Vapor-permeable insulation (not extruded) polystyrene foam Neopor (Neopor) from BASF. Vapor permeability of building materials Influence of vapor permeability on other characteristics
When carrying out construction work, it is often necessary to compare properties different materials. This is necessary in order to select the most suitable one.
After all, where one of them is good, the other will not be suitable at all. Therefore, when carrying out thermal insulation, you need to not just insulate the object. It is important to choose insulation that is suitable for this particular case.
And for this you need to know the characteristics and features different types thermal insulation. This is what we'll talk about.
What is thermal conductivity
To ensure good thermal insulation the most important criterion is the thermal conductivity of insulation. This is the name given to the transfer of heat within an object.
That is, if one part of one object is warmer than the other, then heat will move from the warm part to the cold part. The same process occurs in the building.
Thus, walls, roofs and even floors can release heat to the outside world. To maintain heat in the house, this process must be minimized. For this purpose, use products that have no great importance this parameter.
Thermal conductivity table
The processed information about this property of different materials can be presented in the form of a table. For example, like this:
There are only two parameters here. The first is the thermal conductivity coefficient of insulation. The second is the wall thickness that will be required to ensure optimal temperature inside the building.
Looking at this table, the following fact becomes obvious. It is impossible to build a comfortable building from homogeneous products, for example, from solid bricks. After all, this will require a wall thickness of at least 2.38 m.
Therefore, to ensure the required level of heat in the premises, thermal insulation is required. And the first and most important criterion for its selection is the above-mentioned first parameter. U modern products it should not be more than 0.04 W/m°C.
Advice!
When purchasing, pay attention to the following feature.
Manufacturers, indicating the thermal conductivity of insulation on their products, often use not one, but three values: the first - for cases when the material is used in a dry room with a temperature of 10ºC; the second value - for cases of operation, again, in a dry room, but with temperature 25 ºС; the third value is for operating the product in different humidity conditions.
This may be a room with humidity category A or B.
For approximate calculation, the first value should be used.
All the rest are needed to make accurate calculations. You can learn how they are carried out from SNiP II-3-79 “Construction Heat Engineering”.
Other selection criteria
When choosing a suitable product, not only thermal conductivity and the price of the product should be taken into account.
You need to pay attention to other criteria:
- volumetric weight of insulation;
- dimensional stability of this material;
- vapor permeability;
- flammability of thermal insulation;
- soundproofing properties of the product.
Let's take a closer look at these characteristics. Let's start in order.
Volumetric weight of insulation
Volumetric weight is the mass of 1 m² of a product. Moreover, depending on the density of the material, this value can be different - from 11 kg to 350 kg.
The weight of thermal insulation must definitely be taken into account, especially when insulating a loggia. After all, the structure on which the insulation is attached must be designed for this weight. Depending on the mass, the method of installing heat-insulating products will also differ.
Having decided on this criterion, you need to take other parameters into account. These are volumetric weight, dimensional stability, vapor permeability, flammability and sound insulation properties.
In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.
The concept of “breathing walls” is considered positive characteristic the materials from which they are made. But few people think about the reasons that allow this breathing. Materials that can pass both air and steam are vapor permeable.
A clear example of building materials with high vapor permeability:
- wood;
- expanded clay slabs;
- foam concrete.
Concrete or brick walls are less permeable to steam than wood or expanded clay.
Indoor steam sources
Human breathing, cooking, water vapor from the bathroom and many other sources of steam in the absence exhaust device create a high level of humidity indoors. You can often observe the formation of perspiration on window glass in winter, or on cold water pipes. These are examples of water vapor forming inside a home.
What is vapor permeability
The design and construction rules give the following definition of the term: vapor permeability of materials is the ability to pass through droplets of moisture contained in the air due to different values of partial vapor pressure on opposite sides at the same air pressure. It is also defined as the density of the steam flow passing through a certain thickness of the material.
The table with a vapor permeability coefficient compiled for building materials is conditional in nature, since the given calculated values humidity and atmospheric conditions do not always correspond to real conditions. The dew point can be calculated based on approximate data.
Wall design taking into account vapor permeability
Even if the walls are built from a material that has high vapor permeability, this cannot be a guarantee that it will not turn into water within the thickness of the wall. To prevent this from happening, you need to protect the material from the difference in partial vapor pressure from inside and outside. Protection against the formation of steam condensate is carried out using OSB boards, insulating materials such as penoplex and vapor-tight films or membranes that prevent steam from penetrating into the insulation.
The walls are insulated so that closer to the outer edge there is a layer of insulation that is unable to form moisture condensation and pushes back the dew point (water formation). In parallel with protective layers It is necessary to ensure the correct ventilation gap in the roofing pie.
Destructive effects of steam
If the wall cake has a weak ability to absorb steam, it is not in danger of destruction due to the expansion of moisture from frost. The main condition is to prevent moisture from accumulating in the thickness of the wall, but to ensure its free passage and weathering. It is equally important to arrange a forced extraction of excess moisture and steam from the room, and connect a powerful ventilation system. By observing the above conditions, you can protect the walls from cracking and increase the service life of the entire house. The constant passage of moisture through building materials accelerates their destruction.
