Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) is the peak national body for manufacturers and distributors in Australia, with Foamex Group general manager Justin Kelsey currently serving as an EPSA Board Member.

The revised code, now known as the 2019/20 Airpop Pod Code of Conduct can be accessed on the EPSA website. Airpop is the product descriptor in use throughout Europe for EPS - the term is also being adopted in Australia.

Foamex has played an instrumental role in the development of this code, and already adheres to the requirements set out in it. The company is fully committed to maintaining professional standards in the EPS industry, as well as leading the industry in their commitment to environmental impacts. 

Why the EPSA guidelines matter

The EPSA guidelines set out the industry best-practice for the safe storage, transportation and onsite management of EPS waffle pods. For EPS suppliers such as Foamex, the guidelines include:

  • Conduct reasonable due diligence about product usage and storage on destination building site to ensure product will be safe and secure.
  • Be aware of the weather on planned date of delivery and avoid having drops on days of high wind.
  • Deliver goods and bags for clean-up on site and secure product in place upon delivery by approved tie down method.
  • Tie down in smaller packs on windy days to avoid product lift-off.
  • Take photos after delivery to site to retain as proof that delivery has been made to the Airpop Pod code of practice.

Foamex onsite process for ensuring pod security

Foamex Diamond Pods are delivered to construction sites tightly wrapped together with plastic shrink wrap. They are then further secured onsite using netting over the top and all sides, and then attached to pegs in the ground to minimise the risk of blow-away and damage.

Additionally, every order of Foamex Diamond Pods is delivered with bags to store off-cuts and leftover polystyrene. Foamex also arranges to pick up polystyrene waste from construction sites if required and return them to their manufacturing facility for repurposing into new EPS products.

While Foamex cannot control how customers manage waffle pods onsite during construction, the company educates them about correct product use and waste disposal of Foamex EPS products.

A long-serving member of EPSA, Foamex has been supplying high quality polystyrene solutions to the Australian market for more than 35 years, collaborating with builders, engineers, architects, designers, and specifiers to fulfil their insulation needs.