FAQs

QUESTIONS /ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Insulation

Thermopore® is the brand name of Industrial Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd for marketing our Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) products. It is now a commonly used name by which EPS material is identified in Pakistan. It is closed-cell foam with 98% air making it a lightweight material and a good insulator; hence having multiple uses across various industries.
Styrofoam is the brand name of Dow Chemicals Corporation for Expanded Polystyrene foam. Thermopore® and Styrofoam are brand names of the same material and so refer to the same object.
Thermopore® is a very versatile material having many uses across multiple industries. Some of the key applications of Thermopore® are in the construction industry where it is used as an insulation material, void filler and also in expansion joints. Other uses include food and industrial packaging, temperature sensitive transport, pharmaceutical industry, consumer products, horticulture and craft projects.
Pakistan is among the top 7 countries which are about to get mostly affected by Global warming. The climate is generally hot and dry. Insulation prevents excessive heat entering and exiting a building therefore lowering energy costs of cooling in summers and heating in winters. This leads to a direct reduction in electricity bills making the insulated building energy efficient and a comfortable space to be in. Insulation, by reducing energy consumption, helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change.

The R-value is a measure of well any material resists the conductive flow of heat per inch. Every material has an R-value; the higher the value, the better the material is to resisting heat transfer hence being a better insulator. When selecting insulation for your building R-value is an important factor that must be taken into account amongst other factors.

Insulation is most effective in areas which are responsible for the most heat transfer in a building. Vast majority of heat enters a building through the roof, followed by walls and then some via flooring. So Roof insulation and Wall insulation (sun-facing sides) are the most important areas to install insulation. All areas of building insulation are illustrated as follows:

Thermopore® is considered the best insulation material available in Pakistan due to its high R-value, long life and cost effectiveness. Thermopore® insulation has proven to reduce temperatures by 7 degrees in peak summer months compared to non-insulated buildings. This results in energy saving of up to 40% per year. It is a one-time investment providing insulation for the entire life of the building meaning excellent Return on Investments for any building.
The specifications of insulation depend upon the climatic conditions where the building is located and the structure of the building itself. In warmer climates higher R-value is required for the entire building hence thicker insulation should be used. Also, the area that should be insulated along with budget should be considered. Our representatives are “insulation experts” and provide free consultation with respect to insulation of your home.
Short answer: Yes. But installing insulation in an already existing home is more expensive and cumbersome than during construction phase. Insulation works best when it is sandwiched between roof/wall layers and acts as a barrier for heat transfer. So we always advise to install insulation during construction of a building.
Thermopore® insulation is rigid and tough closed-cell foam made from pre-expanded polystyrene beads. These beads are molded together in block form out of which sheets of various densities, sizes and thicknesses are cut out.
Thermopore® comes in Flame Retardant (FR) grade which is specially manufactured by us. This does not allow Flame to spread compared to normal grade which is flammable. Flame retardant grade Thermopore® is chemically treated to be very slow burning and self-extinguishing. For external applications such as Thermopore-EIFS® and Thermopore Pipe insulation, we only use FR Grade material.
Thermopore® is a 98% closed cell foam meaning it has less than 2% water absorption and is generally regarded as resistant to water and moisture. When in contact with water, the insulating properties of the material are not compromised.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause slight discoloration and surface dusting of Thermopore® insulation. The insulating properties will not be significantly affected under normal usage. However, it is not recommended to leave out in the open and it is better to be sandwiched in between layers.
Thermopore® is quite good at not transmitting sound, but that’s because it reflects a lot back. Therefore it is quite good for soundproofing and thermal insulation; being used to prevent sound from leaking into an adjacent room. However it is not recommended for acoustic treatment in a studio where reduction of echo is of main priority.
Thermopore® is very recyclable with crush of the material being re-used in some applications.
Due to its lightweight and buoyant characteristics, Thermopore® has become the most popular flotation product on the market today. A simple board of Thermopore® can float between 55 lbs and 60 lbs per cubic foot depending upon the density of the block. Hence it is widely used in shipping and sea ports for buoys or floating platforms.

The primary function of Geofoam is to provide a lightweight void fill below a highway, bridge approach, embankment or parking lot. Thermopore® Geofoam minimizes settlement on underground utilities and slope stabilization in areas that may be subject to failure.