Use of conductive qualities
Taking into account the peculiarities of building operation, the following insulation principle is applied: the most vapor-conducting insulating materials are located outside. Thanks to this arrangement of layers, the likelihood of water accumulating when the outside temperature drops is reduced. To prevent the walls from getting wet from the inside, the inner layer is insulated with a material that has low vapor permeability, for example, thick layer extruded polystyrene foam.
The opposite method of using the vapor-conducting effects of building materials has been successfully used. It consists of covering a brick wall with a vapor barrier layer of foam glass, which interrupts the moving flow of steam from the house to the street during low temperatures. The brick begins to accumulate moisture in the rooms, creating a pleasant indoor climate thanks to a reliable vapor barrier.
Compliance with the basic principle when constructing walls
Walls must have a minimum ability to conduct steam and heat, but at the same time be heat-intensive and heat-resistant. When using one type of material, the required effects cannot be achieved. The outer wall part must retain cold masses and prevent their impact on internal heat-intensive materials that maintain a comfortable thermal regime inside the room.
Reinforced concrete is ideal for the inner layer; its heat capacity, density and strength are at their maximum. Concrete successfully smoothes out the difference between night and day temperature changes.
When carrying out construction work, wall pies are made taking into account the basic principle: the vapor permeability of each layer should increase in the direction from the inner layers to the outer ones.
Rules for the location of vapor barrier layers
To ensure better performance characteristics of multi-layer building structures, the rule is applied: on the side with a higher temperature, materials with increased resistance to steam penetration with increased thermal conductivity are placed. Layers located on the outside must have high vapor conductivity. For the normal functioning of the enclosing structure, it is necessary that the coefficient of the outer layer is five times higher than that of the layer located inside.
If this rule is followed, it will not be difficult for water vapor trapped in the warm layer of the wall to quickly escape through more porous materials.
If this condition is not met, the inner layers of building materials harden and become more thermally conductive.
Introduction to the table of vapor permeability of materials
When designing a house, the characteristics of building materials are taken into account. The Code of Rules contains a table with information about the coefficient of vapor permeability of building materials under conditions of normal atmospheric pressure and average air temperature.
| Material | Vapor permeability coefficient mg/(m h Pa) |
| extruded polystyrene foam | |
| polyurethane foam | |
| mineral wool | |
| reinforced concrete, concrete | |
| pine or spruce | |
| expanded clay | |
| foam concrete, aerated concrete | |
| granite, marble | |
| drywall | |
| chipboard, osp, fibreboard | |
| foam glass | |
| roofing felt | |
| polyethylene | |
| linoleum |
The importance of the vapor permeability table of materials
The vapor permeability coefficient is an important parameter that is used to calculate the layer thickness insulation materials. The quality of insulation of the entire structure depends on the correctness of the results obtained.
Sergey Novozhilov - expert on roofing materials with 9 years of practical experience in the field engineering solutions in construction.
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Movement of water vapor
- foam concrete;
- aerated concrete;
- perlite concrete;
- expanded clay concrete.
Aerated concrete
The right finish
Expanded clay concrete
Structure of expanded clay concrete
Polystyrene concrete
rusbetonplus.ru
Vapor permeability of concrete: features of the properties of aerated concrete, expanded clay concrete, polystyrene concrete
Often in construction articles there is an expression - vapor permeability of concrete walls. It means the ability of a material to allow water vapor to pass through, or, in popular parlance, to “breathe.” This parameter is of great importance, since waste products are constantly formed in the living room, which must be constantly removed outside.
The photo shows moisture condensation on building materials
General information
If you do not create normal ventilation in the room, dampness will be created in it, which will lead to the appearance of fungus and mold. Their secretions can be harmful to our health.
Movement of water vapor
On the other hand, vapor permeability affects the ability of a material to accumulate moisture. This is also a bad indicator, since the more it can retain it, the higher the likelihood of fungus, putrefactive manifestations, and damage due to freezing.
Improper removal of moisture from the room
Vapor permeability is denoted by the Latin letter μ and measured in mg/(m*h*Pa). The value indicates the amount of water vapor that can pass through wall material on an area of 1 m2 and with a thickness of 1 m in 1 hour, as well as a difference in external and internal pressure of 1 Pa.
High ability to conduct water vapor in:
- foam concrete;
- aerated concrete;
- perlite concrete;
- expanded clay concrete.
Heavy concrete closes the table.
Advice: if you need to make a technological channel in the foundation, this will help you diamond drilling holes in concrete.
Aerated concrete
- Using the material as an enclosing structure makes it possible to avoid the accumulation of unnecessary moisture inside the walls and preserve its heat-saving properties, which will prevent possible destruction.
- Any aerated concrete and foam concrete block contains ≈ 60% air, due to which the vapor permeability of aerated concrete is recognized as good, the walls in this case can “breathe”.
- Water vapor seeps freely through the material, but does not condense in it.
The vapor permeability of aerated concrete, as well as foam concrete, is significantly superior to heavy concrete - for the first it is 0.18-0.23, for the second - (0.11-0.26), for the third - 0.03 mg/m*h* Pa.
