Evaluation of capillary-active mineral insulation systems for interior retrofit solution

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Installation of thermal insulation is one of the most effective approaches to improve energy efficiency of the building envelope. Interior insulation retrofit of the masonry construction will change its original thermal and moisture balance, thus a careful pre-phase design is needed to avoid the structural and moisture impairments. This study evaluates the performance of four interior insulation systems with application of the capillary-active mineral materials: autoclaved aerated concrete, calcium silicate, mineral foam, and perlite. Hygrothermal properties of these four materials are experimentally measured and analyzed. They present quite different moisture storage and transport characteristics, which influence the hygrothermal behavior of the refurbished construction. A non-capillary-active polyurethane rigid foam insulation system is also presented for comparison. Moreover, the influence of the indoor humidity on the performance of the insulation systems is investigated.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)215-227
Number of pages13
JournalBuilding and environment
Volume2017
Issue number115
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Capillary active, Hygrothermal property, Interior retrofit, Mineral insulation, Moisture related issues, Performance evaluation

Library keywords