Characterization of systems for external insulation and retrofitting with emphasis on the thermal performance

During the last decade retrofitting of buildings has received increased attention not only in northern Europe but throughout the world. Retrofitting of buildings is usually performed to solve one or more of the following problems: poor indoor climate, excessive heat losses, insufficient durability or unsatisfactory architectural look. One way of solving these problems is by adding a retrofitting system with thermal insulation to the existing building envelope. If external insulation systems are used, a new rain screen is applied on the outside of the insulation. Insulation can be applied either on the inside or the outside of the existing building envelope, but internal insulation has many disadvantages compared to external insulation. Several external insulation systems exist, each with different properties making it difficult for building designers to choose between systems in an objective manner.To help a building designer with such a choice, key parameters for insulation systems are described in a uniform manner stating their performance with regards to aesthetics, heat transfer, moisture, durability, fire and economy. Parameters given for the total insulation capability enable the building designer to include the effect of thermal bridges by performing simple calculations, a task which normally requires the use of numerical models. The results show that thermal bridges in external insulation systems may decrease their thermal resistance by more than 25%.Key parameters was calculated by the use of numerical tools and the validity of the results was ensured by measurements in a Guarded Hot Box on a variety of constructions.