding to one or another roofing material.
Wooden roof. A continuous flooring is installed on the rafters. A layer of bitumen-based waterproofing materials is spread on top of it, which is fastened mechanically. Next, foam glass is installed, then waterproofing material. Now the surface is completely ready for laying any roofing material.
Insulation of floors with foam glass. Foam glass slabs are laid tightly on top concrete base or a compacted layer of sand or cement. Here the thickness of the slab will depend on the expected loads. Next, polyethylene is laid in 2 layers, and then the entire cake is poured sand-cement mixture. This base is completely ready for arrangement with various finishing materials: linoleum, parquet, ceramic tiles, etc.

Foam glass products have the characteristics necessary for effective thermal insulation of buildings for any purpose. They combine: low heat transfer rates, ease of installation, long service life, fire and biological resistance, environmental safety for both humans and structures.

Foam glass video

Despite the high cost of this material, laying foam glass will cover all costs due to the absence of additional layers of the cake and due to the minimal amounts in heating bills.