ASTM C578-08b

Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the standards for the types, physical properties and dimensions of cellular polystyrene boards with or without facings or coatings made by molding (EPS) or extrusion (XPS) of expandable polystyrene proposed for use as thermal insulation. This specification, however, does not cover laminated products manufactured with any type of rigid board facer including fiberboard, perlite board, gypsum board, or oriented strand board. All thermal insulation shall be of uniform density and shall contain sufficient flame retardants to meet the oxygen index of requirements. They shall also meet the physical requirements such as thermal resistance, compressive resistance, flexural strength, water vapor permeance, water absorption, dimensional stability, and oxygen index specified herein.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the types, physical properties, and dimensions of cellular polystyrene boards with or without facings or coatings made by molding (EPS) or extrusion (XPS) of expandable polystyrene. Products manufactured to this specification are intended for use as thermal insulation for temperatures from -65 to +165°F (-53.9 to +73.9°C). This specification does not apply to laminated products manufactured with any type of rigid board facer including fiberboard, perlite board, gypsum board, or oriented strand board.
1.1.1 For Type XIII only, this specification covers the physical properties, and dimensions of cellular polystyrene intended for use as thermal insulation for temperatures from −297 to +165°F (−183 to +73.9°C).
1.2 Consult the manufacturer for specific recommendations and properties in cryogenic conditions.
1.2.1 This specification does not cover cryogenic properties except for the k-factors for Type XIII in Appendix X1. For Type XIII in specific cryogenic applications, the manufacturer and purchaser shall agree upon the actual temperature limits and physical property requirements in addition to the k-factors in Appendix X1.
1.3 The use of thermal insulation materials covered by this specification may be regulated by building codes that address fire performance. For some end uses, specifiers should also address the effect of moisture. Guidelines regarding these end use considerations are included in Appendix X1.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Oct-2008
• ICS: 83.100 - Cellular materials
• ICS: 91.100.60 - Thermal and sound insulating materials
• Technical Committee: C16 - Thermal Insulation
• Drafting Committee: C16.22 - Organic and Nonhomogeneous Inorganic Thermal Insulations

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C578-08a - Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM C578-09 - Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C1918-21 - Standard Test Method for Water Retention of Rigid Thermal Insulation Materials after Immersion and Exposure to Drying Conditions
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1303/C1303M-22 - Standard Test Method for Predicting Long-Term Thermal Resistance of Closed-Cell Foam Insulation
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1558-19 - Standard Guide for Development of Standard Data Records for Computerization of Thermal Transmission Test Data for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C981-20 - Standard Guide for Design of Built-Up Bituminous Membrane Waterproofing Systems for Building Decks
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C926-23 - Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM D7793-21 - Standard Specification for Insulated Vinyl Siding
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2568-17a - Standard Specification for PB Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1774-13(2019) - Standard Guide for Thermal Performance Testing of Cryogenic Insulation Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM D5113-97(2021) - Standard Test Method for Determining Adhesive Attack on Rigid Cellular Foam
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1696-20 - Standard Guide for Industrial Thermal Insulation Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E3127-22 - Standard Guide for Specifying Water Vapor Transmission Material Properties of Water-Resistive Barriers and Air Barriers
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2634-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Flat Wall Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2925-19a - Standard Specification for Manufactured Polymeric Drainage and Ventilation Materials Used to Provide a Rainscreen Function
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C 578 – 08b
Standard Specification for
1
Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C578; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 Thisspecification coversthetypes,physicalproperties,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and dimensions of cellular polystyrene boards with or without
facingsorcoatingsmadebymolding(EPS)orextrusion(XPS)
2. Referenced Documents
of expandable polystyrene. Products manufactured to this
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specification are intended for use as thermal insulation for
C165 Test Method for Measuring Compressive Properties
temperatures from -65 to +165°F (-53.9 to +73.9°C). This
of Thermal Insulations
specification does not apply to laminated products manufac-
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
tured with any type of rigid board facer including fiberboard,
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
perlite board, gypsum board, or oriented strand board.
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
1.1.1 For Type XIII only, this specification covers the
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
physical properties, and dimensions of cellular polystyrene
C203 Test Methods for Breaking Load and Flexural Prop-
intended for use as thermal insulation for temperatures from
erties of Block-Type Thermal Insulation
−297 to +165°F (−183 to +73.9°C).
C272 Test Method for WaterAbsorption of Core Materials
1.2 Consult the manufacturer for specific recommendations
for Structural Sandwich Constructions
and properties in cryogenic conditions.
