Effect of freezing and thawing on the performance of “capillary active” insulation systems: a comparison of results from climate chamber study to HAM modelling

Klõšeiko, Paul; Varda, Kadi; Kalamees, Targo

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.714

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The CCR-optimized material shows about 2…3-fold increase in maximum moisture content and coincides better with measurement data. Measurement data from Klõšeiko et al (2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hygrothermal performance of a brick wall with interior insulation in cold climate: Vapour open versus vapour tight approach

Klõšeiko

Kalamees

2021

Journal of Building Physics

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Interior insulation of historic buildings is well-studied in Central Europe; however, their conclusions might not be directly applicable to colder climates. Heat, air and moisture (HAM) modelling can be a valuable tool for studying those solutions in different conditions. Recently, incorporating the capillary condensation redistribution (CCR) test into the material characterization process has shown to cause dramatic improvement in correlating hygrothermal modelling results to measurements in certain situations. It is also noteworthy, that the HAM modelling errors made using material data from conventional characterization process can be severely non-conservative. In this article a parametric study of a 51 cm thick mass masonry wall is undertaken to determine the effect of the improved material properties on the reliability of a vapour open ‘capillary active’ autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and calcium silicate (CaSi) interior insulation solutions and to compare them to a vapour tight insulation system. A 49-year real weather dataset from Estonia is used. The results show that compared to conventionally characterized material properties the CCR-optimized material data causes more critical conditions directly behind the interior insulation, while having a similar performance in the exterior part of the masonry. The differences occur close to the performance limits and highlight the importance of using the CCR test in material characterization process. The vapour tight and vapour open systems showed a very similar impact on the freeze-thaw cycles and on the maximum ice saturation of the exterior part of the masonry. The vapour open solutions perform better than the vapour tight PIR in terms of frost damage and possible mould growth behind the insulation – even though the advantage has been reduced when using the CCR-optimized material data. Regardless of the insulation solution, a case-specific approach is still required to avoid damaging the original wall and/or the added insulation system.

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“…The CCR-optimized material shows about 2…3-fold increase in maximum moisture content and coincides better with measurement data. Measurement data from Klõšeiko et al (2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and calcium silicate (CaSi) were used as an example for this process. The CCR-optimization notably improved the correlation of AAC when the modelling results were compared to measurements from Klõšeiko et al (2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hygrothermal performance of a brick wall with interior insulation in cold climate: Vapour open versus vapour tight approach

Klõšeiko

Kalamees

2021

Journal of Building Physics

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“…Assessment according to saturation degree should be carried out -maximum of 30%sat is allowed to avoid frost damage. However, our previous research (Klõšeiko et al 2017) showed that freeze-thaw cycling affected tensile strength of capillary active insulation material even though saturation degree stayed below the 30%sat limit. Therefore, slightly stricter limits of RHcrit.= 95 %RH and tcrit = -5 °C (Künzel 2011) are used in this study.…”

Section: Measurement Setupmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Thus, according to the modelling data, frost damage in insulation system will not be a problem and the solution could be approved for use in the rest of the building. However, as previous research (Binder et al 2013;Klõšeiko et al 2017) has shown, the modelling results of "capillary active" materials can also be non-conservatively skewed, especially when higher moisture contents are concerned and values are closer to the performance limits. To overcome that, development of improved liquid and vapour conductivity curves for CaSi as well measurements of limestone and brick properties are in progress.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Long term measurements and HAM modelling of an interior insulation solution for an office building in cold climate

Klõšeiko¹,

Kalamees²

2018

Healthy, Intelligent and Resilient Buildings and Urban Environments

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Excessive mould damage was detected in an office building in Northern Europe and thus a renovation need was established. This paper studies a renovation solution using measurements and heat, air & moisture (HAM) modelling. Polyurethane (PUR) foam was used to fill the air gap in masonry while capillary active calcium silicate (CaSi) insulation was used on the interior surface at thermal bridges. During renovation works temperature and relative humidity (t&RH) and heat flux sensors were installed throughout the wall. Nearly 3 years of measurements are presented. Average thermal transmittance (U) of the wall was reduced around 3 times. While the climate was probably not critical during the monitoring, the measured values stayed within hygrothermally safe limits. The paper also compares the measurement data to 2D HAM modelling and discusses the discrepancies. Calibrated models were used to model the wall using real 42-year weather data and give a more thorough assessment of the hygrothermal performance. Although the original wall stayed fairly moist, no performance limits were exceeded and the interior surface became safer in terms of mould risk.

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“…The risk of frost damage to the outer layer of the envelope also increases. It has been proven that using capillary active interior insulation systems presents low hygrothermal risk [3][4][5][6][7]. Several studies have been conducted in Estonia on interior insulation in masonry walls [8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hygrothermal Analysis of Masonry Wall with Reed Boards as Interior Insulation System

et al. 2020

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When the masonry walls of buildings under heritage protection need to be restored and thermally improved, the only option is to use an interior insulation system. This is also the riskiest method of insulating walls in cold climates. Capillary active interior insulation systems have been proven to be the most reliable, minimizing the risk of mold growth and decay caused by condensation. They have also been proven to be less risky in wind-driven rain. The building studied is situated in a heritage-conservation area in downtown Tartu, Estonia, and therefore cannot be insulated from the exterior. This paper compares the hygrothermal performance of four different interior insulation systems with and without a heating cable and vapor barrier. In the first case, Isover Vario KM Duplex UV was placed between reed panels. In the second case, reed panels were used without the vapor barrier. Data loggers were applied between the reed panels and the original wall and inside the room to measure temperature and relative humidity in one-hour intervals. Exterior temperature and relative humidity values were taken from the Estonian University of Life Sciences Institute of Technology weather service station. In addition to the measurements taken in the case study building, calculations were made using heat-air-moisture (HAM) Delphin software to simulate the situation. The use of a smart vapor retarder (Isover Vario KM Duplex UV) with reed panels in the interior insulation system reduced the relative humidity level inside the wall. The vapor retarder improved the drying-potential compared to the interior insulation system without the vapor barrier.

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Effect of freezing and thawing on the performance of “capillary active” insulation systems: a comparison of results from climate chamber study to HAM modelling

Cited by 13 publications

References 4 publications

Hygrothermal performance of a brick wall with interior insulation in cold climate: Vapour open versus vapour tight approach

Hygrothermal performance of a brick wall with interior insulation in cold climate: Vapour open versus vapour tight approach

Long term measurements and HAM modelling of an interior insulation solution for an office building in cold climate

Hygrothermal Analysis of Masonry Wall with Reed Boards as Interior Insulation System

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