GLAPOR cellular glass applications
Sustainable floor slab
Insulation and floor slab in one made from 100% recycled glass - without concrete or XPS. Easy to process, reusable and reduces CO² by up to 70 %.
Perimeter insulation
Non-combustible, waterproof, pressure-resistant - the ecological alternative to XPS. GLAPOR cellular glass makes perimeter insulation permanently safe.
Floor slab insulation
Insulation and foundation construction material in one: GLAPOR RDS under the floor slab saves concrete, reduces CO₂ and provides reliable protection - even under high loads.
Popular in demanding construction projects of leading organizations
Insulate cellar floor
Safe, dry, efficient: GLAPOR cellular glass as capillary-breaking insulation under the cellar floor - ecological and durable.
Base insulation
Moisture-resistant, pressure-resistant, durable - base insulation made of cellular glass protects against heat loss and moisture. Without microplastics, but with a system.
Flat roof insulation
Whether gravelled, greened or walkable - with GLAPOR cellular glass your flat roof is permanently insulated, resilient and environmentally friendly.
Accessible roof insulation
Parking on insulation? No problem with GLAPOR. Our cellular glass boards permanently support high loads - fire-safe and ecological.
Slope insulation
Drain water safely and insulate at the same time? With GLAPOR cellular glass sloped insulation, both are possible - precisely planned, permanently efficient.
Green roof insulation
More nature on the roof - with GLAPOR cellular glass as a permanently waterproof substructure for your green roof. Naturally non-combustible.
Warm roof insulation
Ideal for the classic flat roof: GLAPOR insulation protects against heat and cold - non-combustible, dimensionally stable and 100% ecological.
Not sure which product
is the right one for you?
GLAPOR Technology Team
Compact roof
GLAPOR compact roof insulation as a 100% leak-proof and wind suction-proof system solution for flat roofs.
Inverted roof insulation
Secure over the waterproofing: GLAPOR cellular glass makes your inverted roof durable, pressure-resistant and insensitive to moisture - without any loss of performance.
Cellar ceiling insulation
Systematic interior insulation: GLAPOR boards for basement ceilings are fireproof, dimensionally stable and made of 100% recycled glass - for permanently warm feet.
Substructure in traffic route construction
Highly pressure-resistant insulation for traffic areas - permanently load-bearing, moisture-resistant and made of pure recycled glass. Ideal for roads, squares & loading zones.
Underground storage tank
GLAPOR insulation for highly functional lid constructions of underground storage tanks - temperature-resistant, pressure-resistant and completely recyclable.
Insulation under screed
GLAPOR cellular glass boards form a highly pressure-resistant, waterproof and compression-free base under any ecological screed.
Insulation of underground garages & parking garages
Maximum compressive strength meets fire protection class A1 - with GLAPOR cellular glass you can insulate underground garages safely and sustainably at the same time.
Renovating floors in old buildings
Ecologically modernize old floors: GLAPOR cellular glass creates a dry, load-bearing and thermally insulated base - ideal for existing buildings.
Send an inquiry now or arrange a free consultation directly!
Sources of supply GLAPOR Schaumglas international
Switzerland
HGC
Marc Lorenz
Category Management Baustoffe
D +41 44 296 62 88
M +41 79 344 97 75
Marc.lorenz@hgc.ch
Ireland
Roundtower Lime
Paul Alan Cardona
Technical Advisor Roundtower
Lime +353 21 477 6677 | +353 83 447 6205 paul@roundtowerlime.com
Czech Republic
KOVOSTEEL
Marek Bednar
+420730806262 bednar@kovostell.cz
Italy
BACCHI
+39 0522 686080 info@bacchispa.it
Sweden
Cellglas Sweden AB
+46 40 6900120
info@cellglas.com
UK
Ty-Mawr (gravel)
+44 1874 611350
tymawr@lime.org.uk
Construction Innovation Agency (boards)
John Pearson Mier
Director
+44 (0)333 577 0171
+44 (0)7738 056554
John.pearson@c-i-a.co.uk
How high can cellular glass gravel be under the floor slab?
The recommended installation height for GLAPOR cellular glass insulation gravel under floor slabs varies depending on the specific requirements of the construction project. For load-bearing thermal insulation made of GLAPOR cellular glass gravel, the maximum single-layer fill height is 39 cm. This corresponds to a compacted thickness of 30 cm (1:1.3).
For higher fill heights, multi-layer laying with layer-by-layer compaction is required. The minimum thickness of the compacted insulation layer is 15 cm, the maximum thickness is 90 cm. In practice, layer thicknesses of 30 to 50 cm are common.
Is cellular glass expensive: How much does 1 cubic meter of cellular glass (gravel and sheets) cost?
GLAPOR Schaumglas ist im Vergleich zu klassischen EPS- oder XPS-Produkten preislich auf Augenhöhe – aber ohne Kunststoffe und dauerhaft wasserdicht. Die Kosten variieren je nach Produkt (Schotter oder Platte) und Menge.
The big difference is in the life cycle: our cellular glass products are waterproof for life and therefore retain their characteristic properties. This means: invest once, benefit for generations. We will be happy to advise you individually on a specific offer – tailored to your project.
Insulation value: How well does cellular glass insulate and how high is the U-value?
The U-value of a building component is determined by the overall construction and the type and thickness of the insulation used. With a thermal conductivity from 0.048 W/(m-K), GLAPOR cellular glass boards enable reliably low U-values – ENEV-compliant and QNG-ready. A major advantage: cellular glass does not absorb any moisture. This means that the insulating properties are permanently retained – for generations to come. This behavior is unique in the world of insulation materials and makes GLAPOR cellular glass a reliable guarantee for energy-efficient building envelopes.