The right finish
I would especially like to emphasize that the structure of the material provides it with effective removal moisture into the environment, so that even when the material freezes, it is not destroyed - it is forced out through open pores. Therefore, when preparing the finishing of aerated concrete walls, you should take this feature into account and select the appropriate plasters, putties and paints.
The instructions strictly regulate that their vapor permeability parameters are not lower than aerated concrete blocks used for construction.
Textured facade vapor-permeable paint for aerated concrete
Tip: do not forget that vapor permeability parameters depend on the density of aerated concrete and may differ by half.
For example, if you use concrete blocks with density D400 - their coefficient is 0.23 mg/m h Pa, and for D500 it is already lower - 0.20 mg/m h Pa. In the first case, the numbers indicate that the walls will have a higher “breathing” ability. So when selecting finishing materials for walls made of D400 aerated concrete, make sure that their vapor permeability coefficient is the same or higher.
Otherwise, this will lead to poor drainage of moisture from the walls, which will affect the level of living comfort in the house. Please also note that if you have used it for exterior finishing vapor-permeable paint for aerated concrete, and for the interior - non-vapor-permeable materials, steam will simply accumulate inside the room, making it damp.
Expanded clay concrete
The vapor permeability of expanded clay concrete blocks depends on the amount of filler in its composition, namely expanded clay - foamed baked clay. In Europe, such products are called eco- or bioblocks.
Advice: if you can’t cut the expanded clay block with a regular circle and grinder, use a diamond one. For example, cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels makes it possible to quickly solve the problem.
Structure of expanded clay concrete
Polystyrene concrete
The material is another representative of cellular concrete. The vapor permeability of polystyrene concrete is usually equal to that of wood. You can make it yourself.
What does the structure of polystyrene concrete look like?
Today, more attention is beginning to be paid not only to thermal properties wall structures, and also the comfort of living in the building. In terms of thermal inertness and vapor permeability, polystyrene concrete resembles wooden materials, and heat transfer resistance can be achieved by changing its thickness. Therefore, poured monolithic polystyrene concrete is usually used, which is cheaper than ready-made slabs.
Conclusion
From the article you learned that building materials have such a parameter as vapor permeability. It makes it possible to remove moisture outside the walls of the building, improving their strength and characteristics. The vapor permeability of foam concrete and aerated concrete, as well as heavy concrete, differs in its characteristics, which must be taken into account when choosing finishing materials. The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.
Page 2
During operation, a variety of iron defects may occur. concrete structures. At the same time, it is very important to identify problem areas in a timely manner, localize and eliminate damage, since a significant part of them is prone to expansion and aggravation of the situation.
Below we will look at the classification of main defects concrete covering, and also provide a number of tips for repairing it.
During operation reinforced concrete products various damage appears on them
Factors that influence strength
Before analyzing common defects in concrete structures, it is necessary to understand what may be causing them.
The key factor here will be the strength of the frozen concrete mortar, which is determined by the following parameters:
The closer the solution composition is to the optimal one, the less problems will be in operation of the structure
- Composition of concrete. The higher the grade of cement included in the solution, and the stronger the gravel that was used as filler, the more durable the coating or monolithic structure will be. Naturally, when using high-quality concrete, the price of the material increases, so in any case we need to look for a compromise between economy and reliability.
Note! Excessively strong compositions are very difficult to process: for example, to perform the simplest operations, expensive cutting of reinforced concrete with diamond wheels may be required.
That's why you shouldn't overdo it with the selection of materials!
- Reinforcement quality. Along with high mechanical strength, concrete is characterized by low elasticity, therefore, when exposed to certain loads (bending, compression), it can crack. To avoid this, steel reinforcement is placed inside the structure. How stable the entire system will be depends on its configuration and diameter.
For enough durable compounds Diamond drilling of holes in concrete is mandatory: a conventional drill “will not work”!
- Surface permeability. If a material is characterized by a large number of pores, then sooner or later moisture will penetrate into them, which is one of the most destructive factors. Temperature changes at which the liquid freezes, destroying the pores due to an increase in volume, have a particularly detrimental effect on the condition of the concrete coating.
In principle, it is the listed factors that are decisive for ensuring the strength of cement. However, even in an ideal situation, sooner or later the coating is damaged, and we have to restore it. What can happen in this case and how we need to act will be discussed below.
Mechanical damage
Chips and cracks
Detection of deep damage using a flaw detector
The most common defects are mechanical damage. They can arise due to various factors, and are conventionally divided into external and internal. And if to define internal is used special device- a flaw detector for concrete, then problems on the surface can be seen independently.
The main thing here is to determine the reason why the malfunction occurred and promptly eliminate it. For ease of analysis, we have structured examples of the most common damage in the form of a table:
| Defect | |
| Potholes on the surface | Most often they occur due to shock loads. It is also possible for potholes to form in areas of prolonged exposure to significant mass. |
| Chips | They are formed by mechanical influence on areas under which zones of low density are located. They are almost identical in configuration to potholes, but usually have less depth. |
| Peeling | It represents the separation of the surface layer of the material from the main mass. Most often it occurs due to poor drying of the material and finishing before the solution is completely hydrated. |
| Mechanical cracks | They occur with prolonged and intense exposure to a large area. Over time, they expand and connect with each other, which can lead to the formation of large potholes. |
| Bloating | Formed when the surface layer is compacted to complete removal air from the solution mass. Also, the surface swells when treated with paint or impregnations (sealings) of undried cement. |
Photo of a deep crack
As can be seen from the analysis of the causes, the appearance of some of the listed defects could have been avoided. But mechanical cracks, chips and potholes are formed due to the use of the coating, so they simply need to be repaired periodically. Instructions for prevention and repair are given in the next section.
