Sandwich panels for industrial walls and roofs

Sandwich panels represent the largest volume segment by mass of rigid PU foam in construction globally. For the manufacturer, the chemistry is the largest single cost component of the product (30–45% of direct cost) and simultaneously the greatest vector of differentiation against competitors. A 5% saving in chemistry on an industrial plant producing 1 million m²/year can mean millions of reais in annual margin.

At the same time, poorly specified chemistry can destroy the business. The construction market has become brutally demanding on fire performance after events like the Grenfell Tower fire (UK, 2017) which led to the reform of reaction-to-fire regulations in Europe and generated pressure in several markets. Brazilian fire departments (especially São Paulo's Corpo de Bombeiros) have strengthened their inspections of commercial and industrial buildings, and insurance companies price premiums based on reaction-to-fire classification of the construction envelope.

For large projects — data centers, logistics centers of major retailers, industrial plants of multinationals — fire certification and documentation of environmental properties (GWP of blowing agent, recycled content, traceability) are decisive factors in supplier selection. Manufacturers unable to offer systems certified at this level are automatically excluded from these projects.