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Test details for EPS & XPS Instruction Thermal Insulation Board

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Thermal insulation boards are rigid panels designed to reduce heat transfer, available in various materials like PIR, XPS, EPS, stone wool, and microporous boards, each suited for specific construction or industrial applications.


EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) Board: Rigid cellular plastic insulation made by pre-expanding polystyrene beads, then molding and fusing them under heat. It has a semi-open/partially closed cell structure.

XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) Board: Rigid insulation produced by melting polystyrene resin with blowing agents, then continuously extruding, cooling and forming. It has a dense, continuous closed-cell structure (closed-cell rate >95%).

Test details for EPSTest details for EPS
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) BoardXPS (Extruded Polystyrene) Board


Details test methods, test equipment, requirement for EPS & XPS Instruction Thermal Insulation Board: 


Test methodTest requirementStandardTest Equipment (UnitedTest Brand)
Compressive Strength TestCore strength index; resists static/dynamic load without crushing.

EPS: 60 kPa–≥800 kPa; XPS: ≥150 kPa–≥900 kPa 

Specimen Size: 100 mm × 100 mm × original thickness.

ISO 844Universal testing machine + Compression test platen         
Thermal Conductivity Test

The material's ability to resist heat transfer is measured at average temperatures of 10°C and 25°C.

XPS is categorized into 024, 030, or 034 grades (referring to their max W/(m·K) value).

EPS is categorized into 033 or 037 grades. Lower numbers indicate superior insulating power.

ISO 8302

ISO 8301

Thermal Conductivity Tester

Flexural Performance

Assists in judging structural toughness and construction adaptability.  (Cross-breaking) 

ISO 1209-1

ISO 1209-2

Universal testing machine + Bending test fixture
Water Absorption Test

XPS is strictly required to absorb no more than 1.0% to 2.0% of its volume;

whereas EPS can absorb up to 6.0%, depending on its density grade. 

XPS performs far better than EPS. Samples are fully submerged in 23°C water for 96 hours.

ISO 2896Rigid Foam Plastic Water Absorption Tester 
Dimensional Stability TestSpecimens are baked in an oven at 70°C ± 2°C for 48 hours.

The percentage change in length is measured afterward. 

High-performance XPS allows a maximum change of 3.0%;while standard grades must stay under 1.5%. 

EPS ranges from 1% to 4% depending on density.

ISO 2796Constant temperature and humidity test chamber
Water Vapor Transmission Coefficient

Measures how much water vapor passes through the board.

High-grade XPS must block vapor transmission almost entirely (≤ 2.0 to 3.5 ng/(m·s·Pa)).

QB/T 2411Water Vapor Transmittance Tester(Weight method)          

Melt Bonding Test (3 points bending) 

For EPS only, Because EPS is made of fused beads, this test ensures the beads are strongly bonded.

A "breaking bending load" is applied; if the beads separate too easily, the board will crumble during handling.

ISO 1209-1      Universal testing machine + Bending test fixture


After test use UnitedTest machine, you can easily identify the difference of performance of EPS and XPS board: 

ItemEPS (Moulded Polystyrene Foam)XPS (Extruded Polystyrene Foam)
Production ProcessExpandable polystyrene beads → pre-foaming → moulded heating formingPolystyrene resin → melting → extrusion → continuous closed-cell forming
Cell StructureMixed open/closed cells; closed-cell rate ~90%Full closed-cell structure; closed-cell rate ≥98%
Thermal InsulationWorse; higher thermal conductivityBetter; lower thermal conductivity
Water ResistanceMedium; higher water absorptionExcellent; extremely low water absorption
Compressive StrengthLow–medium (60–≥800 kPa)Medium–high (≥150–≥900 kPa)
Dimensional StabilityAverage; easy to deform at high temperatureExcellent; small deformation at high temperature
Water Vapor PermeabilityHighExtremely low (good vapor barrier)
Combustion GradeB1, B2, B3Only B1, B2 (no B3)
CostLowerHigher


Related standard: 

ASTM E2430 Standard Specification For Expanded Polystyrene (“EPS”) Thermal Insulation Boards For Use In Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (“EIFS”)

BS 3837-1 Expanded polystyrene boards-Boards and blocks manufactured from expandable beads. Requirements and test methods.