Prevention and repair of defects
To minimize the risk of mechanical damage, first of all you need to follow the technology for arranging concrete structures.
Of course, this question has many nuances, so we will give only the most important rules:
- Firstly, the class of concrete must correspond to the design loads. Otherwise, saving on materials will lead to the fact that the service life will be reduced significantly, and you will have to spend effort and money on repairs much more often.
- Secondly, you need to follow the pouring and drying technology. The solution requires high-quality compaction of concrete, and when hydrated, the cement should not lack moisture.
- It is also worth paying attention to the timing: without the use of special modifiers, surfaces cannot be finished earlier than 28-30 days after pouring.
- Thirdly, the coating should be protected from excessively intense impacts. Of course, loads will affect the condition of concrete, but we can reduce the damage from them.
Vibration compaction increases strength significantly
Note! Even simply limiting the speed of traffic in problem areas leads to the fact that defects in the asphalt concrete pavement occur much less frequently.
Another important factor is the timeliness of repairs and compliance with its methodology.
Here you need to follow a single algorithm:
- We clean the damaged area from fragments of the solution that have broken off from the main mass. For small defects you can use brushes, but large chips and cracks are usually cleaned compressed air or sandblasting machine.
- Using a concrete saw or hammer drill, we open up the damage, deepening it to a durable layer. If we are talking about a crack, then it must not only be deepened, but also widened to facilitate filling with the repair compound.
- We prepare a mixture for restoration using either a polyurethane-based polymer complex or non-shrinking cement. When eliminating large defects, so-called thixotropic compounds are used, and small cracks are best sealed with a casting agent.
Filling open cracks with thixotropic sealants
- We apply the repair mixture to the damage, then level the surface and protect it from loads until the product has completely polymerized.
In principle, these works are easy to do with your own hands, so we can save money on hiring craftsmen.
Operational damage
Drawdowns, dust and other malfunctions
Cracks on a subsiding screed
IN separate group Experts identify so-called operational defects. These include the following:
| Defect | Characteristics and possible reason emergence |
| Screed deformation | It is expressed in a change in the level of the poured concrete floor (most often the coating sinks in the center and rises at the edges). Can be caused by several factors: · Uneven density of the base due to insufficient compaction. · Defects in the compaction of the mortar. · Difference in moisture content of the top and bottom layers of cement. · Insufficient reinforcement thickness. |
| Cracking | In most cases, cracks do not arise from mechanical stress, but from deformation of the structure as a whole. It can be triggered by both excessive loads exceeding the design ones and thermal expansion. |
| Peeling | Peeling of small scales on the surface usually begins with the appearance of a network of microscopic cracks. In this case, the cause of peeling is most often the accelerated evaporation of moisture from the outer layer of the solution, which leads to insufficient hydration of the cement. |
| Surface dusting | It is expressed in the constant formation of fine cement dust on concrete. May be caused by: · Lack of cement in the solution. · Excess moisture during pouring. · Water entering the surface during grouting. · Not enough high-quality cleaning gravel from the dust fraction. · Excessive abrasive effect on concrete. |
Peeling of the surface
All of the above disadvantages arise either due to a violation of technology or due to improper operation of the concrete structure. However, eliminating them is somewhat more difficult than mechanical defects.
- Firstly, the solution must be poured and processed according to all the rules, preventing it from stratifying and peeling when dried.
- Secondly, the base needs to be prepared equally well. The more densely we compact the soil under a concrete structure, the less likely it will be to subsidence, deformation and cracking.
- To prevent poured concrete from cracking, a damper tape is usually installed around the perimeter of the room to compensate for deformations. For the same purpose on screeds large area seams with polymer filling are installed.
- You can also avoid the appearance of surface damage by applying strengthening impregnations to the surface of the material. polymer based or “ironization” of concrete with a flowing solution.
Surface treated with a protective compound
Chemical and climatic effects
A separate group of damages consists of defects that arise as a result of climatic exposure or a reaction to chemicals.
This may include:
- The appearance of streaks and light spots on the surface - so-called efflorescence. Typically, the cause of the formation of salt deposits is a violation of the humidity regime, as well as the ingress of alkalis and calcium chlorides into the solution.
Efflorescence formed due to excess moisture and calcium
Note! It is for this reason that in areas with highly carbonate soils, experts recommend using imported water to prepare the solution.
Otherwise, a whitish coating will appear within a few months after pouring.
- Destruction of the surface under the influence of low temperatures. When moisture enters porous concrete, the microscopic channels in the immediate vicinity of the surface gradually expand as water expands in volume by about 10-15% when it freezes. The more often freezing/thawing occurs, the more intense the solution will degrade.
- To combat this, special anti-frost impregnations are used, and the surface is also coated with compounds that reduce porosity.
