Which sandwich panel core should you choose?

Choose PIR primarily when you need high thermal performance with a thin, lightweight building envelope. Mineral wool is a natural option for higher fire-safety and acoustic requirements. EPS can be an economical solution for garages, warehouses and simpler buildings, provided its properties satisfy the design. The core name alone is not enough: check the U-value, reaction to fire and fire resistance of the complete system, load-bearing capacity, coating and service conditions.

No single core is best for every building. The choice should reflect the building’s function, insulation needs, fire protection, acoustics, structural loads and budget.

Comparison of sandwich panels with PIR, EPS and mineral wool cores

The following table is a practical selection guide, not a ranking of tested products. Compare the manufacturer’s data for the actual panel thickness, facings, joint and intended assembly.

Criterion	PIR core	EPS core	Mineral-wool core
Thermal performance	Often selected for low thickness; verify U-value	Compare required panel thickness and U-value	Compare required panel thickness and U-value
Weight	Check kg/m² for the chosen panel	Check kg/m² for the chosen panel	Check kg/m² and structural capacity carefully
Fire performance	Use the declared classification and tested assembly	Use the declared classification and tested assembly	Often considered for demanding fire requirements; verify the complete system
Acoustics	Check the specific acoustic data	Check the specific acoustic data	Often considered for acoustic requirements; distinguish sound insulation from absorption
Typical selection priority	Insulation within limited thickness	Suitability and total project cost	Fire and acoustic requirements alongside load and thermal design

Sandwich panels available from stock at SteelProfil

Is a PIR sandwich panel the best choice for a heated hall or workshop?

PIR is often the first material considered where good thermal insulation is needed without substantially increasing the thickness of the building envelope. This applies to heated halls, workshops, warehouses, logistics centres, retail buildings and some agricultural buildings.

PIR is a useful solution when:

the building will be heated regularly;
limiting heat loss is important;
the structure should not carry excessive weight;
relatively long panels are required;
the client wants to limit wall or roof thickness;
the material will be used in a cold store or storage facility.

SteelProfil promotional offer for sandwich panels

When should you consider mineral wool sandwich panels?

Mineral wool panels should be considered particularly where demanding fire or acoustic requirements outweigh the need for the lowest weight and thinnest envelope.

Examples include production halls, high-bay warehouses, public buildings, technical rooms, fire-separating walls and facilities housing noisy machinery.

Is mineral wool always the best fire-protection choice?

Buying any panel with a mineral wool core is not enough. The design should specify the required fire-resistance classification, such as EI 30, EI 60, EI 120 or another class. Select the product, thickness, support arrangement and fixings that match the manufacturer’s tested construction.

The description “mineral wool core” alone does not establish that a particular partition will achieve the required classification.

Are EPS sandwich panels suitable for a garage or warehouse?

EPS can be a reasonable choice where low weight and material cost matter most and the design does not require the properties associated with PIR or mineral wool.

EPS-core panels are used in storage, production, commercial and utility buildings.

EPS may be considered for:

an unheated or occasionally heated garage;
a simple warehouse;
an outbuilding;
a building where thicker panels can be accommodated;
a project whose structure and design permit this core type.

However, do not choose EPS automatically just because the initial price per square metre is attractive. If a significantly thicker panel is needed to achieve the required insulation performance, include the cost of wider flashings, longer screws, transport and the space occupied by the partition.