IS 4671 Expanded Polystyrene for Thermal Insulation Purposes – Specification

GB/T 10801.1 Moulded polystyrene foam for thermal insulation(EPS)

GB/T 10801.2 Extruded polystyrene foam for thermal insulation(XPS)


Typical Applications

1, EPS Board

Building exterior wall external insulation (thin plastering system)

Roof insulation, floor heating insulation layer

Lightweight partition walls, indoor thermal insulation

Low-humidity cold storage, packaging buffer materials

Civil building insulation with general load-bearing requirements


2, XPS Board

Inverted roof insulation, basement wall/slab insulation

Roadbed, bridge, airport runway insulation (high compression resistance)

High-humidity cold storage, swimming pool insulation

High-performance exterior wall insulation, floor heating (high-load scenarios)

Cold-chain logistics, industrial insulation with strict waterproof/load requirements

Related products and device

Thermal Insulation Board Universal Compressive Testing Machine

WDW Series Computer Control Electronic Universal Testing Machine made by UNITEDTEST range from 100N to 600KN load capacity with various models like single columns, table type, door frame type etc., is used to perform tension, compression, flexure/bending, shearing, peeling etc., test for metal and nonmetal specimens.

EPS / XPS Thermal Insulation Board Universal Testing Machine

A single column tensile tester is a sophisticated material testing instrument designed for measuring mechanical properties of various materials under tension, compression, bending, shear, and other loading conditions. As the name suggests, it features a single vertical column supporting a moving crosshead that applies force to test specimens.

Thermal Insulation Board Dimensional Stability Test hamber

Constant temperature and humidity test chamber Equipment for testing the performance of materials in various environments and testing various materials heat-resistant, cold-resistant, dry-resistant, moisture resistance.

Thermal Insulation Panel Water Absorption Tester

Rigid Foam Plastic Water Absorption Tester is designed and manufactured based on the standards ISO 2896 Rigid cellular plastics - Determination of water absorption. It is a testing device for the water absorption of rigid foam plastics.

EPS / XPS Thermal Insulation Board Water Vapor Transmittance Tester(Weight method)

Water vapor transmittance tester is a set of industrial, efficient and intelligent test system, which is suitable for the determination of water vapor transmittance of plastic film, composite film, medical, construction and other materials.

Thermal Insulation Board Compressive Strength Platen

Compression test fixture is used to investigate the compressive behaviour of the test specimens and for determining the compressive strength, compressive modulus and other aspects of the compressive stress/strain relationship under the conditions defined.

Thermal Insulation Panel Crosshead breaking bending test fixture

Rupture Refractories Test Grip Crush Modulus determines the cold crushing strength and the modulus of rupture (MOR) of dried or fired refractory shapes of all types. Flexural strength in 3-point bending for cold modulus of rupture and compressive strength for cold crushing strength.

Related Standard

ASTM D790 Bending Test Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics

ASTM D790: Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials


ASTM D790 test methods are used to determine the flexural properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics, including high modulus composites and electrical insulating materials utilizing a three-point loading system to apply a load to a simply supported beam (specimen). The method is generally applicable to both rigid and semi-rigid materials, but flexural strength cannot be determined for those materials that do not break or yield in the outer surface of the test specimen within the 5.0 % strain limit.

ISO 178 Plastics flexural / bending test

ISO 178 Plastics - Determination of flexural properties

ISO 178 specifies a method for determining the flexural properties of rigid and semi-rigid plastics under defined conditions. A standard test specimen is defined, but parameters are included for alternative specimen sizes for use where appropriate. A range of test speeds is included.


ISO 178 test method is used to investigate the flexural behaviour of the test specimens and to determine the flexural strength, flexural modulus and other aspects of the flexural stress/strain relationship under the conditions defined. It applies to a freely supported beam, loaded at midspan (three-point loading test).

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