Diversity Of Systems

An ETICS system is a good tool for realizing the goals that are to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions worldwide. The variety of systems offers high insulation values for every taste.

Author: Markus Haberland | Photos: Baumit

Thermal insulation composite systems are considered an efficient tool for energetically improving building envelopes in new buildings and renovations. Different design options, such as the use of a suitable plaster surface or the attachment of prefabricated stucco profiles, are intended to enhance the external impact of a building. The demand for unusual plaster structures has grown, for example the execution as a broom line or a ridge. Even the surfaces recreated with plastering materials, such as finishing plaster layers in imitation concrete or wood, are now in greater demand from building owners.

The combination of different materials on the facade is trendy. For example on ETICS surfaces, in the combination of ceramic coverings with plaster surfaces. Various types of flooring, from clinker cladding to natural stone coverings, can be used as the final coating for the ETICS.

Variety of materials

Due to the large range of different insulation materials, an ETICS system can be used in many ways.

EPS insulation boards: The EPS board is still the most frequently used type of insulation board because it is an economical variant. Long-term experience with EPS panels is sufficient.

In the recent past, media attention for EPS panels has focused on the fire behavior of the system. Very emotionally formulated contributions distorted the view of the property profile of the EPS system. This was triggered by fire scenarios that affected the facade surfaces from the outside, for example by the fire of a nearby garbage container.

From this, the installation of additional fire bolts in the EPS systems (fire bolt base fire scenario) was ordered at the beginning of 2016. The "flame retardant" classification in fire classification is now even more certain. Large-scale fire tests confirm that the additional fire bars that are introduced effectively limit the spread of fire even when the fire load is external.

Mineral wool insulation boards: In second place in the sales volume statistics are mineral wool insulation boards. Systems with these panels (rock wool panels) are largely non-flammable; the classification depends on the cleaning systems used. The diffusion openness to water vapor is comparable to a dormant air layer and is therefore very high. Mineral wool insulation boards have almost the same thermal insulation properties as the EPS boards.

Product variants

With the development of high-performance insulation materials, it became possible to achieve the required insulation values with lower insulation thicknesses. There are vacuum insulation boards with excellent values, but they are more demanding to use and have little market acceptance.

From the area of foamed products with better insulation properties, resole and rigid polyurethane foam panels can be mentioned. Both have in common that they have a low thermal conductivity and therefore have good insulation performance even with low insulation thicknesses. If there is a fire, there is no melting process in the insulation material, so that these systems do not require any additional fire bars for the "flame-retardant" classification.

Sustainable raw materials

Interest in insulation materials made from sustainable raw materials is increasing (at the moment the market share is still low). The production takes place, among other things, with the use of hemp, cork or wood fibers, whereby the wood-bound insulation boards have the largest sales in this segment. Studies show that the use of ETICS with wood fiber insulation has increased by around 30 percent in the area of single-family houses. Wood fiber insulation boards have a lower thermal insulation capacity than EPS or mineral wool insulation boards. The big difference is in the manufacturing. They are made from the renewable raw material wood in the wet or dry process. This makes the panels particularly interesting for builders who attach great importance to ecology and sustainability. Due to the greater bulk density, there is a higher heat storage behavior, which results in a delayed cooling behavior on the outer surface and thus greater resistance to contamination. Wood fiber insulation boards are also used as a system on solid masonry, so that these boards can also be used to renovate existing buildings.

Contribution to ecology

ETICS systems contribute to ecology. The insulated outer shell saves heating energy, which, depending on the heating system used, leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, many benefits can be seen in many house owners after thermal insulation has been carried out, for example by improving the living room climate.

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