Sandwich panels are a great type of building material that combine light weight with good rigidity. Of course they’re not as strong as load bearing materials like concrete, but they work well for insulating walls, roofing, and more. Here at A1 Precision Solutions, we use sandwich panels in a variety of ways, most notably in the construction of cool rooms and large cold storage facilities. Sandwich panels work well here because of their insulated core and generally light weight.

So what, exactly, is a sandwich panel, and what are the types that are used in construction?

A sandwich panel is made up of three layers. The middle layer is typically a low density insulating core while the two outer layers, the skin, is a rigid material like aluminum. Since the panel is made up of a core layer sandwiched between two outer layers, it’s called a sandwich panel. The make up of the core and the material the skin in made out of will depend on the type of sandwich panel and what it’s being used for. For example, the core may be solid to provide more insulation or it may be a honeycomb shape to be rigid while reducing weight.

EPS Panels

EPS panels, or expanded polystyrene sandwich panels, use a polystyrene core. Because of this, EPS panels work well as an insulator and are often used in refrigeration. However, their use goes beyond this. Because of their insulating properties, EPS panels are quite versatile, and are often used in office and industrial settings as a general insulator to keep workplaces naturally cool or warm.

With that in mind, EPS panels also work well in the construction of clean rooms because, again, their insulating property keeps temperatures relatively consistent, which can often be needed in these kinds of environments.

PIR Panels

PIR stands for polysocyanurate. Like EPS panels, PIR panels work great for insulation, often even more so. Another advantage of PIR panels is that, unlike EPS panels, the make up of the core structure is resistant to rodents, making it less susceptible to damage by pests.

As mentioned, PIR panels work great as an insulator but they can be more expensive than EPS panels. Because of this, it’s important to choose wisely when considering whether to use PIR or EPS panels in a project requiring insulation. Of course, the highest amount of insulation possible is great, but if it’s not needed, EPS panels may be a better option.

XFLAM Panels

A main drawback to EPS and PIR sandwich panels is that they’re not fire resistant. XFLAM panels, on the other hand, have great insulating properties while also being resistant to fire. Like other insulating sandwich panels, XFLAM panels work well in cold storage environments, clean rooms, and the construction of processing facilities that may need temperature control. However, if the facility being construction also has fire concerns, XFLAM panels are likely the way to go.

As with PIR versus EPS panels, although fire safety is important, if there’s no risk of fire in the facility (or if it’s mitigated another way), the extra expense of XFLAM panels may not be worthwhile. So similarly, it’s important to choose the type of panel correctly and also make sure it works well with the rest of the project.

And More

Although we’ve discussed the main type of sandwich panels here, there are many more that are manufactured for various specialised applications. If you have a project coming up that may require the use of sandwich panels, speak to us early so we can help decide the type of panel being used and how it will work into the facility as a whole.