Thermopore® is a commonly used and suitable material for void formers, which are openings and voids that appear within concrete structures in the building process. Being lightweight Thermopore® void formers reduce weight on the structure and are easy to handle.

Packaging

Thermopore® packaging offers high shock absorbency characteristics coupled with exceptional mechanical/compressive strength. These attributes enable the material to be an ideal choice for packing fragile or delicate appliances / goods. Since Thermopore® can be molded into any shape and is extremely lightweight; it is a good choice for a wide variety of applications.
Thermopore® packing is able to absorb high levels of energy when dropped or subjected to impact due to its high compressive strength. The strength and durability is retained even when it is in contact with water.
Thermopore® packing is made using molding technique in specialized shape molding machines. These machines can be manually operated or be automatic. We at Industrial Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd offer both these facilities along with free consultation regarding your packing requirements.

Pipe Insulation

Thermopore® pipe insulation is an insulation covering for chilled water, hot water pipe systems and air-conditioning ducts to prevent condensation and freezing. Thermopore® Pipe Insulation keeps water cold in summers and warm in winters resulting in energy efficiency and saving of precious resource. For almost 50 years, Thermopore® Pipe and Duct insulation has secured a firm position for itself as an insulating material in the chemical factories, textile and paper mills, ice factories, dairies breweries, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) and all kind of processing industries.
It is manufactured in semi-circular shells of variable diameter (according to the pipe to be insulated). We use CNC machines to accurately cut Pipe sections enabling us to manufacture pipe insulation for any size possible. They are unaffected by fungi and bacteria, making it the ideal choice for pipes operating in areas such as food processing etc., where the highest degree of hygiene is required.
Yes they can be installed on existing piping systems. The two sections are placed over the pipe and covered with FRK facing (Foil Reinforced Kraft paper).

Thermopore® pipe section can be ordered by providing the following basic information or alternatively you can call / send us your requirement:

• Size (Diameter) of pipe to be insulated
• Type of pipe to be insulated (Steel, PVC, etc)
• Density of pipe insulation required (higher density = better R-value)

Thermopore-EIFS

Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS) is an energy efficient thermal wrapping applied to the exterior of a building, which is finished with a long-life protective coating system. EIFS allows designers extensive design flexibility and also generates excellent Return on Investment through superior insulation covering. EIFS not only makes buildings more energy efficient but also allows buildings to get rejuvenated and given a facelift which will stand the test of time. It is cost effective, saves time and labor and offers moisture protection for your building enhancing its life.
Thermopore-EIFS® systems are highly durable which will last the entire life of a building. They withstand high winds, air and water infiltration, and are impact-resistant to airborne objects. The systems are designed to be very flexible, which makes them highly crack resistant. When walls expand or contract due to rising or falling temperatures, EIFS are resilient enough to “absorb” building movement and thus avoid the unsightly cracking problems. EIFS systems have successfully withstood over 50 years in various climates in the world.
Yes. Thermopore-EIFS® system is a great way to rejuvenate a building façade. As long as the wall / substrate is free of substantial defects the EIFS system can be applied directly on it. This allows already constructed buildings to get a layer of insulation on the exterior thus protecting the structure from weather conditions
Thermopore-EIFS® systems are cost effective as they save time and labour of application. With regard to decorative elements, architectural façade features made in Thermopore-EIFS® system can reduce time and cost substantially. In cases up to 40% cost effectiveness has been experienced helping clients achieve their goals in lesser time and money.
A minimum thickness of 1.5” is recommended for Thermopore-EIFS systems. Less than that offers little utility and can compromise the overall strength of the system. There is no maximum limit to the thickness of EIFS applications.
EIFS also offers versatile, attractive, and sophisticated exterior finishes. Acrylic based paints / elastomeric coatings that are readily available in the market are all applicable on Thermopore-EIFS® systems.
They require minimal maintenance over the years. Periodically, EIFS finishes require cleaning to remove dirt, that accumulates on the surface or recoating to refresh the look of the cladding or to change the color. If in any case any piece gets damaged due to accident, Thermopore-EIFS® systems can be easily replaced and recoated by cutting out the damaged piece and replacing it with a new section.
To formulate your exact requirement we at Industrial Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd offer free consultation based on Autocad drawings of your building. This enables us to provide a detailed item wise quotation for all elements that can be made in Thermopore-EIFS® system.