Before repairs, the fittings must be cleaned and treated
- Finally, corrosion of reinforcement can also be included in this group of defects. Metal embeds begin to rust where they are exposed, which leads to a decrease in the strength of the material. To stop this process, before filling the damage with a repair compound, the reinforcing bars must be cleaned of oxides and then treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
Conclusion
The above-described defects in concrete and reinforced concrete structures can manifest themselves in a variety of forms. Despite the fact that many of them look quite harmless, when the first signs of damage are detected, it is worth taking appropriate measures, otherwise the situation may worsen dramatically over time.
Well and in the best possible way To avoid such situations is to strictly adhere to the technology for arranging concrete structures. The information presented in the video in this article is another confirmation of this thesis.
masterabetona.ru
Vapor permeability of materials table
To create a favorable indoor microclimate, it is necessary to take into account the properties of building materials. Today we will analyze one property - the vapor permeability of materials.
Vapor permeability is the ability of a material to allow vapors contained in the air to pass through. Water vapor penetrates the material due to pressure.
Tables that cover almost all materials used for construction will help you understand the issue. Having studied this material, you will know how to build a warm and reliable home.
Equipment
If we are talking about Prof. construction, it uses special equipment to determine vapor permeability. This is how the table that appears in this article appeared.
The following equipment is used today:
- Scales with minimal error - analytical type model.
- Vessels or bowls for conducting experiments.
- Tools with high level accuracy for determining the thickness of layers of building materials.
Understanding the property
There is an opinion that “breathing walls” are beneficial for the house and its inhabitants. But all builders think about this concept. “Breathable” is a material that, in addition to air, also allows steam to pass through - this is the water permeability of building materials. Foam concrete and expanded clay wood have a high rate of vapor permeability. Walls made of brick or concrete also have this property, but the indicator is much less than that of expanded clay or wood materials.
This graph shows the resistance to permeation. Brick wall practically does not allow or allow moisture to pass through. Steam is released when taking a hot shower or cooking. Because of this, increased humidity is created in the house - a hood can correct the situation. You can find out that the vapors are not escaping anywhere by looking at the condensation on the pipes and sometimes on the windows. Some builders believe that if a house is built of brick or concrete, then it is “hard” to breathe in the house.
In fact, the situation is better - in modern home about 95% of the steam escapes through the vent and hood. And if the walls are made of “breathing” building materials, then 5% of the steam escapes through them. So residents of houses made of concrete or brick do not suffer much from this parameter. Also, the walls, regardless of the material, will not allow moisture to pass through due to vinyl wallpaper. There are “breathing” walls and significant drawback– in windy weather, heat leaves the home.
The table will help you compare materials and find out their vapor permeability indicator:
The higher the vapor permeability index, the more wall can contain moisture, which means that the material has low frost resistance. If you are going to build walls from foam concrete or aerated block, then you should know that manufacturers are often cunning in the description where vapor permeability is indicated. The property is indicated for dry material - in this state it really has high thermal conductivity, but if the gas block gets wet, the indicator will increase 5 times. But we are interested in another parameter: the liquid tends to expand when it freezes, and as a result, the walls collapse.
Vapor permeability in multilayer construction
The sequence of layers and the type of insulation are what primarily affect vapor permeability. In the diagram below you can see that if the insulation material is located on the facade side, then the indicator of pressure on moisture saturation is lower.
The figure demonstrates in detail the effect of pressure and the penetration of steam into the material. If the insulation is located with inside house, then condensation will appear between the supporting structure and this building structure. It negatively affects the entire microclimate in the house, while the destruction of building materials occurs much faster.
Understanding the coefficient
The table becomes clear if you look at the coefficient. The coefficient in this indicator determines the amount of vapor, measured in grams, that passes through materials 1 meter thick and a layer of 1 m² within one hour. The ability to transmit or retain moisture characterizes the resistance to vapor permeability, which is indicated in the table by the symbol “µ”.
In simple words, coefficient is the resistance of building materials, comparable to the permeability of air. Let's look at a simple example: mineral wool has the following vapor permeability coefficient: µ=1. This means that the material allows moisture to pass through as well as air. And if you take aerated concrete, then its µ will be equal to 10, that is, its vapor conductivity is ten times worse than that of air.
Peculiarities
On the one hand, vapor permeability has a good effect on the microclimate, and on the other hand, it destroys the materials from which the house is built. For example, “cotton wool” perfectly allows moisture to pass through, but as a result, due to excess steam, condensation can form on windows and pipes with cold water, as the table shows. Because of this, the insulation loses its quality. Professionals recommend installing a vapor barrier layer on the outside of the house. After this, the insulation will not allow steam to pass through.
Vapor permeation resistance If the material has a low vapor permeability rate, then this is only a plus, because the owners do not have to spend money on insulating layers. And a hood and a window will help get rid of the steam generated from cooking and hot water - this is enough to maintain a normal microclimate in the house. When a house is built from wood, it is impossible to do without additional insulation, and wood materials require a special varnish.
The table, graph and diagram will help you understand the principle of operation of this property, after which you can already make your choice suitable material. Also, do not forget about the climatic conditions outside the window, because if you live in an area with high humidity, then you should completely forget about materials with a high vapor permeability rate.
