What is BS EN 15501 - Factory-made expanded perlite (EP) and exfoliated vermiculite (EV) products about?
BS EN 15501 is the European standard for thermal insulation products that consistently offer the intended resistance to heat flow throughout the building's lifetime.
BS EN 15501 specifies the requirements for factory-made expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products that are used for the thermal insulation of building equipment and industrial installations with an operating temperature in the range of approximately 0 °C to + 1 100 °C.
Expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products can be used below 0 °C but special tests regarding the suitability of the product in the intended application are advised (e.g., liquefaction of oxygen). The manufacturer’s advice should be heeded in all cases.
The products are manufactured in the form of boards, pipe sections, segments, prefabricated ware and special ware.
BS EN 15501 describes product characteristics and includes procedures for testing, evaluation of conformity, marking and labelling.
Products covered by BS EN 15501 are also used in prefabricated thermal insulation systems and composite panels, the structural performance of systems incorporating these products is not covered.
Note 1: BS EN 15501 does not specify the required level of a given property that is achieved by a product to demonstrate fitness for purpose in a particular application. The levels required for a given application can be found in regulations and invitations to tender.
Note 2: Products with a declared thermal conductivity greater than 0,6 W/(mK) at 10 °C are not covered by BS EN 15501.
Note 3: BS EN 15501 does not cover products intended to be used for the insulation of the building structure.
Note 4: BS EN 15501 does not cover the following acoustical aspects: direct airborne sound insulation and impact transmission noise index.
Who is BS EN 15501 - Factory-made expanded perlite (EP) and exfoliated vermiculite (EV) products for?
BS EN 15501 on thermal insulation products for buildings is useful for:
- Builders
- Architects
- Manufacturers of thermal insulating products
- Manufacturers and suppliers of thermoplastic polymers
Why should you use BS EN 15501 - Factory-made expanded perlite (EP) and exfoliated vermiculite (EV) products?
Perlite and vermiculite have been used for years as an aggregate in lightweight, insulating concrete and plaster, and as a loose-fill insulation material for concrete masonry blocks, cavity walls, and residential homes.
BS EN 15501 provides the properties of thermal insulation products to measure thermal resistance and thermal conductivity.
The classes of dimensional tolerances are specified in BS EN 15501 giving measures of length and width, thickness, squareness and flatness.
BS EN 15501 navigates you through the chemical, mechanical and physical properties of factory-made expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products.
Sampling, conditioning and dimensions of test specimens are determined by BS EN 15501 for the determination of thermal resistance and thermal conductivity.
The designation code for expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products is illustrated in BS EN 15501.
BS EN 15501 provides the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) with the compliance of the product with the requirements and the performance determination of product type by type testing and factory production control.
Marking, labelling and packaging of the expanded perlite and exfoliated vermiculite products for the insulation of buildings are set out in BS EN 15501.
Furthermore, BS EN 15501 guides you in the manufacture of perlite and vermiculite products that save energy when used as insulation and are non-combustible. These products are used in industrial and commercial applications providing packaging, fire protection, refractory and high-temperature insulation, and loose-fill insulation.
In this way, you can use perlite for greater drainage and aeration and vermiculite for more moisture retention.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 15501:2015 supersedes BS EN 15501:2013. BS EN 15501:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 15501:2013. These include:
- An addition to the foreword
- Modification of clauses and annexes