External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) can be used as extra insulation of existing buildings. The system can be made of cellular plastic materials or mineral wool. There is a European Technical guideline, ETAG 004, that describe the tests that shall be conducted on such systems. This paper gives a comparison of systems with mineral wool and cellular plastic, based on experience from practice and literature. It is important to look at the details in the system and at long time stability of the properties such as thermal insulation, moisture and fire. Investigation of fire properties must be done before utilisation of the system, including the risk of fire spread from one storey to the next for practical solutions. An elaboration of fire spread risks require thermo physic knowledge about ignition temperatures, critical radiation, upward flame spread velocities etc. of the actual insulation.
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