EPS Core · Expanded Polystyrene

EPS Panels.

The most economical and lightest insulated panel core — the practical default for cool rooms, food storage, sheds and modular builds across Australia.

Panel anatomy

Steel / EPS / Steel sandwich

0.45 mm steel skinEPS bead core0.45 mm steel skin
Colorbond / galv steel facings — hygienic, wipe-clean
Expanded polystyrene core — 13–20 kg/m³, λ ≈ 0.037

0.037λ (W/m·K)
13–20Core density kg/m³
50–200Thickness mm
FRFire-retardant grades

Thermal performance

R-value climbs with thickness

EPS insulates at roughly λ ≈ 0.037 W/m·K. Thicker core = higher R-value. Indicative figures — always confirm against the manufacturer datasheet for your panel.

50 mm
R1.3
75 mm
R2.0
100 mm
R2.7
150 mm
R4.1
200 mm
R5.4
Indicative only. R-values are approximate (thickness ÷ λ) and vary by manufacturer, facing and installation. For compliance use the panel’s tested datasheet and the NCC requirements for your build.

Best fit

Where EPS is the smart choice

Cool rooms

Chiller and produce rooms where standard insulation is ample and budget matters.

Food storage

Hygienic wipe-clean steel facings suit food-grade and back-of-house spaces.

Sheds & partitions

Lightweight panels speed up install for sheds, dividing walls and modular rooms.

Modular / relocatable

Low weight makes EPS easy to transport, crane and re-configure on site.

Ceilings

Long spans with low dead-load — a common pick for insulated ceiling panels.

Cladding

Clean architectural facings for external walls where fire rating allows.

Bright walk-in cool room built from white insulated EPS panels
White EPS panels — the economical default for Australian cool rooms.
In context

EPS vs PIR vs Rockwool

EPS trades a little thermal performance for the lowest cost and weight. Need more R per millimetre, or a non-combustible core? See the full comparison.

EPS

$

Lowest cost · lightest · this page

Rockwool

$$

Non-combustible (A1) · best fire

PIR

$$$

Best insulation per mm · priciest

FAQ

EPS panel questions

Are EPS panels suitable for cool rooms?

Yes — EPS is the most common core for chillers and general cool rooms. For freezers or where maximum R-value in minimal thickness is needed, PIR is often chosen; where a non-combustible core is mandated, Rockwool.

What thickness should I choose?

50–75 mm suits ambient partitions and sheds; 100 mm is a common cool-room wall; 150–200 mm is used for colder set-points and freezers. Use the calculator to size panel counts for your room.

Is EPS fire-safe?

Standard EPS is combustible; fire-retardant (FR) grades are available and widely used. Always match the panel’s fire performance to the NCC requirements for your building class.

Can panels be delivered Australia-wide?

Yes — panels and accessories ship Australia-wide through Cool Room Master. Size your job first, then request a quote.

Ready to build?

Size your EPS panels in the browser

Enter your room, get panel counts and accessory metres, then send it straight to supply.