Extruded or extruded polystyrene foam (EPS, EPPS, XPS), styrofoam (PSV / EPS) and polystyrene foam (PSB-S, expanded polystyrene, styropor) are widely used in Russia as thermal insulation material(insulation). Unfortunately, manufacturers often keep silent about the fact that due to the lack of vapor permeability, these materials can lead to the appearance of fungi and mold. This is especially true for non-vapor permeable extruded polystyrene foam, which for this reason is used to insulate brick and concrete walls Not recommended.
But recently I came across a premium cottage community near St. Petersburg, which used imported materials, including Belgian brick and Neopor polystyrene foam insulation. I was shocked that such houses were called eco-houses. Passive house when using 400 mm brickwork, as well as 350 mm of Neopor insulation on the walls, 300 mm of extruded polystyrene foam under the foundation slab, 400 mm of Neopor insulation on the floor slabs in a run-up - this is of course excellent. Moreover, a very small number of houses in Russia correspond to the German Passive House standard. But an eco-house...
In addition, the choice of polystyrene foam, albeit from the German manufacturer BASF, as insulation seemed strange. It is possible that this is the desire to do everything according to Western tracing paper and from Western materials. But it seems to me much more reasonable to use brick (foam glass chips) or.
It turned out that Neopor is a new generation of expanding polystyrene foam (EPS) from BASF. In the Russian-language brochures "Wall insulation Neopor (BASF)" and "Neopor. Expanding polystyrene (EPS). Innovative insulation AI.", unfortunately, information about the vapor transparency of this material is completely missing. The entire emphasis is on black graphite granules, which make it possible to reduce the thickness of the insulation by 15 percent, while maintaining the thermal conductivity coefficient.
Information about Neopor on the BASF website in Russian is generally scant. But in English you can find more interesting things. For example, the following:
Water and Neopor are good friends.Neopor Rigid Thermal Insulation is a closed-cell foam, but not all closed-cell foams are created equally. Neopor Rigid Thermal has a Class III Vapor Permeability rating of between 2.5 and 5.5 depending on thickness and density. This means walls constructed with Neopor as Continuous Insulation can more easily transport water vapor, reducing the likelihood of mold, mildew and structural damage. And, Neopor Rigid Thermal Insulation has low water absorption relative to traditional insulation materials.
I'll try to translate:
Water and Neopor are good friends.Neopor solid insulation is a closed cell foam, but not all closed cell foam is made equal. Neopor Rigid Thermal has class 3 vapor permeability in the range from 2.5 to 5.5, depending on thickness and density. This means that walls built using Neopor as a continuous insulation can easily carry vapor, reducing the likelihood of mold, mildew, and structural damage. Neopor solid insulation has less water absorption than traditional insulation materials.
In Russian sources I came across information that the vapor permeability of Neopor is at least 0.05 mg / (m.h.Pa). But I'm not sure that this data can be trusted. Concrete has less vapor permeability. But brick has more, and it varies greatly depending on what kind of brick it is. So everything is correctly stated about reducing the likelihood of fungi and mold. If you use extruded polystyrene foam, styrofoam or polystyrene foam for insulation stone walls, then it is precisely this type that is vapor-permeable (i.e., extruded polystyrene foam immediately disappears). Although environmentally friendly, non-flammable and durable - foam glass chips and vermiculite - even with vapor permeability everything is much better. In any case, in addition to environmental friendliness, pay attention to the fact that the durability of the insulation corresponds to the durability of the walls of the house, and the vapor permeability of the insulation is at the level of the vapor permeability of the walls or higher.
Of course, the problem with insulation materials that do not release steam can be solved using forced ventilation, and also with the help interior decoration blocking the passage of steam. But whether it’s worth doing this is up to you to decide. Moreover, with such a struggle with the cause, there is always a chance that something will go wrong, including due to a mistake by the finishers or equipment breakdown.
In general, be careful when reading marketing brochures, even if it is in the premium segment. Beautiful pictures and imported materials are not a guarantee of quality and environmental friendliness. Of course, for 60 million rubles in the case of Wright Park, the cottage comes with very interesting solutions and high-quality materials. But for that kind of money, I would still avoid solutions like this one from the company Active House LLC.
As soon as the cold weather sets in, many property owners clutch their heads. After all, housing is once again not ready for winter! Thermal insulation of walls directly affects how comfortable it is to be in the house and what the microclimate will be like in it when it rains more often, it blows North wind and frosts will strike. It is imperative to take care in advance to ensure that the house is well protected from adverse weather factors. Which insulation to choose from the wide range of offers on the modern construction market? What materials are needed to protect a house?
It is most effective to use polystyrene foam for external insulation
What material properties should you pay special attention to?
When choosing insulation, you must immediately decide on a list of requirements that the material must meet. What material properties should you pay special attention to? The main ones:
- thermal insulation indicator;
- vapor permeability;
- environmental friendliness;
- durability;
- price;
- fire safety.
The main point is the thermal insulation indicator. The higher the insulation is, the better quality material will protect the house, providing it with decent thermal insulation. Be sure to pay attention to the weight of the material. The lighter the insulation, the fewer problems there will be with it. Lightweight construction or finishing material- this is always a double benefit. Firstly, it is possible to really save on its transportation. Secondly, installation of such insulation can be done quickly, even without the help of specialists. If the insulation is heavy, it can cause a lot of problems. The fact is that load-bearing walls designed for a specific load. If the insulating material has significant weight, then it will have to be strengthened bearing structures Houses.
