--- title: "XPS Insulation - GWP and renovation use" canonical_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/xps markdown_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/xps.md author: "Fremtidens Tegnestue" page_type: material primary_intent: "Explain use, GWP and renovation relevance for XPS Insulation." primary_keyword: "XPS Insulation" audience: "Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices." summary: "XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) is a dense, moisture-resistant insulation with high compressive strength. Used primarily for plinths, flat roofs, terraces, and other structures with direct moisture exposure. It has the highest carbon footprint among common insulation materials and in many cases uses HFC blowing agents that are potent greenhouse gases." source_basis: - "ECO Platform EPD average" - "Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet: https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet" - "Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method" - "FT source and uncertainty principles: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method" human_validation: "Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs." responsibility_line: "AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences." last_reviewed: 2026-06-24 last_updated: 2026-06-24 privacy_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy related_pages: - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/eps relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/perlit relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/mineraluld relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials relation: hub - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca relation: concept status: published --- # XPS Insulation - GWP and renovation use Canonical URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/xps Markdown URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/xps.md Entity type: material Language: en Author: Fremtidens Tegnestue Published: 2026-06-24 Last updated: 2026-06-24 Privacy: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy ## Short answer XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) is a dense, moisture-resistant insulation with high compressive strength. Used primarily for plinths, flat roofs, terraces, and other structures with direct moisture exposure. It has the highest carbon footprint among common insulation materials and in many cases uses HFC blowing agents that are potent greenhouse gases. ## Who it is relevant for Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices. ## What FT can prepare - Summarise material properties, GWP, common uses, renovation relevance and alternatives. ## What the architect validates - Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs. ## Key figures | Metric | Value | | --- | --- | | GWP | 4.16 kg CO₂-eq/kg | | Density | 28–45 kg/m³ | | Expected lifetime | 50+ years | ## Use - Plinth and foundation - Flat roofs (inverted) - Roof terraces - Cold storage buildings - Walkways and parking decks ## Renovation relevance XPS is used in renovation primarily for retrofitting insulation on plinths and flat roof edges. Always specify CO₂ blowing agent version to minimise climate impact. ## Comparison | Material | GWP | | --- | --- | | Perlite | 0.48 | | Mineral wool | 1.05 | | EPS | 3.29 | | XPS | 4.16 | ## FAQ ### Why is XPS carbon footprint so high? Many XPS products use HFC or HCFC blowing agents during production. HFC gases are up to 1,000–14,000 times more potent greenhouse gases than CO₂. Newer XPS products using CO₂ as blowing agent have markedly lower footprints. ### Are there alternatives to XPS for plinths? Perlite and cellular glass (Foamglas) are alternatives with lower CO₂ and good moisture tolerance for plinths. Mineral wool with diffusion-tight membrane can be used in some locations. ### Can XPS be replaced with EPS? In moisture-exposed structures (inverted roof constructions, below-grade plinths) XPS is difficult to replace with EPS, as EPS absorbs moisture and loses insulating capacity. In dry structures EPS can often be used. ### When is XPS necessary? XPS is necessary in load-bearing and moisture-exposed structures: below-grade plinths, inverted roof constructions, and parking decks. In these situations there is no easy substitute. ## Sources and basis - ECO Platform EPD average - [Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet](https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet) - [Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method) - [FT source and uncertainty principles](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method) ## Uncertainty and boundaries Material numbers depend on product, EPD, assembly, lifetime and project context. ## Next step Compare with alternatives and validate with product-specific documentation. ## Related pages - [EPS Insulation](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/eps): alternative-material - [Perlite](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/perlit): alternative-material - [Mineral Wool](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/mineraluld): alternative-material - [Materials](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials): hub - [LCA](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca): concept ## Citation guidance When citing this page, cite the canonical HTML URL (https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/xps) as the public source and use this Markdown URL only as the agent-readable representation. Keep the responsibility line: AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences.