Jablite | Jablite Insulation Board

Jablite insulation is renowned for its high-quality, versatile range of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) products, providing energy-efficient solutions suitable for a myriad of applications across the construction industry. As your go-to destination for insulation solutions, Insulation4less offers a substantial array of Jablite products, ensuring that each project you undertake benefits from top-tier insulation performance.

Which type of EPS product do you need?

The important distinction is between thermal insulation and ground-heave protection. Jabfloor is the floor-insulation family; Claymaster is a sacrificial compressible-fill product intended to accommodate clay expansion at specified foundation locations. The products are not interchangeable. A site that needs a warmer concrete floor may need Jabfloor or another floor-rated insulation product. A site where an engineer specifies a compressible layer alongside a trench-fill foundation may need Claymaster. Read the drawing and ground investigation before choosing by thickness or price.

What is Jablite Insulation?

Jablite insulation is a high-performance, lightweight expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation material designed for a wide range of applications, including floors, walls, roofs and foundations. Manufactured in the UK, Jablite products offer excellent thermal insulation, are easy to handle, and provide long-lasting energy efficiency for both residential and commercial buildings. Popular options like Jabfloor EPS70, EPS100, and Claymaster are available in multiple thicknesses to suit different project needs.

Jablite Claymaster Series

Purpose and Applications

Jablite Claymaster is a specialised series designed to prevent ground movement beneath architectural structures, providing foundational stability and insulative properties concurrently. Typically utilised in civil engineering projects, these EPS boards are indispensable in safeguarding buildings against the pressure and movement of surrounding clay soils, hence ensuring long-term structural integrity.

Variety in Thickness

Given the varying requirements and specifications of different projects, the Jablite Claymaster comes in a wide array of thicknesses, ranging from 25mm to 250mm. This diverse selection ensures that whether you're working on a project that requires lightweight insulating fill or heavy-duty foundational support, there’s a solution within the Claymaster series.

• 25mm to 75mm Thickness: Ideal for scenarios requiring light to moderate support and insulation, suitable for smaller structures or areas of minimal ground movement.
• 100mm to 175mm Thickness: This mid-range thickness provides a robust insulating layer and is well-suited for larger constructions or areas with notable soil activity.
• 200mm to 250mm Thickness: Offering optimal support and insulation, these thicknesses are apt for significant engineering projects where substantial ground support and thermal resistance are paramount.

Packaging Options

Jablite Claymaster products are available in various pack sizes to accommodate the scale and scope of your project. Smaller thickness boards generally come in larger packs (e.g., 25mm thickness comes in a pack of 24), while the denser, thicker options are available in smaller packs, facilitating ease of transport and handling on-site.

Enhanced EPS Insulation

The Enhanced EPS range utilises expanded polystyrene with added graphite to significantly boost thermal insulation capabilities, making these boards particularly effective for external wall applications. The lightweight nature of EPS ensures easy handling and installation without compromising performance, providing exceptional value.

Versatile Insulation Solution

Jablite Enhanced EPS sheets provide a versatile insulation solution, suitable for various applications including wall, floor, and roofing insulation. With its remarkable thermal performance, it safeguards buildings from thermal fluctuations, ensuring an energy-efficient, comfortable internal environment.

All Sizes for Your Specific Needs

Understanding the pivotal role of customisation and specificity in construction projects, Jablite Enhanced EPS sheets are available in all sizes, thereby ensuring you can achieve the precise fit for optimal insulation across diverse scenarios.

Which one do I need?

For a vertical foundation face assessed as medium heave potential, the manufacturer’s guidance identifies the 50 mm Claymaster option. For a vertical face assessed as high heave potential, it identifies 75 mm. For a low-heave vertical face, the table does not call for a compressible layer. For underside-of-beam situations, the table specifies other thicknesses and requires closer engineering coordination; do not substitute a 100 mm pack merely because it is listed online. If your drawing simply calls for EPS floor insulation, do not order Claymaster in place of Jabfloor.

Why Claymaster is not ordinary floor insulation

Both product families use expanded polystyrene, but the intended performance is different. Floor insulation is selected to resist the loads of a designed floor while limiting heat flow. Compressible fill is selected to yield under the forces caused by swelling clay and reduce the pressure transferred to the structure. Using a compressible-fill board under a ground-floor slab risks a build-up that has not been designed for its service loads. Equally, using a stiff floor-insulation board where compressible fill is specified can defeat the intended ground-heave detail. This is the key distinction to check before ordering.

Jabfloor grades: load and thermal comparison

For projects needing EPS thermal insulation rather than compressible fill, Jabfloor grades differ in declared thermal conductivity and compression-related design loads. These figures come from the Jabfloor manufacturer datasheet and refer to that product family only. They are not specifications for the Claymaster packs above. A structural designer should assess sustained loads, floor build-up, bearing conditions and any imposed loads before a grade is selected.

Benefits of Jablite Insulation

• Excellent Thermal Performance – Jablite boards offer low thermal conductivity (as low as 0.030 W/mK), helping to reduce heat loss and energy bills.
• Lightweight & Easy to Install – Their lightweight nature makes handling and cutting quick and effortless, saving time on site.
• Cost-Effective – A budget-friendly insulation option without compromising performance.
• Durable & Long-Lasting – Resistant to moisture and rot, Jablite maintains its integrity over time.
• Environmentally Friendly – 100% recyclable and manufactured with minimal environmental impact.
• BBA Certified – Meets all necessary UK Building Regulations and standards for quality assurance.

Applications of Jablite Insulation

Jablite EPS boards are incredibly versatile and suitable for:

• Solid and Suspended Floors – Use Jabfloor EPS for ground floor insulation under concrete or timber.
• External Wall Insulation (EWI) – Claymaster EPS is ideal for insulating walls behind cladding or render.
• Loft & Roof Spaces – Lightweight and effective thermal barrier in attic conversions or cold lofts.
• Foundations & Below Ground – EPS boards are resistant to ground moisture and are commonly used below concrete slabs.
• Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial Projects – Suitable across new builds, extensions, and retrofits.

How to fit and protect compressible-fill boards

Begin with the foundation drawing, the ground investigation and the product installation guidance. Keep the specified layer in the correct position and maintain continuity at corners and junctions. Cut boards cleanly to the required shape, without leaving unprotected gaps where heave pressure could act directly on concrete. Restrain the boards against movement during reinforcement fixing and concrete placement. Where site conditions make restraint difficult, obtain the engineer’s detail rather than improvising with fixings or adhesives. Check that spacers and reinforcement do not crush or puncture the boards during construction.

Protect packs against wind damage, contamination and physical impact while stored. Follow the current manufacturer’s storage instructions and the site method statement. Do not treat the boards as permanent exposed cladding, a damp-proof membrane or a substitute for drainage. A compressible-fill product has one specific function within a wider foundation design; waterproofing, structural stability and moisture management must each be addressed separately.

The question most buyers miss: can Claymaster go under a concrete slab?

No. The current BEWI datasheet expressly states that ClayMaster must not be used under ground-floor slabs. Its below-beam use is restricted to the described piled ground-beam arrangement and is not permission to place it under any concrete element. A suspended slab that needs a heave void requires a specifically designed void-forming solution. Ask the structural engineer to identify the approved product and installation detail, including the required movement allowance. Buying by sheet thickness alone cannot establish suitability.

Common questions about Jablite and Claymaster

What is Jablite insulation?

Jablite is a name associated with expanded polystyrene products used in building construction. Different ranges serve different purposes. Jabfloor is a thermal floor-insulation range, while Claymaster is compressible fill for protecting specified foundations against clay heave. Choose the exact product family shown on the construction drawing rather than assuming all EPS sheets are interchangeable.

What is Jablite Claymaster used for?

Claymaster is designed to reduce pressure on foundations from swelling clay soils. Its principal uses include specified vertical faces of deep trench foundations and appropriate piled ground-beam arrangements. The board is not a general-purpose structural support or a substitute for ordinary floor insulation. The engineer must confirm the location and thickness.

Can Claymaster be used under concrete floor slabs?

Claymaster must not be installed beneath ground-floor slabs. BEWI’s current technical datasheet states this exclusion explicitly. The product may be used below certain concrete ground beams within the manufacturer’s stated limits, but that is a different detail. A ground-floor slab requiring heave protection needs an engineer-approved alternative system.

What thickness of Claymaster do I need?

The required thickness follows the ground-heave assessment and whether the board is on a vertical foundation face or beneath a specified beam. For example, manufacturer guidance identifies different equivalent board thicknesses for medium and high heave. Do not select a thickness from stock availability alone; follow the structural engineer’s approved schedule.

Is 50 mm Claymaster suitable for medium clay heave?

For the side of a foundation or beam, BEWI’s comparison associates medium heave potential with a 50 mm Claymaster board providing the stated equivalent movement allowance. That does not make it suitable beneath every beam or slab. Confirm the actual site classification, foundation geometry and approved detail before ordering.

When is 75 mm Claymaster specified?

BEWI’s guidance associates 75 mm Claymaster with the vertical side of foundations or beams where the ground-heave potential is high. The required thickness below a beam is different. Use the manufacturer’s application table together with the ground investigation and structural drawings; do not infer suitability from board colour or size.

Is Claymaster the same as Jabfloor?

Claymaster and Jabfloor are different EPS products. Claymaster is intentionally compressible for clay-heave pressure relief in approved foundation positions. Jabfloor is a range of floor insulation boards with graded compressive properties and declared thermal conductivity. They cannot be substituted for one another without redesign and confirmation by the responsible engineer.

How many square metres are in a pack?

Coverage depends on the listed board thickness and pack count. The current collection shows different quantities of the same sheet size in each pack. Calculate coverage from sheet dimensions multiplied by the number of sheets, then allow for cutting losses. Check the current product listing before ordering because pack configurations can change.

Can I cut Claymaster boards on site?

Claymaster is a lightweight EPS product that can be cut to suit the approved foundation detail. Make clean cuts and avoid gaps or damage at joints, corners and penetrations. Follow the manufacturer’s installation guidance and the site risk assessment for tools and dust. Do not alter the specified thickness or omit required restraint.

Does Claymaster provide thermal insulation?

Claymaster is made from EPS, but its specified role is compressible fill for ground-heave protection, not floor thermal insulation. It should not be selected to meet a floor U-value target. Where thermal performance is required, use a suitable insulation product and calculate the complete floor build-up using its declared thermal properties.