Vapor permeability - quite a lot important point in assessing the quality of insulation. The higher the vapor permeability of the material, the better its quality. If the insulation has good vapor permeability, excess moisture evaporates from the room and does not appear in the building. Greenhouse effect, no mold, mildew. There are no violations in natural ventilation and other "delights". When choosing thermal insulation, it is important to pay attention to the possibility of decorating its surface. If the insulation is easy to decorate on top, this is another significant saving on wall surface finishing. Major renovations of a building are usually carried out by property owners every few years.
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The sleigh must be prepared in the summer!
Options for external thermal insulation of walls.
There are often cases when during repairs it turns out that the old insulation has lost its performance characteristics, that is, it has decomposed or rotted. And then you have to spend significant money on purchasing new material and re-insulating the walls.
You should definitely pay attention to the environmental friendliness of the insulation you plan to buy. Sellers and manufacturers do not always truthfully answer questions about the environmental safety of the material. Therefore, it is better to spend a little time and look at reviews about insulation on specialized construction forums or consult with specialists in construction and repair work. The flammability of insulation is a very important point. The safety of people living in a house directly depends on how fireproof the materials used in its decoration and construction are. By choosing fire-hazardous insulation, the owner of a property automatically jeopardizes the life and health of people in the house.
The price of this or that insulation directly depends on its quality. For home owners, the price often determines the choice. However, when the cold season comes, an understanding comes: the purchase and installation of cheap insulation has resulted in increased costs for heating the building. And one more point: between internal and external insulation of a house, it is always better to choose the second. The insulation used for external finishing works is significantly more expensive, but it will better protect the house, providing it with more high-quality thermal insulation than the insulation materials used inside. External insulation - best option for buildings constructed from any materials.
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List of insulation materials
Penoizol is not subject to combustion and withstands humidity and temperature changes well.
The modern market offers different kinds insulation materials. In order not to get confused in a huge number their types, types and brands, it is better to consider insulation from the point of view of what material is the main or only component in them.
Types of insulation:
- expanded polystyrene;
- extruded polystyrene foam;
- foil penofol;
- eco-wool;
- penoizol;
- foam glass;
- fiberboard;
- penoizol.
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There is a lot of choice, but which is better?
Expanded polystyrene is an insulation material that will last 25 years without problems. It is usually not mixed with other components, but is used as an independent thermal insulation material. It is very easy to insulate a house on your own with its help. Expanded polystyrene is perfectly decorated. Its price is small, but this material is absolutely not suitable for roof insulation. And such insulation has one significant drawback: it is very flammable; it should not be used for insulation. wooden buildings it is forbidden.
Mineral wool can be cut into any pieces, which is convenient when working with uneven surfaces.
Extruded polystyrene foam is the choice of those homeowners who need insulation with a service life of 50 years. It can be finished without any problems. But extruded polystyrene foam has two disadvantages: it is fire hazardous and has low vapor permeability. If you still decide to use this insulation in finishing the house, you must definitely take care of additional ventilation of the building and spend additional funds on its arrangement. There is one more important nuance: both types of polystyrene foam lose their qualities from ultraviolet radiation. In some cases, property owners choose mineral wool insulation instead of expanded polystyrene, confusing it with glass wool because of the name.
Mineral wool costs significantly more. Its basis is basalt fiber. Mineral wool is lightweight but will only last 25 years. In terms of its technical and operational characteristics, it is significantly better than expanded polystyrene.
Sprayed polyurethane is quite expensive, impractical and requires additional protection from ultraviolet rays, although it is considered a fashionable insulation. Fans environmentally pure materials they assure that best insulation- ecowool. Its plus: it is made from natural materials. Its disadvantage: it is flammable. If the choice is to purchase penoizol or foam glass, it is better to analyze the purposes for which the insulation will be carried out. Penoizol is practical. It can be used as a fill. But he is afraid of moisture and ultraviolet rays. Foam glass is fireproof and very durable, but its price is much higher. More spending will be required additional funds to purchase a hood.
Now a new thermal insulation material has appeared - Alfol. It consists of a strip of corrugated paper with aluminum foil glued on top. This type of thermal insulation material has high reflectivity combined with low thermal conductivity of air.
The choice of insulation is not always a choice of price.
Whether the money spent on it will be in vain or not depends on how correctly the choice of insulation is made.
You must be able to combine these materials, based on the beneficial properties of various materials, and then the house will always be warm.
Almost any advertising and information brochure or article describing the advantages cotton insulation, certainly mentions such a property as high vapor permeability - i.e. the ability to pass water vapor through. This property is closely related to the concept of “breathing walls”, around which heated debates and discussions on many pages regularly flare up on various construction forums and portals.
If we go to the official Russian (Ukrainian, Belarusian) website of any manufacturer of cotton insulation (ISOVER, ROCKWOOL, etc.), we will definitely find information about the high vapor permeability of the material, which ensures the “breathing” of the walls and a favorable microclimate in the room.
