Work is underway on amending the draft regulation on the technical conditions that buildings and their location must meet (WT). The Polish Association of Polystyrene Producers (PSPS) has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the new Ministry of Finance and Economy, highlighting the negative consequences of the proposed requirements for the Polish economy, construction sector, and the domestic thermal insulation industry.
The proposed changes, introduced under the pretext of improving fire safety in Polish buildings, restrict and ultimately eliminate the use of polystyrene boards (as well as polyurethane boards and sandwich panels with such cores) in building insulation—materials that have been widely used in Poland for more than 50 years.
According to polystyrene producers, these proposed requirements are not supported by fire safety statistics. PSPS points out that around 90% of external wall insulation systems (ETICS) in Poland use polystyrene, and for many years there have been no recorded fires caused by this material.
Experts also criticize the fact that representatives of the National Fire Service Headquarters, who authored the controversial changes, are pushing for material-based solutions centered on mineral wool, rather than exploring a range of available fire safety tools. This, they argue, could restrict competition and lead to market monopolization in the insulation sector.
PSPS further warns that the proposed provisions were introduced into the draft regulation “through the back door,” despite similar proposals having been previously rejected by the ministry.
The draft WT, now open for public consultation, contains a list of provisions that would, in practice, significantly limit the use of polystyrene in building insulation. For many buildings, this would mean the mandatory use of mineral wool on up to 70% of wall surfaces. According to PSPS experts, this would have a number of negative consequences:
- Higher costs for investors: mandatory use of mineral wool, which is nearly three times more expensive than polystyrene, would increase insulation costs by up to 40% for developers, including housing cooperatives.
- Impact on the economy: Poland is home to the largest polystyrene market in Europe, dominated by domestic producers—mostly small and medium-sized enterprises employing more than 8,000 people nationwide and generating nearly PLN 2 billion in tax revenues annually [1]. The changes could severely damage this sector.
- Technical and durability issues: combining two different insulation materials could lead to cracks, leaks, discoloration, thermal bridges, and higher structural weight, ultimately reducing façade durability and aesthetics, while increasing maintenance costs.
- Environmental and health risks: installing mineral wool requires personal protective equipment (masks, coveralls, goggles, gloves). This not only generates hazardous waste harmful to the environment but also poses health risks for residents of insulated buildings who lack such protection. Experts also note that ETICS systems with mineral wool have a worse environmental profile compared to those with polystyrene.
The open letter, along with PSPS’s official position, was submitted to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the Ministers of the new Ministry of Finance and Economy, Andrzej Domański and Michał Jaros.
[1] Impact of polystyrene producers on the economy – KPMG Report 2025
Source: ManagerPlus.pl