Is cellular glass hazardous waste?
No, GLAPOR cellular glass consists of 100% recycled glass – in comparison to many competitor products – and is therefore particularly environmentally friendly. It can be easily dismantled, reused or recycled.
Why cellular glass: What are the advantages and disadvantages of cellular glass?
GLAPOR cellular glass is the smart solution for anyone who wants durable, ecological and safe insulation. It is non-combustible (A1), waterproof, pressure-resistant (up to 1,600 kPa) and consists of 100% recycled waste glass – produced regionally, plastic-free and fully recyclable. By the way: QNG-ready certified by the Sentinel Haus Institute.
Whether as boards or gravel: GLAPOR cellular glass insulates permanently, does not rot, does not settle and remains dimensionally stable – a clear advantage over non-waterproof insulation materials.
Application: What do you need cellular glass for?
GLAPOR cellular glass is used as thermal insulation and lightweight construction material to protect buildings against heat loss, fire and moisture.
It is mainly used in flat roof constructions, perimeter areas and urban mining constructions. In addition, GLAPOR cellular glass products are also suitable for use as interior insulation, in industry and in landscaping. Other applications for GLAPOR cellular glass include Insulation of tanks or pipelines, green roofs, soil improvement, courtyard cellar ceilings, drainage and design of public spaces and lightweight construction material in bridge and traffic route construction.
Thanks to their high compressive strength – combined with a very low dead weight – GLAPOR cellular glass products are a reliable and sustainable choice for a wide range of building constructions.
How is cellular glass fixed or laid?
In principle, various types of installation are possible with GLAPOR cellular glass products:
- Classically bonded: Full-surface bonding with hot bitumen or adhesive systems approved by GLAPOR – especially where structural requirements such as the effects of water or wind loads require a force-fit connection.
- Glue-free/loose laid: In numerous projects, GLAPOR cellular glass boards can also be installed loose, without adhesive, on a flat roof or as a floor board.
Particularly innovative: The Urban Mining Smart Roof and the Urban Mining Floor Slab UMB1 are completely adhesive-free – a sustainable and reusable construction solution that is unique in this form.
How pressure-resistant is cellular glass?
Depending on the type, GLAPOR cellular glass boards offer a nominal compressive strength of up to 1,600 kPa and are compression-free.
Depending on the type and compaction, GLAPOR cellular glass gravel can absorb nominal compressive stresses of up to 800 kPa. A special feature is our High Load Construction (HLC) cellular glass gravel for road construction with up to 1500 kPa.
Can cellular glass be used as a floor slab?
Yes, GLAPOR offers a sustainable and completely concrete-free solution with the Urban Mining Floor Slab (UMB1). The construction consists of cellular glass boards made from 100% recycled glass – ecological and circular.
This innovative 2-in-1 solution combines a load-bearing shell and thermal insulation in one system, replacing both the classic concrete floor slab and the usual XPS insulation.
The award-winning design is fully recyclable and meets the highest requirements for cradle-to-cradle and reuse capability.
Your benefit: With the UMB1, you save up to 95% CO₂, up to 20% of the costs and 50% of the construction time compared to reinforced concrete floor slabs with XPS insulation.
How do you cut cellular glass?
GLAPOR cellular glass boards can be cut to size using commercially available sawing tools such as a foxtail. This enables simple and precise adaptation to the structural conditions.
The offcuts are ecologically harmless.
Can cellular glass gravel be used as drainage?
Yes, GLAPOR cellular glass gravel is ideal as a drainage layer or as insulation for pipelines (including district heating) in civil engineering.
Is cellular glass waterproof?
GLAPOR cellular glass boards and the grains of GLAPOR cellular glass gravel are absolutely waterproof. Thanks to its closed-cell structure, cellular glass does not absorb water – neither by diffusion nor by soaking up. This makes cellular glass particularly suitable for use in areas in contact with the ground.
It retains its insulating performance and dimensional stability even in permanently damp conditions. GLAPOR cellular glass boards are approved as perimeter insulation up to 12 m immersion depth, even in pressurized water.
Construction height and minimum thickness: How many cm of cellular glass gravel do I need?
The required minimum thickness of an insulation layer made of GLAPOR cellular glass gravel is determined by the energy requirement calculation according to EnEV or GEG as well as by the specifications of DIN 4108 and depends on the respective application.
For installation under floor slabs, layer thicknesses between 15 cm and 90 cm can be provided in the compacted state, with a compaction ratio of 1.3 : 1.0.
A maximum loose fill height of 39 cm can be applied in a single operation, which corresponds to a compacted layer thickness of around 30 cm. For greater construction heights, a multi-layer installation with respective compaction is prescribed.
The actual layer thickness required depends on the structural and building physics requirements. Ideally, the structural engineer or building physicist responsible should carry out the dimensioning.
How is cellular glass gravel compacted?
GLAPOR cellular glass gravel is compacted like natural aggregates (chippings, gravel) using commercially available vibratory plates (see recommendation). The equipment used should weigh between 90 and 150 kg; heavier machines are not suitable for processing.
Installation is carried out in layers: A maximum of 39 cm per layer may be laid loose, which is then compacted to around 30 cm. The mechanical interlocking of the cellular glass grains creates a highly load-bearing thermal insulation.
Proof of the correct compaction ratio is provided by documenting the compaction dimension(compaction and installation log (click here)): Load plate compression tests cannot be carried out reliably on cellular glass gravel.