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The extensive use of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) using expanded polystyrene (EPS) for building insulation in Germany has resulted in accumulating end-of-life EPS-ETICS. To address limited waste management options and enhance EPS circularity, alternative recycling options like pyrolysis or solvent-based recycling need to be implemented. However, efficient recycling requires ex-ante analyses of the corresponding reverse logistics networks, including all necessary pre-treatment and transport processes. This study aims to develop a decision support system to determine optimal EPS-ETICS waste management by minimising the net present value of the corresponding network design. Our mixed-integer linear optimisation model considers decisions on technology, capacity, and location for pre-processing and recycling facilities as well as on material flow allocation. Applied to a German case study, our model finds pyrolysis and solvent-based recycling economically superior to current waste treatment in waste incineration plants. We present an optimal network design combining central pyrolysis with decentral pre-processing. A scenario analysis shows fluctuating styrene and polystyrene prices might favour solvent-based recycling over the optimal choice in pyrolysis, with minor overall cost differences. Further, legal recycling quotas of at least 40% would be necessary to promote solvent-based recycling and enhance EPS circularity beyond what is achievable through pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External thermal insulation compound systems with wooden fibre insulation External thermal insulation composite systems are analysed in system tests with regard to their serviceability and stability. The tests have been developed over decades and harbour individual weak points. The prediction of load‐bearing and deformation behaviour using mathematical methods is not yet common in practice, but could save a great deal of time and money. Overall, an unsatisfactory situation has developed over the decades. As part of several projects, extensive experimental and computational investigations have been carried out on materials, material combinations and components, which should lead to a greater understanding of building physics and elasto‐plastic‐mechanical properties. The findings can help to predict the load‐bearing and deformation behaviour of ETICS with wood fibre insulation boards using mathematical methods. This article describes the procedure within a research project. The results of the work show the possibilities of simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Climate Action Plan 2019 targets the low-energy retrofit of 500,000 existing Irish homes before 2030.1 Up to 80 per cent of building failures can be attributed to moisture risks.2 The literature indicated that external wall insulation (EWI, ETICS) failures are mostly due to moisture ingress at junctions and interfaces. A hygrothermal risk assessment of EWI on three walls with rendered concrete/concrete blockwork/cavity walls in Dublin, Belfast and Belmullet was undertaken using transient numerical simulation and the Glaser method. The guidance, common practice indicates a preference for Glaser. The initial simulation results were compared to assess the appropriateness of Glaser. Material measurements were undertaken and this data was used in the transient numerical simulations. A parametric study was undertaken using a selection of the initial transient numerical simulations stressed with parameters of 1–2 per cent driving rain at different window positions. The results of the initial transient numerical simulations indicate that most retrofit cases, except on cavity walls, are low risk. All cases assessed using Glaser pass the assessments. The parametric study indicated between 40–67 per cent were high risk depending on the wall types. All cases with mineral wool/mineral render were low risk, while most cases with acrylic render were high risk. The research described in this paper indicates that using the Glaser method for hygrothermal assessment of EWI cannot capture the extent of the risk when buildings are leaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study emerged from the necessity to analyze the most effective energy-saving strategies within the current real estate market and substantiate their application with empirical data. Undoubtedly, the adoption of External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICSs) stands out as one of the prevalent approaches. This article presents temperature-monitoring data collected on-site from the facades of two single-family homes initially constructed with identical compositions, materials, construction dates, locations, and orientations. The thermal envelope of one home underwent rehabilitation using the ETICS, while the other remained in its original state. Continuous temperature recordings on the southern and northwestern facades of both homes were conducted using thermocouples over a 15-day period. The data analysis yielded insights into facade performance before and after this rehabilitation approach. The findings suggest that the implementation of ETICS results in more stable interior temperatures, significantly reducing indoor temperatures in comparison to outdoor conditions, leading to a notable decrease in heat energy loss. Consequently, this research underscores the tangible benefits of employing ETICS in building rehabilitation, emphasizing its role as a passive energy-saving strategy. By demonstrating the positive impact on thermal performance and energy efficiency, this study reinforces the vital connection between research endeavors and sustainability objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the issue of humidity and the unhealthy environment of old buildings. Humidity is a very widespread problem not only in historical buildings, but also in newer buildings. This problem can be observed in various parts of the world and thus it can be said that it is a global problem. Humidity in these buildings causes an unhealthy environment, which has a negative effect on individual building constructions, but also on people’s health. Humidity is also associated with the form of disruption of the individual layers of the construction and the disruption of the thermal resistance of these constructions. Buildings such as these subsequently have an unhealthy environment. After a part of the description of the known issue, the contribution follows on from this part by indicating possible remedial interventions and analyses the systems of additional thermal insulation (ETICS, ATP), ensuring the improvement of the internal environment. Finally, the article presents possible connections and extensions of this research and its application directly in practice. The results of the proposed research will significantly contribute to the approach to rehabilitated older buildings and their long-term sustainability from an economic point of view, as well as the possible use of them.

