With the increasing push from national energy-saving and emission-reduction policies, the market for exterior wall insulation materials is expanding rapidly. The demand from both residential and public building projects offers enormous development potential for external wall insulation panels.

In the manufacturing process of these panels, steam curing plays a crucial role. It not only enhances the strength and durability of the insulation boards but also significantly reduces the molding cycle, allowing for faster production turnover. Most manufacturers rely on steam generators to perform this critical curing process efficiently.

To ensure the quality of curing, insulation boards are typically placed in sealed, temperature-controlled environments where consistent steam is supplied to maintain optimal conditions. As a result, the performance and reliability of steam generators become essential to maintaining product standards.

In recent years, the government has placed greater emphasis on upgrading aging residential communities, especially as part of the “14th Five-Year Plan.” We’ve had hands-on experience working on renovation projects of this nature. As part of our workflow, we conduct regular follow-up visits with residents to monitor progress and gather feedback.

During these visits, one concern frequently arises: the perceived thinness of the external wall insulation boards. Many residents compare their community’s insulation thickness with neighboring ones and question whether a thinner board can offer the same thermal performance. Their concern is understandable. From their perspective, thicker must mean better insulation.

However, is this always true?

The effectiveness of an insulation board is not determined by thickness alone. Material composition, thermal conductivity, installation quality, and system integration all play vital roles. In fact, using higher-performance insulation materials can often achieve better results with less thickness. It’s not uncommon for modern energy-efficient buildings to rely on advanced materials that outperform traditional ones even at reduced sizes.

So, next time you’re faced with this question—whether at a site visit or chatting with concerned residents—remember: thicker doesn’t always mean better. It’s the quality of the materials and engineering behind the system that truly determines thermal efficiency.