An interesting fact is that such information is completely absent from the English-language websites of the above-mentioned companies. Moreover, most of the information materials on these portals promote the idea of creating completely airtight, airtight house structures. For example, consider the official website of the Isover company in the *com domain zone.
We bring to your attention the “golden rules of insulation” from the point of view of ISOVER.
- Insulation performance
- Good air tightness
- Controlled ventilation
- Quality fitting
Below we provide some translated quotes from this article:
“On average, a family of 4 people produces steam equal to 12 liters of water. Under no circumstances should this steam escape through the walls and roof! Only ventilation system", suited to a specific home and living environment can prevent dark spots inside the room, water running down the walls, damage to coatings and, ultimately, the entire building."
“Ventilation cannot be carried out by breaking the tightness of walls, windows, frames, shutters. All this only leads to the penetration of polluted air into the room, which disrupts the quality of air exchange inside the house, harms the building structures, the operation of the chimney and ventilation shafts. Under no circumstances should so-called 'breathing walls' be used as a design solution for home ventilation."
Having familiarized ourselves with the English-language websites of most manufacturers of cotton insulation, we can find out that the high vapor permeability of the produced material is not mentioned as an advantage on any of them. Moreover, these sites completely lack information about vapor permeability as a property of insulation.
Thus, we can come to the conclusion that cultivating the myth of vapor permeability is a successful marketing ploy of the company’s representative offices in Russia and the CIS countries, used to discredit manufacturers of vapor-tight insulation - extruded polystyrene foam and foam glass.
However, despite the dissemination of such misleading information, manufacturers of cotton insulation on Russian websites post Constructive decisions on insulation of roofs and walls using vapor barriers, which makes their discussions about “breathable” structures devoid of common sense.
“It is necessary to ensure the presence of a vapor barrier layer on the inside of the roof. ISOVER recommends using ISOVER VS 80 or ISOVER VARIO membranes.
When installing a vapor barrier, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the membrane, install it overlapping, and seal the joints with vapor-proof mounting tape. This will ensure the safety of the roof for many years.”
- External skin
- Waterproofing membrane
- Metal or wooden frame
- Thermal and sound insulation ISOVER
- Vapor barrier ISOVER VARIO KM Duplex UV or ISOVER VS 80
- Drywall (eg GYPROC)
“To protect the heat-insulating material from humidification by internal air vapor, a vapor barrier film is installed on the inner “warm” side of the insulation. To protect the wall from blowing from the outside of the insulation, it is advisable to provide a windproof layer.”
Similar information can be heard directly from company representatives:
Ekaterina Kolotushkina, head of the " Frame house construction", Saint-Gobain ISOVER company:
“I would like to note that the durability of the entire roof structure depends not only on the same indicator load-bearing elements, but is also determined by the service life of all materials used. To maintain this parameter when insulating the roof, it is necessary to use steam, hydro, and wind insulating membranes to protect the structure from steam from inside the room and moisture from outside.”
NATALIA CHUPYRA, head of the “Retail Products” department of the company “SAINT-GOBAIN IZOVER”, states approximately the same thing, “My Home” magazine.
“ISOVER recommends a roofing “pie” of the following design (layer-by-layer): roofing covering, hydro-windproof membrane, counter-lattice, rafters with thermal insulation between them, vapor barrier membrane, interior finishing.”
Natalia also recognizes the importance of the ventilation system in the house:
“When insulating a house from the inside, many people neglect supply and exhaust ventilation. This is fundamentally wrong, because it provides the correct microclimate in the house. There is a certain air exchange rate that needs to be maintained in the room.”
As we see, the manufacturers of cotton insulation themselves and their representatives admit that the vapor barrier layer is a necessary component of almost any structure in which such thermal insulation is used. And this is not surprising, because the penetration of water molecules into a hygroscopic thermal insulation material leads to its wetting and, as a result, an increase in the thermal conductivity coefficient.
Thus, the high vapor permeability of insulation is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Many manufacturers of vapor-tight thermal insulation have repeatedly tried to draw the attention of consumers to this fact, citing as arguments the opinions of scientists and qualified specialists in the field of construction.
For example, a well-known expert in the field of thermophysics, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, K.F. Fokin states: “From a thermotechnical point of view, the air permeability of fences is more likely negative quality, since in winter, infiltration (air movement from inside to outside) causes additional heat loss from the fences and cooling of the premises, and exfiltration (air movement from outside to inside) can adversely affect the humidity regime of external fences, promoting moisture condensation.”
Wet insulation requires additional protection as waterproofing and vapor barrier membranes. Otherwise, the thermal insulation material ceases to fulfill its main task - to retain heat indoors. In addition, wet insulation becomes a favorable environment for the development of fungi, mold and other harmful microorganisms, which negatively affects the health of household members and also leads to the destruction of structures in which it is a part.
Thus, a high-quality thermal insulation material must have such undeniable advantages as a low thermal conductivity coefficient, high strength, water resistance, environmental friendliness and safety for humans and the environment, as well as low vapor permeability. The use of such thermal insulation material will not make the walls of your house “breathable”, but will allow them to fulfill their direct function - to maintain a favorable microclimate in the house and provide reliable protection from negative environmental factors.