Tech Note. Analysis of practices of layer-by-layer use of expanded polystyrene in the operation of residential buildings

The purpose of this paper is to consider three aspects of the use of polystyrene as an effective heat-insulating material in three-layer load-bearing and enclosing structures of reinforced concrete residential buildings. The first aspect is related to the dependence of the enclosure heat transfer resistance degree on the method of combining expanded polystyrene with stone structural materials. For example, prefabricated expanded polystyrene concrete blocks for the construction of walls of low and medium-rise buildings and cast-in-situ expanded polystyrene concrete poured into the voids of the well brickwork in high-rise buildings. It is shown that the layer-by-layer application of pure expanded polystyrene and the concrete layers protecting it multiplies the degree of thermal insulation of the enclosing structure while retaining its strength and equal consumption of raw materials. The second aspect is associated with the fire resistance of reinforced concrete load-bearing and enclosing structures of residential buildings. A sufficient degree of fire resistance when protecting expanded polystyrene with cast-in-situ reinforced concrete layers is shown using examples. The third aspect shows the feasibility of using outer three-layer reinforced concrete walls with polystyrene insulation for panel heating of the buildings.