Fire barriers are used to reduce the risk of fire spreading over façades. External thermal insulation composite systems consist of mineral wool strips embedded in a layer of another thermal insulation material. A system configured in this manner, beyond standard solutions, can be more susceptible to environmental factors. In this study, an expanded polystyrene-based system with a mineral wool fire barrier was subjected to weathering conditions. In view of climate change, nonconventional long-lasting exposure simulating the effects of intensive atmospheric factors was applied. Two exposure sequences were used, each covering 80 cycles of heating and wetting, five cycles of heating and cooling, and 30 cycles of wetting, freezing, and thawing. Significant changes were observed in the first sequence. The second sequence caused rendering system cracks wider than 0.2 mm. This indicated a loss of watertightness. A new approach of 3D scanning with inspection analysis was used to assess the deformations. It showed deformation amounted to 0.7 mm within the MW strip. The methods used previously did not allow this level of deformation to be recorded.

Foam ceramic insulation and decoration integrated boards have attracted considerable attention from researchers. In order to evaluate the impact resistance and aging performance of the ceramic boards under hail weather conditions, natural frequency tests, coefficient-of-restitution trials, free falling ball experiments and artificial aging measurements were carried out in this work. The experimental results revealed that impact-induced pits easily occurred at the foamed ceramic board, but without proceeding to fracture. In turn, the ceramic plates under impact exhibited four different failure modes which varied with the area of debonding. The impact resistance of the thin board fixed to the base wall by the adhesive layer has greatly increased, even surpassing that of the thick board, which was caused by the synergistic effect between the base wall and the insulation board. The insulation system was broken as the ratio of the diameter of the impact crater to the thickness of the board approached 77%. In addition, the aging degree of the impact resistance of the ceramic board could be measured in terms of the coefficient of restitution or the diameter of the impact crater, and the hygrothermal cycles had a significant negative effect on the impact resistance of ceramic boards.

The identification of the main degradation agents and knowledge of the degradation mechanisms and long-term performance of ETICSs are of fundamental importance for the sustainable and efficient use of these systems. This review article presents the state of the art related to the durability of ETICSs, defining the required bases for their sustainable and efficient use. The aim is to identify the most common anomalies detected on ETICS façades and their causes, to overview the performance of ETICS, their performance parameters and requirements and to identify the most significant degradation mechanisms and the related failure modes. The results show that ETICS application is a key aspect in the performance and durability of the system, since most of the anomalies can be prevented with proper design, execution and appropriate assembly of the system components. The greatest drawbacks lie in dealing with enhancing the water resistance over time, which leads to extensive cases of anomalies, and improving the mechanical and thermal performance during the life cycle. Further research is needed to evaluate the synergistic effect of several degradation agents and mechanisms toward a development in optimized durability assessment methodologies for ETICSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the passive solar façade, an external wall insulation system is presented, with which solar energy gains can be used to a greater extent through a transparent facing shell in front of the insulation layer. A parameter study shows that the transmission heat loss compared to an ETICS can be reduced by between 20 and 40 % across all insulating material thicknesses, depending on the façade orientation. The absorbed solar energy heats the outside of the insulating material and the air layer between the insulation and the transparent façade cladding, so that the temperature difference from the inside to the outside is reduced. This effect reduces the transmission heat flow linearly, i. e. independently of the insulation thickness and is therefore not affected by the so‐called "U‐value reciprocal dilemma". The necessary goal of the energy transition – the use of heat pumps in existing buildings requires a reduction of the heating load along with a corresponding insulation thickness beside to reducing heating energy. Out of this, the conclusion that the transparent façade cladding means that insulation thickness can be dispensed with would be a fallacy. With the passive solar façade, however, the insulation thickness level can be reduced to achieve a passive house heating energy requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of integrating PV panels into traditional ETICS facades has been developing for several years. Problems concerning the options for passively controlling the temperatures of PV panels with PCM and directing excess moisture out of the wall via diffusion channels have been previously studied theoretically. During this study, real wall-scale experiments were conducted to test the thermal and hygrothermal performance of the wall system in an extreme climatic environment, as well as in a real outdoor environment in Tallinn, Estonia. Finally, a simulation model was calibrated according to the measured data. It was found that in case of test walls with diffusion channels, it was possible to keep the moisture content of PCM mortar under 0.11 m3/m3. Excess water drained out via channels leading to the external environment. Without diffusion channels, the moisture content rose as high as 0.18 m3/m3. Both the experiments and hygrothermal modelling showed that the high moisture content of PCM mortar, caused by water leakage, dropped to 0.08 m3/m3 over 10 solar cycles as moisture escaped via the diffusion channels. PCM mortar with a moisture content of 0.08 m3/m3 endured extreme rain and freeze-thaw cycles without visual damage, and PV panels retained their electrical production capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are widely used constructive solutions which aim at enhancing the building thermal performance. Nevertheless, ETICS can often present anomalies (e.g., stains and microcracks) throughout their service life, and vandalism actions, as in the case of graffiti, are rather common in urban areas. The removal of undesired graffiti is generally carried out through invasive chemical–mechanical methods, which may affect the durability of the ETICS. The adoption of anti-graffiti products can be a feasible protection method; however, no comprehensive studies were already addressed on these substrates. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness, compatibility, and durability of three anti-graffiti products (with permanent, semi-permanent, and sacrificial properties) when applied on different ETICS. The removal of aerosol graffiti paints was carried out with a low-invasive and eco-friendly removal method (i.e., low-pressure steam jet). The water transport properties, as well as color, gloss, and roughness, were evaluated before and after graffiti removal. The durability of the anti-graffiti was also assessed by artificial aging cycles. Results showed that graffiti removal was rather efficient on ETICS with acrylic-based finishing coats and when using (semi) permanent anti-graffiti products (with ΔE*ab < 5, i.e., not macroscopically visible, when comparing cleaned and reference surfaces), although these products can reduce their effectiveness after aging. Conversely, unsatisfactory graffiti cleaning was observed on ETICS with lime-based or silicate-based finishing coats (with ΔE*ab > 5), with considerable alteration also of the water transport properties (reducing water absorption and slowing down the drying kinetic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between the autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) and an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) is accomplished by anchors. The anchor is consisted of a connector and an anchor bolt, where the anchor bolt is an important force transmission element. Adhesive is used to install an anchor bolt, and significantly improves the anchoring force of the anchor bolt. However, the hygrothermal environment influences the adhesion of the anchor adhesive, which adversely affects the reliability and security of the ALC panel and ETICS connection. To investigate the effect of high temperature and a humid environment on the anchor bonding performance, 5 sets of durability tests were conducted. Each group of 15 specimens was tested for 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 thermal rain cycles. The test results reveal that, as the number of cycles increased, the tensile capacity of the adhesive-injected anchor bolts decreased, and the capacity's discount factor decreased. The discount factors of the anchor bolt tensile load capacity values after 15, 30, 45 and 60 cycles were 85.5%, 72.1%, 56.2%, and 50.4%, respectively. A prediction model was established based on the relationship between the number of thermal rain cycles and the tensile capacity. Based on the anchor bolt tensile capacity requirements, the model can calculate the number of cycles over which the adhesive-injected anchor bolts need in a hygrothermal environment must be tested, reinforced, and replaced to ensure a good connection between the ALC panel and an ETICS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal performance of lightweight steel framed (LSF) facade walls depends on many factors, such as the steel studs, the batt insulation, the external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), and the sheathing layers. Moreover, the high thermal conductivity of steel could negatively affect their thermal performance due to the consequent thermal bridge effect. Furthermore, in LSF walls, the batt insulation is usually bridged by the steel studs. Thus, some analytical calculation procedures defined in standards (e.g., ISO 6946) are not valid, further complicating their thermal performance quantification. In this research, a parametric study to evaluate the thermal performance of facade LSF walls is presented. Seven relevant parameters are assessed, most of them related to the use of thermal break strips (TBS) and ETICS. The 2D numerical models used to predict the conductive R -values were experimentally validated, and their precision was successfully verified. As earlier found in a previous research work for partition LSF walls, it is also more effective for facades to increase the TBS thickness rather than their width, with the R -value increments being slightly smaller for facade LSF walls. These features were more pronounced for double TBS and for the smaller stud spacing (400 mm). The major thermal performance improvements were found when increasing the ETICS insulation thickness and decreasing their thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy performance and thermal comfort of buildings are decisive factors for users. Thus, solutions such as the external thermal insulation systems (ETICS) that can be installed in either new buildings or buildings under thermal retrofitting, reducing the energy consumption while improving thermal comfort, tend to become mainstream. This paper purposes to quantify the environmental and economic impacts of various ETICS protection solutions to assist in decision-making at the project phase. In this study, products available on the Portuguese market are considered. The protection products considered are hydrophobic agents, biocides, multifunctional, and self-cleaning. The products are compared by type of protection, presenting some of the most impactful components, following a multicriteria analysis of some of those products gathered into different solutions, with the objective of demonstrating the influence of the weights assigned to environmental and economic indicators. Several data-linked problems were identified, such as the quantity and quality of data available for analysis, crucial to their reliability; thus, an