Hygrothermal analysis of masonry wall with wool glass interior insulation

摘要

When the external appearance of the building is fixed due to heritage requirements the interior thermal insulation is the only possible solution for thermal upgrade of the building envelope. Applying internal insulation to existing buildings is known to pose a challenge in relation to hygrothermal risks, as this can lead to high relative humidity levels, condensation and ultimately, mould growth and decay. The case study building is under historical preservation and therefore this is not allowed to be insulated from outside. The paper describes the hygrothermal assessment of applying internal glass wool insulation and vapour barrier in masonry wall with air gap. In addition to the calculations the condition investigation was also performed. Data loggers measuring temperature and RH were applied during the period of 31.01.2013–16.02.2013. The conclusions were based to theoretical calculations (case study and DIN 4108-3) and practical measurement results based on the data logger values obtained. The calculations showed that glass wool and vapour barrier insulated system were in risk on condensation but the condensed water dries out during summer time. Due to the fact that logger measurements were recorded during the time when inside plastering was still in progress the relative humidity in the room was very high.As a result of calculations it is possible to build this type of wall effectively, but in this case it was not the most reliable way because of ongoing interior fitting.