EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam) and pumice due to their both high thermal barrier and low density
properties are highly preferred in making lightweight insulation blocks in the last decade. These insulation
blocks are composed of EPS having different density values and lightweight concrete containing
pumice aggregate. However, the sizes of a block should be optimized in terms of having both a good thermal
insulation and reasonable compressive strength value and a lighter block. In this study, thicknesses
of EPS and pumice blocks composing insulation bricks currently produced in Bartin/Turkey are optimized
using FEA methods for the compressive strength and the heat transfer analysis. Also, results achieved by
simulation studies are compared with the results obtained by means of experimental study. It is found
that the optimum thickness values that make both heat transfer minimum and compressive strength
maximum are 40 mm and 20 mm for the EPS and pumice blocks, respectively.