index for quality of information was developed in order to compare different products. In the multicriteria analysis, the weights of the sensitivity analysis between environmental and economic indicators highly influence the "best solution"; therefore, stakeholders need to clearly define their objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have clarified that external insulation reduces the probability of reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete buildings in cold snowy districts by 45–78%. Renovation of external insulation is one of the effective methods for improving the insulation performance and durability of reinforced concrete buildings, but there are almost no data that demonstrate durability. Therefore, the carbonation depth and the cover depth were investigated for six medium-rise-wall type reinforced concrete buildings in Hokkaido, Japan, which had been refurbished for external insulation. As a result, it was clarified that the external insulation suppressed the carbonation depth by 30% or more, even when the bonding method of the external insulation was different. In addition, it was clarified that the external insulation further suppressed carbonation in walls where the carbonation depth tended to increase in snowy cold districts. Specifically, external insulation reduced carbonation by up to 35% on surfaces that tend to dry out due to sunlight, and by 49% on surfaces that are affected by water that deteriorates the concrete surface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulation decorative boards (IDBs) have been widely accepted as a novel exterior insulation material. However, the mechanism of the temperature and strain change between the IDBs and the substrate wall in extreme climate is not clear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the evolution of the temperature and strain between the IDBs and the substrate wall in an artificially accelerated aging environment. The heat-rain cyclic test with the maximum temperature of 70 ℃ and the spray volume of 1 L/m².min was initially carried out 80 times on the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) with large-size foamed ceramic IDBs. The temperature and strain fields at the interface were then monitored and collected through 22 temperature and humidity sensors and 22 strain gauges, each. Results indicate that the temperature and strain at the interface represent significant non-uniform distributions. The fitting results of the temperature and strain demonstrate that the average temperature and horizontal average strain at the interface linearly increase with the number of heat-rain cycles. Whereas the vertical average strain increases parabolically with the number of heat-rain cycles. This phenomenon is primarily related to the rising temperature caused by the unbalance between the heat flowing into interface in the early-cycle stage and flowing out of interface in the late-cycle stage rather than the self-performance degradation of the IDB. The observation results in this paper have a reference significance for analyzing the temperature and strain change mechanism at the interface between the IDB and the substrate wall. This can provide a reference for analyzing the thermal insulation and deformation of the IDBs’ external insulation system, and guide its design and construction, accordingly.

External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) have been extensively applied on building façades with the aim of implementing the thermal and aesthetical properties of the building envelope. However, the formation of stains and deposition of particulate matter is often observed in the surface of these systems. The use of multifunctional products with self-cleaning properties can reduce surface anomalies and thus enhance the durability of ETICS. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of three protective coatings with self-cleaning additives (i.e., TiO2 nanoparticles), when applied on the surface of ETICS. Three different stains (rhodamine, methylene blue and silver paint aerosol) were applied on the ETICS finishing coat, evaluating the removal of these stains after exposure to natural (solar radiation) light source. The surface properties (compactness, hardness, roughness, gloss, and color) of the ETICS were evaluated prior and after sun exposure. Results showed that the application of the three products lead to a modification of the surface properties (compactness, hardness, gloss, roughness) of the ETICS specimens, and sensibly enhance the self-cleaning, hydrophobic and aesthetical properties of the ETICS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, foam glass thermal insulating decorative integrated board has been proposed as advanced external wall insulation. In the present study, the temperature and strain monitoring program is designed to investigate the synergistic of the integrated board and the base wall after installation on the building exterior wall. Moreover, variations of the temperature and strain fields of the system in different aging stages are studied. The obtained results show that the foam glass integrated board has an excellent performance in heat and cold preservation. It is found that the temperature difference between the concrete base layer and the finishing layer reaches 40°C. The temperature fluctuation range of the base layer is only 4°C and 9°C in hot-rain cycles and the heat-cold cycles, respectively. Moreover, it is found that the strain fluctuations of the finishing layer are relatively severe, and the deformation range of −1000με～+2500με and the plastic deformation of +1500με may occur in the hot-rain cycle, and the range of −2000με～+1500με and the plastic deformation of −600με may occur in the heat-cold cycle. Finally, the concept of thermal insulation degradation degree (DT) is proposed. The obtained results reveal that DT rises from 0 to 0.23 in the hot-rain cycle and from 0 to 0.36 in the heat-cold cycle. Through the analysis of the strain changes, the synergistic mechanism of the integrated board and the base wall in the aging process is studied. The present article is expected to provide a theoretical guideline to design foam glass integrated boards.