C303 Test Method for Dimensions and Density of Pre-
1.2.1 This specification does not cover cryogenic properties
formed Block and Board−Type Thermal Insulation
except for the k-factors for Type XIII in Appendix X1. For
C335 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Transfer Proper-
Type XIII in specific cryogenic applications, the manufacturer
ties of Pipe Insulation
and purchaser shall agree upon the actual temperature limits
C390 Practice for Sampling and Acceptance of Thermal
and physical property requirements in addition to the k-factors
Insulation Lots
in Appendix X1.
C518 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission
1.3 The use of thermal insulation materials covered by this
Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
specification may be regulated by building codes that address
C550 Test Method for MeasuringTrueness and Squareness
fire performance. For some end uses, specifiers should also
of Rigid Block and Board Thermal Insulation
address the effect of moisture. Guidelines regarding these end
C870 Practice for Conditioning of Thermal Insulating Ma-
use considerations are included in Appendix X1.
terials
1.4 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
C 1045 Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Properties Under Steady-State Conditions
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
C1058 Practice for Selecting Temperatures for Evaluating
and are not considered standard.
and Reporting Thermal Properties of Thermal Insulation
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
C 1114 TestMethodforSteady-StateThermalTransmission
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Properties by Means of the Thin-Heater Apparatus
C1303 Test Method for Predicting Long-Term Thermal
Resistance of Closed-Cell Foam Insulation
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on
C1363 Test Method for Thermal Performance of Building
Thermal Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.22 on
Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot
Organic and Nonhomogeneous Inorganic Thermal Insulations.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally Box Apparatus
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C578–08a.
2
ThisspecificationissimilartoISO4898-1984,“CellularPlastics–Specification
for Rigid Cellular Materials Used in the Thermal Insulation of Buildings,” in title
3
only. The scope and technical content are significantly different. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ISO standards are available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI),
contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
25 W. 43rd S
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C578–08a Designation: C 578 – 08b
Standard Specification for
1
Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C578; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
2
1.1 This specification covers the types, physical properties, and dimensions of cellular polystyrene boards with or without
facings or coatings made by molding (EPS) or extrusion (XPS) of expandable polystyrene. Products manufactured to this
specification are intended for use as thermal insulation for temperatures from -65 to +165°F (-53.9 to +73.9°C).This specification
does not apply to laminated products manufactured with any type of rigid board facer including fiberboard, perlite board, gypsum
board, or oriented strand board.
1.1.1 For Type XIII only, this specification covers the physical properties, and dimensions of cellular polystyrene intended for
use as thermal insulation for temperatures from −297 to +165°F (−183 to +73.9°C).
1.2 Consult the manufacturer for specific recommendations and properties in cryogenic conditions.
1.2.1 This specification does not cover cryogenic properties except for the k-factors for Type XIII in Appendix X1. For Type
XIIIinspecificcryogenicapplications,themanufacturerandpurchasershallagreeupontheactualtemperaturelimitsandphysical
property requirements in addition to the k-factors in Appendix X1.
1.3 The use of thermal insulation materials covered by this specification may be regulated by building codes that address fire
performance. For some end uses, specifiers should also address the effect of moisture. Guidelines regarding these end use
considerations are included in Appendix X1.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C165 Test Method for Measuring Compressive Properties of Thermal Insulations
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the
Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
C203 Test Methods for Breaking Load and Flexural Properties of Block-Type Thermal Insulation
C272 Test Method for Water Absorption of Core Materials for Structural Sandwich Constructions
C303 Test Method for Dimensions and Density of Preformed Block and BoardType Thermal Insulation
C335 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Transfer Properties of Pipe Insulation
C390 Practice for Sampling and Acceptance of Thermal Insulation Lots
C518 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
C550 Test Method for Measuring Trueness and Squareness of Rigid Block and Board Thermal Insulation
C870 Practice for Conditioning of Thermal Insulating Materials
C1045 Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Properties Under Steady-State Conditions
C1058 Practice for Selecting Temperatures for Evaluating and Reporting Thermal Properties of Thermal Insulation
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.22 on Organic and
Nonhomogeneous Inorganic Thermal Insulations.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C578–08a.
2
This specification is similar to ISO 4898-1984, “Cellular Plastics–Specification for Rigid Cellular Materials Used in the Thermal Insulation of Buildings,” in title only.
The scope and technical content are significantly different.
ISO standards are available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail]
...