Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 I always smell a rat when something doesn't come up in a google search - I want it, I've seen other people say they want it, so why isn't it on general sale? We recently had our cavity walls injected with graphite coated (fire retarded) EPS beads and the big old box-van showed up with around 12m3 of beads in a built-in sack. The van is mostly just a big sack of beads: So I'm thinking that these would be ideal for pouring in around several boxed-in stacks that I've got in the house. But can I find a supplier for them who won't only show up in a van and pump them in? Can I heck. Anyone know a way to get hold of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 First Google hit. http://polypearl.co.uk/cavity-wall-insulation/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger440 Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 2 hours ago, SteamyTea said: First Google hit. http://polypearl.co.uk/cavity-wall-insulation/ Easy to find yes. Try actually purchasing, which is the OP's issue. You cant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Beads I one thing / you need that pot in the bottom corner too - that’s the glue system that stops the beads becoming a torrent when you drill though the wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 5 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: First Google hit. http://polypearl.co.uk/cavity-wall-insulation/ Sorry, yes, I should have elaborated: a supplier with a retail facility. I mean, it's easy to find furnishing grade EPS beads all over ebay and Amazon but claims of fire ratings are highly dubious for a plain white poly bead. Funny really because graphite EXP sheets are readily available from those places as well as insulation stores. On their website it says "We also work closely with a selection of builder’s merchants and retail suppliers." but I'm still waiting for a callback. I don't hold up much hope as without retail sales it usually means f-off unless you're in the trade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 34 minutes ago, PeterW said: Beads I one thing / you need that pot in the bottom corner too - that’s the glue system that stops the beads becoming a torrent when you drill though the wall I don't want them to put in a wall. As I said above, I've got three boxed-in stacks that I can access from above and I just want to pour in beads to get the insulation all the way down to the ground where I know there is none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Yes - so what happens when someone cuts or drills into the ground floor stack boxing :.?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 6 minutes ago, PeterW said: Yes - so what happens when someone cuts or drills into the ground floor stack boxing :.?? Exactly I recently routed a pipe in the 600 void at my brother in-laws and couldn’t move for the stud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 22 minutes ago, PeterW said: Yes - so what happens when someone cuts or drills into the ground floor stack boxing :.?? I've lived here for 25 years and never once so much as put a screw into any of these boxes. However, in the extremely unlikely event of me wanting to gain access, I'd get out the garden vac and suck 'em out ready to re-fill. If it's someone else's house, I'd consider it an excellent posthumous practical joke. Do you have any other suggestions for how to retrospectively insulate the voids around these stacks? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Why not call back the guys who did the walls and get them to pump the stacks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Thomas Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 What an odd thing. Plenty of retail sellers for the boards; none for the beads. I did find a seller on alibaba who will send *unexpanded* graphite EPS beads a ton at a time (most have a minimum order of 10 or 17 tons). $1,530.00/ton. The process for getting them to expand seems to simply be "apply heat"... popcorn maker, perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravelrash Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 why not use perlite or vermiculite which is easily sourced 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 2 hours ago, Iceverge said: Why not call back the guys who did the walls and get them to pump the stacks? It wouldn't be cost effective to get them out here and set up - just to blow a cubic meter of beads. On the other hand if I could just source the beads, it'd be a doddle to do myself. 2 hours ago, Nick Thomas said: What an odd thing. Plenty of retail sellers for the boards; none for the beads. That's right. The differentiation in availability between loose beads and solid sheet seems very odd to me. I suppose it could be because these days it's routinely injected with a PVA bonding fluid as @PeterW points out, which is certainly desirable but not essential for DIY. My rental property has un-bonded beads put in nearly 40 years ago and gets along just fine. 1 hour ago, gravelrash said: why not use perlite or vermiculite which is easily sourced R-Value of vermiculite doesn't look as good as polystyrene but perlite looks more promising: vermiculite 0.366 polystyrene 0.4 Perlite 0.475 (comparative figures for 1" thickness) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 6 hours ago, Nick Thomas said: The process for getting them to expand seems to simply be "apply heat"... popcorn maker, perhaps? Steam generator is usually used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 7 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: Steam generator is usually used. What? No salted caramel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 minute ago, Radian said: What? No salted caramel? Not tonight. Looked at some in Tesco, got a Battenberg Cake instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 You're about 8oC warmer than us here along the South coast. I'd be looking at something hotter than Battenberg. Something with Bacon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Radian said: You're about 8oC warmer than us here along the South coast. I am current at 0.2°C, Swanage is 0.6°C. 15 minutes ago, Radian said: Something with Bacon. Now you have made me really hungry. 15 minutes ago, Radian said: I'd be looking at something hotter Dipping spring rolls and bhajis into chilli sauce ATM. Edited December 9, 2022 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 8 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: I am current at 0.2°C, Swanage is 0.6°C. Been around -3oC this evening but just noticed it's rinsing quite fast. Down on the tip of Cornwall it looked, for example, like +5oC in Penzance at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Radian said: Been around -3oC this evening but just noticed it's rinsing quite fast. Down on the tip of Cornwall it looked, for example, like +5oC in Penzance at the time. Was -1°When I drove home, but it seemed warmer than when I went to work. No frost on my car, but was on some. Don't really care as there is no wind or rain, so may be a nice sunny day tomorrow. Edited December 9, 2022 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, Radian said: On the other hand if I could just source the beads, it'd be a doddle to do myself. How about shredding graphite EPS sheets yourself if it's only 1m3. Edited December 10, 2022 by Iceverge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 9 hours ago, Iceverge said: How about shredding graphite EPS sheets yourself if it's only 1m3. Hadn't thought of that! Messy though, and could be harder than you'd imagine. Does it even retain it's fire protection if broken up I wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 You could conduct a small controlled test. Or buy some Borax and recoat it in it. There's an American on youtube (there always is!) who has done masses of construction with aircrete and recycled EPS he collects from furniture stores Made an EPS shredder from an upturned Flymo and a barrel. He uses a leaf vacuum to blow the beads loose into various voids. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 I just knew it'd be messy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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