The identification of the main degradation agents and knowledge of the degradation mechanisms and long-term performance of ETICSs are of fundamental importance for the sustainable and efficient use of these systems. This review article presents the state of the art related to the durability of ETICSs, defining the required bases for their sustainable and efficient use. The aim is to identify the most common anomalies detected on ETICS façades and their causes, to overview the performance of ETICS, their performance parameters and requirements and to identify the most significant degradation mechanisms and the related failure modes. The results show that ETICS application is a key aspect in the performance and durability of the system, since most of the anomalies can be prevented with proper design, execution and appropriate assembly of the system components. The greatest drawbacks lie in dealing with enhancing the water resistance over time, which leads to extensive cases of anomalies, and improving the mechanical and thermal performance during the life cycle. Further research is needed to evaluate the synergistic effect of several degradation agents and mechanisms toward a development in optimized durability assessment methodologies for ETICSs.

The concept of integrating PV panels into traditional ETICS facades has been developing for several years. Problems concerning the options for passively controlling the temperatures of PV panels with PCM and directing excess moisture out of the wall via diffusion channels have been previously studied theoretically. During this study, real wall-scale experiments were conducted to test the thermal and hygrothermal performance of the wall system in an extreme climatic environment, as well as in a real outdoor environment in Tallinn, Estonia. Finally, a simulation model was calibrated according to the measured data. It was found that in case of test walls with diffusion channels, it was possible to keep the moisture content of PCM mortar under 0.11 m3/m3. Excess water drained out via channels leading to the external environment. Without diffusion channels, the moisture content rose as high as 0.18 m3/m3. Both the experiments and hygrothermal modelling showed that the high moisture content of PCM mortar, caused by water leakage, dropped to 0.08 m3/m3 over 10 solar cycles as moisture escaped via the diffusion channels. PCM mortar with a moisture content of 0.08 m3/m3 endured extreme rain and freeze-thaw cycles without visual damage, and PV panels retained their electrical production capabilities.

The material recycling of complex waste streams such as external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) is challenging, which is why their recycling in the sense of a circular economy is currently hardly established. Therefore, the combined mechanical and thermochemical recycling of ETICS based on expanded polystyrene (EPS) is investigated experimentally and by simulating full process chains in order to evaluate circular economy opportunities. Model ETICS as example for building and construction waste is pretreated mechanically, followed by either pyrolysis and / or gasification steps, and full mass and energy balances are derived. By the combined recycling, inorganic compounds can be separated to a large extent allowing a pre-concentrate generation. The plastic-rich pre-concentrate is converted into either pyrolysis oil with a high styrene monomer content of 51 wt% or to synthesis gas in the subsequent thermochemical conversions. The holistic approach enables a high carbon recycling rate between 53 and 68 wt%. In addition, the investigation reveals technology limitations and opportunities to be further developed and optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become increasingly clear, that the recent consumption of mineral resources is unsustainable. The Czech Republic produces more than 217,000 tones of mineral wool annually, while its recycling stays unacceptably limited. This paper presents new possibilities how to recycle mineral wool from building insulation systems. Cladding of 30 years old building composed of FOS 125 facade was disassembled and its mineral wool boards were subjected to micro-milling in order to get filler and shortly chopped fibers to be the multifunction micro-aggregate in new design of plaster mortars. It was shown that mortars containing up to 1.2 wt. % of such waste exhibited decrease in pressure strength in the order of tens of percent than those made from reference mixture. On the other side, their bending strength was decreased slightly or oven improved. Other improvement was detected in thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the explanation of the essence of artistic experience elaborated by Emmanuel Lévinas based on his philosophical conception of „home.“ Lévinas says, that the true meaning of art lies in the possibility to make us realize the true sense of „being home“ does not refer to our selfish need of inhabitancy at all but to our ethic relations with other people.

