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TheSIS – Universität Innsbruck

TheSIS - Thermal refurbishment with interior insulation systems - investigation and development of moisture-proof solutions

Project manager: Michele Bianchi Janetti

Project staff: Marianna Muchorowska

Project partner

  • University of Innsbruck - Department of Chemical Engineering

  • Adler-Werk Lackfabrik Johann Berghofer GmbH & Co KG

  • Natürlich Bauen LM OG

Funding programme: City of the Future Call 2022

Funding organisation: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

Duration: 1 October 2023 - 30 September 2026

Project website: https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/4762057

Summary

For the renovation of listed buildings with an aesthetically valuable façade, the use of internal insulation is often the only way to drastically reduce transmission heat losses. However, high-quality energy refurbishments with internal insulation are rarely used due to the risk of moisture associated with this solution. In order to avoid structural damage caused by moisture in the wall system and thus health risks due to mould growth, the internal insulation system must be planned and implemented with appropriate care. In particular, it is important to minimise the ingress of moisture into the construction and at the same time ensure sufficient drying potential. Protection against driving rain on the outside and the absorption and release of moisture via vapour diffusion from and to the interior play a decisive role here.
In this context, moisture-adaptive vapour retarders are a promising solution, as they inhibit vapour diffusion from the interior air in winter without preventing the wall from drying in summer. Existing products consist of films (e.g. polyamide membranes) that show an increase in their diffusion conductivity with water content. Despite the advantages of conventional products, improvements are required to enable the moisture-adaptive properties of a vapour barrier to be adapted to specific building requirements.

The aim of this project is to develop a paintable, moisture-adaptive vapour retarder that will have various physical and practical advantages over the current state of the art (moisture-adaptive vapour retarders based on films). While standard films on the market are offered as construction products with predefined properties and are only manufactured in a limited number of variants in terms of Sd value and variability, a paintable vapour retarder can be adapted very flexibly to specific physical and practical construction requirements by using suitable binders and selecting the layer thickness.
The developed coating can be applied directly in the factory to products for interior construction (such as calcium silicate, OSB, clay or plasterboard) on an industrial scale. In particular, the application in connection with a sustainable material consisting of biochar and clay (CarbonClay) is being investigated. The material is produced in the form of panels that are coated with the moisture-adaptive vapour barrier. The boards can be combined very well with recycled insulation materials, such as cellulose blow-in insulation. After the system has been installed, the polymer coating is separated from the board and both components are recycled.
Through co-operation with the product suppliers (Adler, Natürlich Bauen), the material developments carried out in the project have a direct influence on market-relevant interior insulation solutions. Specific application and implementation recommendations describe the limits of the applicability of various system combinations and, in conjunction with a collection of tested details, will support the planning work and thus reduce existing obstacles in the implementation of refurbishments with interior insulation. This will also enable the energy, economic and comfort-related advantages to be utilised.

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