BS EN 13163 is the European standard for factory-made expanded polystyrene (EPS) thermal insulation products used in building applications. The specification covers boards, rolls and other preformed shapes – whether flat, tapered, profiled or with tongue-and-groove edges – manufactured with or without facings or coatings. Beyond thermal insulation, the standard also addresses products used for sound insulation, prefabricated thermal insulation systems and composite panels.
The specification establishes requirements for product characteristics, test procedures, conformity evaluation, and marking and labelling protocols. The standard aims to ensure that thermal insulation products deliver the intended resistance to heat flow consistently throughout the building's lifetime.
The standard excludes in-situ insulation products, insulation for industrial equipment and installations, civil engineering applications, and beam-and-block floor systems.
Who Uses BS EN 13163?
The standard is relevant for manufacturers of thermal insulation products, suppliers of thermoplastic polymers, and polystyrene manufacturers.
What Does BS EN 13163 Define?
BS EN 13163 specifies classes of dimensional tolerances covering length, width, thickness, squareness and flatness. The standard navigates chemical, mechanical and physical properties of EPS products, including thermal resistance, thermal conductivity, and water absorption and moisture behaviour. A designation code system, illustrated in the standard, allows manufacturers to communicate product properties in a standardised format.
Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance
BS EN 13163 sets out Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) procedures. These include type testing and factory production control to confirm that products continue to meet declared performance levels.
The current version is BS EN 13163:2012+A2:2016, published 28 February 2013, and remains under review.
