EPS 60
EN 13163 EPS60
EPS 60 is a bead-moulded expanded polystyrene board to EN 13163 with a minimum compressive strength of 60 kPa, nominal density 15 kg/m³, thermal conductivity 0.038 W/(m·K) and a maximum service temperature of 75 °C.
Reference datasheet — EPS 60 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the WHITE-FR condition
EPS 60 grades and fills
EPS 60 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. WHITE-FR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WHITE-FRDefault White flame-retarded EPS 60 board (standard) | Default construction grade: white FR-modified EPS 60 for cavity walls, roofs and render carrier boards. | 0.13 | 2 | ||
Graphite-enhanced grey EPS 60 (λ ≈ 0.031 W/m·K) | Pick when the same 60 kPa strength is needed but wall build-up must be ~20% thinner; grey boards need shading during installation. | 0.13 | 2 | ||
Non-flame-retarded EPS 60 | Cheaper unmodified grade for packaging, moulds and non-building void fill where no reaction-to-fire class is required. | 0.13 | 2 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EPS 60 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BLOCK-CUT | Block-cut EPS 60 sheet | Supply form |
What is EPS 60?
EPS 60 is a bead-moulded expanded polystyrene board to EN 13163 with a minimum compressive strength of 60 kPa, nominal density 15 kg/m³, thermal conductivity 0.038 W/(m·K) and a maximum service temperature of 75 °C. It is the low-cost default for cavity walls, roofs and packaging, supplied as hot-wire-cut block board in white flame-retardant, grey graphite-loaded (GEPS) and non-FR versions. It is not weldable, is dissolved by solvent and bitumen primers, and must be covered against UV. Grey graphite-loaded EPS lowers conductivity and XPS raises compressive strength when 60 kPa is not enough. EPS 60 has a density of 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), lighter than 100% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F). EPS 60 has a tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi), weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi).
What is EPS 60 used for?
- Cavity wall insulation
- Roof insulation
- Packaging
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), better than 100% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.04 W/m·K (0.022 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.8%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
EPS 60 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EPS 60-WHITE-FR; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
EPS 60 has a density of 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), lighter than 100% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical9
EPS 60 has a tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi), weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal8
EPS 60 is rated for continuous service to 75°C (167 °F). It conducts heat at 0.04 W/m·K (0.022 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 65 µm/m·K (36.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
EPS 60 has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EPS 60 takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 3.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability5
EPS 60's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. EPS 60 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EPS 60
Is EPS 60 easy to machine?
Cut with hot wire, band knife or CNC hot-wire router; avoid high-speed routers that melt and smear the beads, and vacuum the dust.
Can EPS 60 be welded?
Not weldable in the usual sense — pieces are joined by steam fusion in the mould, hot-air/hot-plate tacking, or solvent-free water-based and PU adhesives (solvent adhesives dissolve it).
Can EPS 60 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by steam pre-expansion of pentane-loaded beads, ageing in silos, then block moulding or shape moulding at ~110 °C steam; boards are hot-wire cut from aged blocks, and edge profiles (tongue-and-groove, rebate) are routed.
EPS 60 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| pentane (blowing agent, residual)most pentane leaves during ageing/expansion | 0.1 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| polymeric brominated flame retardantPolyFR, replaced HBCD; absent in non-FR packaging grade | 0.5 – 1.5 | 0.8 |
| graphitegrey/graphite-enhanced variant only | 1 – 4 | 2.5 |
| polystyreneexpandable polystyrene bead polymer | ≥ 92 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on EPS 60?
Faced or coated rather than polished: cement/polymer render on fibreglass mesh, foil or paper facers, or mechanically fixed boards; keep away from bitumen/solvent primers and UV exposure before covering.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to EPS 60 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 13163 EPS60
How much does EPS 60 cost?
EPS 60 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EPS 60 — frequently asked
What is EPS 60 used for?
EPS 60 is typically used for cavity wall insulation, roof insulation and packaging. In short: cheapest EPS load class; 60 kPa entry grade; hot-wire cuttable board.
What is the tensile strength of EPS 60?
EPS 60 has a typical tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi) — weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is EPS 60 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades). Cut with hot wire, band knife or CNC hot-wire router; avoid high-speed routers that melt and smear the beads, and vacuum the dust.
Can EPS 60 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not weldable in the usual sense — pieces are joined by steam fusion in the mould, hot-air/hot-plate tacking, or solvent-free water-based and PU adhesives (solvent adhesives dissolve it).
What surface finishes work on EPS 60?
Faced or coated rather than polished: cement/polymer render on fibreglass mesh, foil or paper facers, or mechanically fixed boards; keep away from bitumen/solvent primers and UV exposure before covering.
Can EPS 60 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by steam pre-expansion of pentane-loaded beads, ageing in silos, then block moulding or shape moulding at ~110 °C steam; boards are hot-wire cut from aged blocks, and edge profiles (tongue-and-groove, rebate) are routed.
What is the maximum service temperature of EPS 60?
EPS 60 is rated for continuous use to about 75°C (167 °F), and briefly to 95°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does EPS 60 cost?
EPS 60 is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- EN 13163 — Thermal insulation products for buildings: factory made expanded polystyrene (EPS) — CEN (2016)
- EN 13501-1 — Fire classification of construction products (Euroclass) — CEN (2018)
- Styropor / Neopor technical information (EPS grades, thermal and mechanical data) — BASF (2022)
- EUMEPS technical data and EPS product declarations — EUMEPS (2021)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — insulation materials — Circular Ecology (2019)
- Materials and the Environment / CES material property data (polymer foams) — Ashby / Granta (2013)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.