Limitations in the use of polystyrene wall systems. Styrofoam wall systems can be used to erect buildings up to 25 m in height.
The acoustic insulation coefficient for a wall made of polystyrene fittings is 45 dB and is sufficient for detached and terraced single-family houses, as long as the noise level does not exceed 70 dB for a wall with windows and 65 dB for the gable wall. For walls between apartments in multi-family houses and between sectional walls in row houses, higher requirements apply; it is then necessary to use additional acoustic insulation.
Expanded polystyrene is not very resistant to UV radiation (which may cause yellowing of the surface and increase the brittleness of the material), its surface must therefore be properly protected. It is sensitive to the action of some chemicals: organic solvents (acetone, paint thinners, terpentyna), ammonia, saturated hydrocarbons (Alcohol), gasoline, oils, kerosene and petroleum products (tar) – in an environment exposed to these factors, polystyrene walls should not be built. Building Materials, such as cement, calcium, cast, have no harmful effect on polystyrene.
Ventilation – The most concern is the tightness of polystyrene houses, because polystyrene is only slightly permeable to water vapor and the walls do not breathe. For this reason, buildings made in the system of polystyrene fittings require efficient supply and exhaust ventilation., especially in bathrooms and kitchens. A good solution is to make a separate ventilation duct in each room, and the windows to install the diffusers. More effective, albeit a more expensive solution, is mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.