Sustainability

Unidek/The Performance

Sustainability

Unidek Condor SIPS offer exceptional environmental benefits:

• Zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential)
• Zero GWP (Global Warming Potential)
• BRE Ecopoints rating from 0.043 (EPS component)
• CFC, HFC and HCFC free
• Contains recycled content (Timber & EPS component)
• Completely recyclable
• Timber is from a sustainable source and tracked accordingly
• SIPS contribute to considerable reductions in CO2 emissions when calculated within the SAP 2005 methodology

The core of Unidek Condor SIPS is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which provides truly sustainable solutions.

Uniquely combining low thermal conductivity, low weight and high strength, the EPS within Unidek roof systems is a supremely versatile and cost effective material delivering significant time and money benefits to constructors, lower energy bills for occupiers and the everyday advantages of a technically sound infrastructure to everyone.

SIPS constant performance throughout the life of the building

Proven long-term structural integrity confirms that EPS within Unidek roof systems stands the test of time. Established performance over 35 years and BBA Approval since 1976 prove the endurance of EPS roof, wall and floor insulation. It's the closest that any modern material has actually come to fulfilling the 60 year life targeted by the Building Regulations. Unlike some other insulants, the performance of EPS does not deteriorate with age. It is a long life material which has a natural decomposition time of around 2000 years.

Unidek roof systems are environmentally sound

The EPS manufacturing process for the production of Unidek SIPS, unlike that of many synthetic materials, does not involve the use of ozone-layer-depleting CFCs and HCFCs, nor are there harmful materials present in the finished product, so there’s no risk of compromising the Earth's solar defences.

The EPS in Unidek SIPS has a zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) as the expanding / blowing agent used in the expansion process is Pentane which does not affect the ozone layer. EPS has a zero GWP (Global Warming Potential) - better than carbon dioxide which has a GWP of 1.

The high level of insulation provided by EPS insulation within Unidek roof panels makes a positive contribution to the reduction in CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere by reducing the amount of fossil fuel required to heat buildings. The manufacture of EPS insulation products within Unidek roofing systems is a very effective use of natural resources because the energy used in its production (embodied energy) issaved many times over throughout the life of the buildings in which it is installed.

For every kilo of oil used to produce EPS insulation within Unidek roofing systems, 200 kilos will typically be saved in fuel for heating for the life of the building (source EUMEPS).It is easily recycled, indeed most EPS products contain recycled material. Its Life Cycle Analysis results in an excellent Ecopoint Score from the BRE Environmental Profiles.

Timber from sustainable resources

All timber used in Unidek Condor SIPS is from sustainable sources and the company is working closely with The Keurhout Foundation, the European certification assessment body, towards the application of the internationally-respected Keurhout logo to all of its timber products.

Keurhout's aims are:

• to review certificates of sustainable forest management against the criteria of the SFM protocol, based on the minimum requirements formulated therefore by the Dutch Government.
• to review certificates of legal origin (LET) on the basis of the LET protocol.
• to review certification systems for sustainable forest management and/or legal origin against the relevant criteria of the SYS protocol.
• to carefully follow the timber from the admitted production areas during the entire legal or sustainable CoC to the consumer.

The minimum requirements of the Dutch government (1997) align with the international developments in this area: the FSC Principles & Criteria, the Criteria & Indicators of ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organisation), the Helsinki process and the Forest Principles of the UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development), Rio de Janeiro 1992. These are the basis for the current Keurhout requirements for sustainable forest management (Keurhout-SFM).