What is BS EN 14304 – Thermal insulation about?
BS EN 14304 discusses factory-made Flexible Elastomeric Foam (FEF) products for thermal insulation products for building equipment and industrial installations. Thermal insulating flexible elastomeric foams is always efficient in reducing energy consumption as they possess properties such as low thermal conductivity, water vapour barrier, and keeping products environmentally friendly.
BS EN 14304 specifies the requirements for factory-made flexible elastomeric foam products used for the thermal insulation of building equipment and industrial installations with an operating temperature of approximately - 200 °C to + 175 °C. BS EN 14304 describes product characteristics and includes procedures for testing, evaluation of conformity, marking and labelling. Products covered by BS EN 14304 are used in prefabricated thermal insulation systems and composite panels.
Note 1: BS EN 14304 does not specify the required level of a given property that should be 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: BS EN 14304 does not cover products for the insulation of the building structure.
Who is BS EN 14304 – Thermal insulation for?
BS EN 14304 on thermal insulation is useful for:
- Manufacturers of elastomeric thermal products
- Quality testing of rubber pipe
- Suppliers and distributors of elastomeric foam
Why should you use BS EN 14304 – Thermal insulation?
Thermal insulation is a process of reducing heat transfer through a system or describing a product, component or system which performs that function. Flexible elastomeric foam is a closed-cell flexible foam, made of natural or synthetic rubber, or a mixture of the two and containing other polymers and other chemicals which may be modified by organic or inorganic additives.
BS EN 14304 provides you with a sampling test method in which a flat test specimen is taken from the same sample with a total area of not less than 1 m2 or one full-sized sheet and sufficient to cover the needed tests. The shorter side of the sample is not less than 300 mm or the full size of the product, whichever is smaller. The pipe section specimen is taken from a sample consisting of at least three full-size sections.
BS EN 14304 gives you the specific applications that include maximum service temperature, minimum service temperature, water absorption, water vapour diffusion resistance, sound absorption, etc. This application will help you test the resistance of the elastomeric foam in a standardized manner.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 14304:2015 supersedes BS EN 14304:2009+A1:2013, which is withdrawn. BS EN 14304:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 14304:2009+A1:2013. These include:
- An addition to the foreword
- An addition in Clause 3 and a new Annex ZA
- A new 4.3.9
- Modification of Clause 7, Clause 8, Annex A