• Vision-based 3D scanning techniques, • Determining measurement uncertainty and acceptance level, • Examination of large-surface objects with rough surfaces, • Application of numerical analysis and engineering inspection, • Laboratory tests of External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) Measuring the deformation of large-area objects with non-uniform rough textures using traditional techniques is technically challenging and time-consuming. This article presents a comprehensive solution that enables the precise measurement of the deformation of large-area elements of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). The laboratory tests for environmental resistance were conducted in a climatic chamber. The surface of the wall underwent irregular deformation owing to thermal and humidity cycles. The deformation state at different stages of exposure was recorded using 3D scanning techniques. Scanning results were paired using a simplified cause-effect graph, and the deformation was measured by engineering inspection. Evaluation criteria were developed using measurement uncertainty and a straightforward binary acceptance principle. Finally, compliance tests were performed to confirm the reproducibility and repeatability of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of sound insulation of external walls with external thermal insulation compound system – Development of a prediction model for light and heavy massive basic walls as contribution to the revision of ÖNORM B 8115‐4 External thermal insulation compound systems (ETICS) are not only a cheap opportunity to reduce thermal losses through external walls, but have, depending on the material, a significant impact on the weighted sound reduction index of these building components as well. The prediction model at hand for the weighted sound reduction index of external walls has already been adopted into the revision of the Austrian standard for acoustic prediction methods, ÖNORM B 8115‐4, representing the present status. The mentioned model not only implies a significant leap in accuracy, but also addresses all massive walls commonly used in Austria for the first time. It can be applied for the prediction of the weighted sound reduction index of external walls made from concrete, bricks or mass timber in a simple and transparent way. Moreover, it can be used for prediction of the spectrum adaptation term Ctr, which is of importance for the characterisation of the traffic noise frequency spectrum. The presented comprehensive prediction model results from the combination of previous material specific research activities of the authors to this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the quality of external composite ETICS (External Technical Insulation Composite System) façade systems from a long-term perspective in the context of energy and social changes and subsequent paths of housing construction, including reconstructions and renovations of prefabricated housing developments. These changes follow mainly from the EU energy concept and strategy in relation to housing and have an impact potential well beyond 2030. The aim of the paper is to show, based on field research and laboratory diagnostics on a selected reference sample of housing affected by biodegradation, to what extent the quality of ETICS façades is affected by technological aspects during the application of ETICS exterior plasters and during the implementation of photocatalytic coatings. The investigation shows that the influence of the human factor is one of the main aspects of negative impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become increasingly clear, that the recent consumption of mineral resources is unsustainable. The Czech Republic produces more than 217,000 tones of mineral wool annually, while its recycling stays unacceptably limited. This paper presents new possibilities how to recycle mineral wool from building insulation systems. Cladding of 30 years old building composed of FOS 125 facade was disassembled and its mineral wool boards were subjected to micro-milling in order to get filler and shortly chopped fibers to be the multifunction micro-aggregate in new design of plaster mortars. It was shown that mortars containing up to 1.2 wt. % of such waste exhibited decrease in pressure strength in the order of tens of percent than those made from reference mixture. On the other side, their bending strength was decreased slightly or oven improved. Other improvement was detected in thermal conductivity.

Copyright of Heart & Vascular Diseases / Choroby Serca & Naczyn is the property of VM Medica-VM Group (Via Medica) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The thermal performance of lightweight steel framed (LSF) facade walls depends on many factors, such as the steel studs, the batt insulation, the external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), and the sheathing layers. Moreover, the high thermal conductivity of steel could negatively affect their thermal performance due to the consequent thermal bridge effect. Furthermore, in LSF walls, the batt insulation is usually bridged by the steel studs. Thus, some analytical calculation procedures defined in standards (e.g., ISO 6946) are not valid, further complicating their thermal performance quantification. In this research, a parametric study to evaluate the thermal performance of facade LSF walls is presented. Seven relevant parameters are assessed, most of them related to the use of thermal break strips (TBS) and ETICS. The 2D numerical models used to predict the conductive R-values were experimentally validated, and their precision was successfully verified. As earlier found in a previous research work for partition LSF walls, it is also more effective for facades to increase the TBS thickness rather than their width, with the R-value increments being slightly smaller for facade LSF walls. These features were more pronounced for double TBS and for the smaller stud spacing (400 mm). The major thermal performance improvements were found when increasing the ETICS insulation thickness and decreasing their thermal conductivity.

