ABI for environment
Thermo 33® Extruded
The Environment Friendly Insulation Panel
GWP: Global warming potential is a measure of how much a given mass of greenhouse gas is estimated to contribute to global warming. It is a relative scale which compares the gas in question to that of the same mass of carbon dioxide A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval (Usually 100 years – GWP100). For information, GWP of CFC-13 is 11.700, methane GWP is 3, whereas GWP of water is 0. In order to define the effect of various greenhouse gases, it is given, by definition, to carbon dioxide (CO2) GWP=1. So, to give an example, GWP100 of R22 gas is equal to 1.500, it means that 1 kg of this gas, released in the environment in 100 years, will generate the same effect of 1.500kg of carbon dioxide (CO2). So, it is simple to understand that the less is GWP value, the less will be the effect on greenhouse effect.
KYOTO PROTOCOL: The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Italy, together with all other EU members, has been engaging itself to reduce by degrees greenhouse gases emissions. So the trend is to help the use of natural fluid as ammonia, CO2, water and alternative natural gases. The Kyoto Protocol classifies the Blowing Agents and, for industrial use, it is possible to use gases with GWP equal 150, as maximum value, till year 2010. Starting from 1st of January of 2011 such GWP limit will be 50.
BLOWING AGENTS:Till few years ago they were used, as Blowing Agents, CFC and HCFC such gases with very high GWP value and so very harmful for the ozone layer. To give an example GWP value of CFC-12 is 8.500 and GWP value of an HCFC is 5000. Italian XPS panels producers have been gradually banning this kind of gases replacing them with Difluoroethane (HFC-152a) whose GWP is 120/150 in accordance with Blowing Agent mixture composition. In a lot of countries, especially European countries, it is held in high consideration the fluid GWP level giving preferences to use of low GWP fluids. Generally fluid with low GWP value has also the big plus to have its own ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) value equals zero.
A.B. ISOLANTI s.r.l.: Concerning THERMO 33® EXTRUDED, the Blowing Agents mixture has a GWP value down to 3, that is approximately 46 times less than all the other product on the market and in addition 15 times less than Kyoto Protocol defines for period after year 2010! This feature make us different from all the other products present on the Italian and European market ( positioning us on better quality level obviously) , marking A.B. ISOLANTI s.r.l. as very advanced company in the field of Environment Protection. Value however always strongly and firmly pursued.