Insulated panel systems with a blown insulation core provide some of the most thermally efficient construction solutions around today. These systems are also extremely airtight and durable, offering long term energy savings and benefiting the environment by helping to reduce CO2 emissions. Management of Ozone Depleting Substances in foams (ODS)

Prior to 1994, industries in Europe commonly manufactured products containing CFCs, including every day items such as fridges and aerosol cans, and some insulated panels also used these gases within the closed cell structure of the insulation core as they provide excellent thermal resistance. HCFCs were used as transitional substances in a number of applications (including insulated panels) from 1994 – 2004 because of their much lower ozone depletion potential.

Since January 2004 all insulated panels have been manufactured without any ODS. For panels manufactured before 2004, current legislation governing the recovery of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) - EC Regulation 2037/2000 - requires recovery of ODS to be carried out only ‘where practicable’.

As a result of the excellent long term thermal and structural performance properties offered by insulated panels, there are currently only very small quantities of ODS containing panels entering the waste stream, however as we reach the end of the next decade this will have changed and we need responsible solutions to the end of life disposal of these panels.

Kingspan Insulated Panels takes the issue of end-of-life very seriously and has been working with industry experts in waste management and disposal for over two years, including extensive research into the disposal of ODS containing insulated panels through the use of existing refrigerator recycling plants, which is their recommended method of disposal, where viable.

Kingspan is aware of a number of projects where panels have been re-processed successfully using refrigerator recycling plants including one project of over 7000m² of CFC containing roof panel.

Lifecycle Management of currently-manufactured Panels

Panel systems produced by Kingspan since 2004 contain no ODS and are classed as non-hazardous which allows a wide range of disposal options to be considered. Reuse is always the preferred option but if this is not possible these panels are often suitable for processing through conventional shredder plants once they have reached the end of their useful life. This is a very effective way of recycling the steel content and has proven to be a cost neutral solution with the value of the steel content helping to offset the transportation costs.

Recycling of insulation core from all types of metal cladding systems is problematic. Recent research has concluded that current demolition practice generally results in the insulation going to landfill – whether it be PIR, rock fibre or glass fibre. Kingspan is leading the way in finding solutions to deal with the insulation and has demonstrated the technical viability of recycling non-ODS containing waste PIR back into the manufacturing process.

Because all currently-manufactured insulated panels comprise pre-fabricated composite units, they are relatively easy to take off a building and transport to an appropriate recovery centre. Using these established methods for disposal, Kingspan is aware of a number of projects where panels have been re-processed successfully including a project involving 13000m2 of panels.

For further information and free technical support please contact Kingspan on:

Tel: 01352 717251
Email: info@kingspanpanels.com