Fire barriers are used to reduce the risk of fire spreading over façades. External thermal insulation composite systems consist of mineral wool strips embedded in a layer of another thermal insulation material. A system configured in this manner, beyond standard solutions, can be more susceptible to environmental factors. In this study, an expanded polystyrene-based system with a mineral wool fire barrier was subjected to weathering conditions. In view of climate change, nonconventional long-lasting exposure simulating the effects of intensive atmospheric factors was applied. Two exposure sequences were used, each covering 80 cycles of heating and wetting, five cycles of heating and cooling, and 30 cycles of wetting, freezing, and thawing. Significant changes were observed in the first sequence. The second sequence caused rendering system cracks wider than 0.2 mm. This indicated a loss of watertightness. A new approach of 3D scanning with inspection analysis was used to assess the deformations. It showed deformation amounted to 0.7 mm within the MW strip. The methods used previously did not allow this level of deformation to be recorded., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

We have clarified that external insulation reduces the probability of reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete buildings in cold snowy districts by 45–78%. Renovation of external insulation is one of the effective methods for improving the insulation performance and durability of reinforced concrete buildings, but there are almost no data that demonstrate durability. Therefore, the carbonation depth and the cover depth were investigated for six medium-rise-wall type reinforced concrete buildings in Hokkaido, Japan, which had been refurbished for external insulation. As a result, it was clarified that the external insulation suppressed the carbonation depth by 30% or more, even when the bonding method of the external insulation was different. In addition, it was clarified that the external insulation further suppressed carbonation in walls where the carbonation depth tended to increase in snowy cold districts. Specifically, external insulation reduced carbonation by up to 35% on surfaces that tend to dry out due to sunlight, and by 49% on surfaces that are affected by water that deteriorates the concrete surface layer.

This study evaluated the durability of three innovative multilayer insulation systems incorporating thermal mortars with EPS aggregates and silica aerogel granules after hygrothermal accelerated aging and one year of natural aging at an urban site in Portugal. The loss of performance was assessed after the accelerated aging and every three months of natural aging using non-destructive testing. Chemical-morphological analyses were also carried out prior to and after accelerated and natural aging. Results obtained after accelerated and natural aging were compared, thus contributing towards a deeper understanding of possible synergistic effects of several degradation agents and mechanisms on the long-term durability of multilayer insulation systems. The Coffin-Manson equation showed that the accelerated aging procedure (∼13 days of heat/rain cycles and 5 days of heat/cold cycles) adopted herein corresponds to approximately 11 years of natural aging in typical urban conditions. The results show a significant increase in capillary water absorption and drying capacity after aging. Extensive surface microcracking was observed after accelerated aging and after 3 months of natural aging, especially in the systems facing North. Traces of biological growth were detected on both the artificially and naturally aged systems, whereas aesthetic alterations were more pronounced in North-oriented specimens after 3 months of exposure, with significantly lower surface gloss and a darker tone. On the other hand, color change cannot be detected in the artificially aged systems ( Δ E l a b * < 2), due to the lack of degradation agents such as pollutants or UV radiation that were not included in the accelerated aging procedure. • The durability of multilayer insulation systems was assessed after accelerated and natural aging. • The accelerated aging procedure corresponds to ∼11 years of natural aging in typical urban conditions. • A significant increase in capillary water absorption was registered after aging. • Traces of biological growth were detected after accelerated and natural aging. • Degradation agents identified in long-term field exposure should be considered in optimized accelerated aging procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen Las actuaciones para la rehabilitación del parque edificatorio existente son un punto clave en la reducción de la demanda de energía; objetivo principal de la normativa actual relativa a la eficiencia energética. Uno de los elementos más influyentes en la capacidad de ahorro energético en un edificio es su envolvente. Reducir las pérdidas de energía del interior de una vivienda a través de la mejora de las características de la fachada es una actuación que mejora notablemente los edificios, tanto energética como estéticamente. En el presente trabajo se analiza el comportamiento térmico de la fachada de un edificio típico de los años 50 que ha sido rehabilitado con un sistema de aislamiento térmico por el exterior (SATE). El estudio se lleva a cabo a través de la monitorización de un edificio situado al sur de Madrid, concretamente en dos viviendas, una en estado original y otra ya rehabilitada. La monitorización se realiza en el mismo periodo de tiempo y teniendo en cuenta la similitud de las características constructivas de las dos viviendas estudiadas. A través de los datos obtenidos se compara la evolución de las temperaturas superficiales en los dos casos y en sus dos orientaciones, norte y sur. Se pretende conocer las mejoras en el comportamiento térmico y la influencia del sistema SATE en esta rehabilitación. Abstract Actions for the existing buildings rehabilitation are a key point in the reduction of energy demand; main objective of the current regulations relating to energy efficiency. One of the most influential elements of energy saving capacity in buildings is its envelope. Reduce energy losses of the interior of a house through the improvement of the characteristics of the facade is a performance that significantly improves the buildings, both energy and aesthetically. In the present work the thermal behaviour of the façade of a typical building of the 50s that has been rehabilitated with an external thermal insulation system (ETICS), is analysed. The study was performed through the monitoring of a building located in the south of Madrid, specifically in two houses, one in its original state and another one already rehabilitated. The monitoring was carried out in the same period of time and taking into account the similarity of the constructive characteristics of the two houses studied. Through the data obtained, the evolution of surface temperatures is compared in both cases and in its two orientations, north and south. It is intended to know the improvements in thermal behaviour and the influence of the ETICS system in this rehabilitation.

