PU Europe
PU Europe: the European voice of the polyurethane (PUR / PIR) insulation industry. Here you can find information about our activities, positions and research work. You will learn about the benefits, characteristics and applications of this versatile material, and the role it has to play in achieving a sustainable future. The polyurethane (PUR / PIR) insulation industry is part of a much wider polyurethane construction sector involving more than 70.250 companies, providing 3.800.000 jobs and generating an economic value of €59 billion. Polyurethane is widely used for construction in all types of infrastructure projects. However, its most important application is thermal insulation of buildings and technical installations. The direct and indirect contributions of polyurethane use in construction are impressive (source: “European Polyurethane Industry Facts 2018” from ISOPA).
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Technology
- Industry Type:
- Environmental - Environmental Management
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
- Year Founded:
- 1981
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
About Us
PU Europe was founded in 1981 as BING to become the single European voice for the polyurethane (PUR/PIR) insulation industry. Today, PU Europe represents insulation producers, raw material suppliers and component manufacturers from twelve countries with activities covering the entire continent.
Innovative building products and design solutions supported by ambitious policy frameworks and well-thought financing solutions transform Europe’s building stock into energy savers. About 3 % of buildings undergo (staged) deep renovation every year reducing the energy demand of our buildings by an average of 80 % by 2050. PUR/PIR high performance insulation plays a key role in this transition process.
PU Europe’s mission is to demonstrate the benefits and support the introduction of low energy building solutions for new constructions and renovation projects across Europe, and develop sustainable and cost efficient solutions using PUR/PIR high performance insulation to support the societal shift towards the 2050 goal.
To this end, the association proactively contributes to the European political and technical decision making process in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable construction and health & environment. Messages are underpinned by independent research to which PU Europe dedicates a substantial part of its overall budget.
Product and Market
Polyurethane (PU) insulation covers both PUR and PIR products and is one of the most effective insulation materials commonly available today. It is lightweight, easy to handle and install, and its low thermal conductivity means that a much thinner layer than most other insulation materials is needed to get the same level of energy efficiency. It is also extremely versatile and can be used just about anywhere.
PU insulation has a high compressive strength, is unaffected by air infiltration and is resistant to the passage of moisture. All of these attributes make it an extremely durable material that retains its thermal properties over time.
From pipes to panels, floors to roofs, PU insulation provides excellent thermal performance and durability. It is used in every kind of building, old or new, including houses, schools, hospitals, factories, warehouses, shops, offices, public buildings and stadia.
As well as meeting the high demands of new build applications, PU insulation takes up less space and weighs less than many other commonly used insulation materials, so is particularly well suited to retrofit projects where space or weight may be an issue.
How can it be used?Because it is so versatile, PU insulation is commonly used in a number of different ways:
- Insulation boards and blocks
- Spray insulation
- Composite panels
- Pipe insulation
From small builders to major developers, PU insulation is widely used across Europe, but there is still room for a better understanding of the many benefits PU insulation can bring.
Members
PU Europe represents the polyurethane insulation industry in Europe. Its membership ranges from major multinational companies to SMEs (small and medium size enterprises), covering the whole value chain.
PU Europe membership is divided into two categories:
- National Trade Associations
- Raw Materials suppliers
Working Groups
PU Europe is maintaining three permanent committees. Each of them may set up temporary task groups to address current issues in a focused way:
This committee covers all topics relating to technical product and fire standards, durability aspects and technical research projects.
Examples of recent activities in the PU Europe technical committee can be found in the Publications section.
The main topics dealt with by this committee include energy efficiency, sustainability, health aspects of construction products (including related standardisation activities), waste management and REACH. The group also manages a number of related research projects.
Examples of recent activities in the PU Europe safety, health and environment committee can be found in the Publications section.
This committee looks at ways to communicate the benefits of polyurethane to the outside world through a wide range of publications, from industry position papers and technical papers to guidance documents and factsheets. Many of these documents can be found in the Publications section.