Rigid foam insulation can be used in a wide variety of building applications, both above and below ground. Applications include walls, roofs, floors, foundations and doors, as well as under basement slabs or over slab-on-grade floors.

Rigid foam insulation provides two key building benefits:

• Energy efficiency
• Moisture resistance

While there are many different products on the market, there are three main types of rigid foam insulation:

• Extruded polystyrene - a closed cell foam insulation with consistent density and therefore relatively high compressive strength; also highly resistant to moisture
• Molded polystyrene - a closed cell foam material, sometimes referred to as 'beadboard,' that can be manufactured at various densities for different applications
• Polyisocyanurate and Polyurethane - closed cell foams available as a liquid spray, poured foam and rigid insulation sheathing

Common terms for rigid foam insulation include foam plastic, foam board, insulated sheathing, rigid foam sheathing. The Dow Chemical Company manufactures STYROFOAM™ extruded polystyrene insulation also know as Dowboard and BLUEBOARD™. Other brand names include THERMAX™, STURDY-R™, and TUFF-R™ from Dow.

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