Sufficient dry-out capacity of the constructional moisture is important for solid wood structure wall assemblies, especially with a non-ventilated façade system. The objective of this study was to create a validated simulation model of a Massiv-Holz-Mauer (MHM) panel external wall with ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems) based on the field measurements. Field measurements were carried out in a two-floor wooden detached house. Temperature (t) and relative humidity (RH) were measured between the material layers of the external wall. Results of field measurements were used to create and validate a one-dimensional simulation model. It was concluded that the validation of the created simulation model was successful, and simulations were very similar to the field measurements. The simulation model can be used for future studies to evaluate the hygrothermal performance of the MHM panel envelope with ETICS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the precautions taken in building industry in order to minimize the results of increasing energy consumption in the world is energy efficient design of the utilization process of the buildings. In order to ensure energy efficiency in buildings, heat loss through building envelope is tried to be minimized. In Turkey, recently, external thermal insulation applications have been proliferating with the effect of legal obligations and the needs of providing fuel preservation within residences. In this paper, it is researched how hygrothermal performance of the existing building walls would be affected by external thermal insulation applications. In the first chapter of this paper, external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) applications observed in Istanbul Capa district are dealt with. In this region, it has seen that there are impermeable coatings on the existing wall surface of buildings where external thermal insulation is applied. In the second chapter, changes in water content, relative humidity rate and temperature of different wall types are calculated via simulation method. According to the results, when thermal insulation materials are applied on impermeable coatings on the walls, the moisture amount in the wall layers may reach critical levels in winter and this situation can cause deteriorations in the wall layers in the long term. For these reasons, it is important to handle external thermal insulation applications on existing buildings with a holistic approach and expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emic-etic approaches investigate how the world is perceived and categorized, structuring the fundamental relationships among people, societies, and cultures. Emic and etic knowledge is essential for the intuitive and empathic understanding of a cultural group, the beliefs, art, morals, law, and customs. For this study, we will try to prove the applicability of the emic and etic constructs in ethnography and literature. The emic-etic approach manages to fill the gaps by bringing forth cultural realities and helping us realize their universality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The environmental impact of different solutions for building facade retrofitting was assessed. • Timber-based cladding ventilated façade systems were compared with the traditional ETICS. • Heat treated timber cladding systems showed the highest environmental impact. • Painted timber finish cladding systems showed the best environmental performance. • Heat treated timber-based building materials may lead to high GHG emissions because of their energy-intensive manufacturing processes. The aim of this work is to evaluate the environmental impact of different solutions for building facade retrofitting. Based on Sustainable Construction, this study is carried out by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology based on ISO 14044:2006 standard requirements. A "cradle-to-grave" life cycle analysis is developed for each solution, comprising the extraction of raw materials to the disposal phase, and then a comparative analysis was performed by considering the same functional unit: 1 m2 of building facade for a 40-year time horizon. Four retrofit solutions are assessed: two External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS), differing only in the insulation material, expanded polystyrene (EPS), and insulation corkboard (ICB); and two ventilated facade systems with different types of timber cladding, thermally modified timber, and painted timber. The data included in the inventory phase is mostly taken from technical documentation and from the Ecoinvent database, complemented with scientific literature and estimations when necessary. The LCA was performed using the SimaPro software applying both EPD (2018) and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) methods. Results of this study show that, phase-wise, the production and maintenance of the components materials have higher contribution in terms of environmental impact. On the other hand, by comparing the various solutions, the ventilated facade retrofit solution with heat treated timber cladding is the one that shows the highest environmental impact in almost every single category, whereas the cladding solution with painted timber finish is the one that shows the best environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building façades must endure severe climatic exposure throughout their lifetimes. To prevent damage and expensive repairs, ageing tests are used in durability assessments. The NT Build 495 describes an artificial ageing procedure to address building material and component resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light, heat, water, and frost using a climate simulator. The test has been used for decades to investigate exterior surface materials and façade products but has only recently been adopted for multi-layered systems. This study investigates moisture accumulation in a façade system for retrofitting based on concrete and thermal insulation. Hygrothermal simulations of the façade system subjected to ageing were conducted. Moisture accumulation was considered theoretically for the current test procedure and compared to a modified setup in which the interior climate was controlled at 21 °C. Physical measurements were performed in the climate simulator to determine the boundary conditions. Results showed that moisture accumulation in the thermal insulation was largely affected by the type of concrete, that applying a water-repellent surface treatment reduced moisture accumulation, and that the current setup resulted in less moisture accumulation compared to the modified setup. The latter implicates accelerated degradation with the modified setup.