MDT's Isodrän®-board bonded with Neoprene based liquid dispersion provides insulation, drainage, moisture protection and other benefits for basement walls, concrete floors, flat roofs and sportsfields.(Illustrations courtesy of Mark-oDräneringsTeknik)

A Swedish building company has developed a system of breathable, drainable insulation boards using DuPont Performance Elastomers Neoprene polychloroprene liquid dispersion as the key bonding agent, to provide a warm and dry layer on basement walls and flat roofs, and a growth-stimulating surface under sportsfields.

Such is the success of the product, Isodrän®-board, that manufacturer Mark-oDräneringsTeknik AB (MDT), of Skogås, Sweden, is doubling capacity this year to meet demand from the Nordic building industry, and growing interest from other northern European countries.

The special insulation/drainage board comprises thousands of 5-10mm styrene foam insulating spheres coated and glued together with a water dispersion of Neoprene and bitumen. This results in a unique open and breathable structure that possesses excellent insulation qualities, greatly reduces condensation and mildew, and is fast drying. According to the company, Isodrän®-board is now the prime answer to these moisture-related problems in Nordic countries.

Switching to Neoprene

In addition to giving the structure its stability, the Neoprene and bitumen glue protects the little spheres from absorbing moisture, endowing the finished product with excellent water resistance and a large drainage capacity.

"We switched to a Neoprene and bitumen water dispersion to meet increased demand from the Nordic building industry for greater moisture resistance and longer term performance - particularly as the previous synthetic liquid latex bonding solution could not be used in very humid environments. The Neoprene based dispersion is very stable, resulting in outstanding bondability between the mixture and the styrene matrix, and extended shelf-life. Now we can recommend Isodrän®-board for almost any below-ground insulation environment," says Jan Andersson, production manager at MDT".

Multiple uses

The building insulation board has multiple uses. First is to provide external moisture protection and thermal insulation for below ground level basement walls. It also functions as an economic insulation layer installed under concrete to protect it from rising groundwater. The product has been approved for these applications by SWEDCERT (Swedish Certification Board), and also by VTT (the Finnish Institute of Technical Research).

Diagram shows how Isodrän®-board functions as an insulating, moisture resisting and draining layer outside a basement wall. Thousands of 5-10mm styrene foam insulating spheres coated and glued together with a water dispersion of Neoprene and bitumen provide an open, breathable structure that insulates, greatly reduces condensation and mildew, and is fast drying.

Flat roofs and roof gardens are very susceptible to leaking water and moisture damage. According to MDT, a layer of Isodrän®-board used as a drainage layer above a bitumen or rubber membrane results in dry and easy to build flat roofs, and lower heating costs.

The climate in Northern Europe provides an all too short season for growing grass on soccer pitches, running tracks, golf greens and other sports fields. However, Isodrän®-board can also be laid under soil and turf to improve drainage, provide thermal insulation to counter frost, and increase oxygenation to aid root growth. The result is a longer growing season, and quick drying after heavy rain and snowfall, the company reports.

Isodrän® is a registered trademark of Mark-oDräneringsTeknik AB