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planning:thermal_protection:integrated_thermal_protection

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planning:thermal_protection:integrated_thermal_protection [2017/11/30 17:28] – [Experiences] kdreimaneplanning:thermal_protection:integrated_thermal_protection [2025/03/27 10:31] (current) – [See also] yaling.hsiao@passiv.de
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 The table graphically demonstrates that: The table graphically demonstrates that:
   * Building envelope areas with reasonable component thicknesses are only possible if the insulating effect is mostly achieved with good insulating material.    * Building envelope areas with reasonable component thicknesses are only possible if the insulating effect is mostly achieved with good insulating material. 
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   * All materials listed in the lower part of the table are ideal for this. Combined structures with other building materials are possible, and in some cases necessary: e.g. a concrete wall insulated on the outside, or a monolithic wall consisting of porous concrete and mineral foam insulation panels. The lower the thermal conductivity of the insulation material used is, the thinner the superstructures will be.         * All materials listed in the lower part of the table are ideal for this. Combined structures with other building materials are possible, and in some cases necessary: e.g. a concrete wall insulated on the outside, or a monolithic wall consisting of porous concrete and mineral foam insulation panels. The lower the thermal conductivity of the insulation material used is, the thinner the superstructures will be.      
  
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 The values for a typical wall of an old building, which is not even poorly insulated, are given in the first row. The occupants will spend about € 644 each year just to compensate for the heat losses through 100 m² of this wall.  Applying insulation according to the Passive House standard, heat losses will decrease by a factor of 10; the annual costs for the energy loss through the external wall are reduced to less than 64 €/year. This means: The values for a typical wall of an old building, which is not even poorly insulated, are given in the first row. The occupants will spend about € 644 each year just to compensate for the heat losses through 100 m² of this wall.  Applying insulation according to the Passive House standard, heat losses will decrease by a factor of 10; the annual costs for the energy loss through the external wall are reduced to less than 64 €/year. This means:
  
-|€ 580 savings in heating costs every year!|+**€ 580 savings in heating costs every year!**
  
 What should be done in order to achieve these savings?  What should be done in order to achieve these savings? 
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 //Our suggestion//:  //Our suggestion//: 
   * Wait until it's time to repaint the external wall or repair the plaster – it won't be too long unless you’ve already just done it. The scaffolding and for painting the facade will end up costing you around € 2,500, an investment you will have to make anyways.    * Wait until it's time to repaint the external wall or repair the plaster – it won't be too long unless you’ve already just done it. The scaffolding and for painting the facade will end up costing you around € 2,500, an investment you will have to make anyways. 
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   * Next, you should ask your bank for a mortgage loan which you can pay off in instalments of 580€/yr including interest and repayment, over a period of 20 years.  The size of the loan will be around € 8,300 at the current interest rate of approx. 3.5 % . (Please note again that this calculation is based on figures typical for Germany; interest rates may vary in other countries). Add to this the 2500 € spent on the scaffolding and repainting and you will end up with a total investment of around € 10,800 - a rather small investment considering the vast savings in heating costs in the future. For new constructions, top quality insulation is even more affordable.\\   * Next, you should ask your bank for a mortgage loan which you can pay off in instalments of 580€/yr including interest and repayment, over a period of 20 years.  The size of the loan will be around € 8,300 at the current interest rate of approx. 3.5 % . (Please note again that this calculation is based on figures typical for Germany; interest rates may vary in other countries). Add to this the 2500 € spent on the scaffolding and repainting and you will end up with a total investment of around € 10,800 - a rather small investment considering the vast savings in heating costs in the future. For new constructions, top quality insulation is even more affordable.\\
 \\ \\
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 Existing Passive Houses illustrate that thicker layers of insulation required for conventional insulation materials can easily be realised: Existing Passive Houses illustrate that thicker layers of insulation required for conventional insulation materials can easily be realised:
   * Most constructions provide **plenty of space for insulation**.  If there is no space or adding space would involve additional cost, one can resort to better quality insulation materials.   * Most constructions provide **plenty of space for insulation**.  If there is no space or adding space would involve additional cost, one can resort to better quality insulation materials.
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   * Thicker layers of insulation are easy to handle; applying them required hardly more effort than that needed for thinner layers, provided that it is applied properly.  Of course, increased levels of insulation will cost more -  however, insulation materials are **relatively inexpensive**.     * Thicker layers of insulation are easy to handle; applying them required hardly more effort than that needed for thinner layers, provided that it is applied properly.  Of course, increased levels of insulation will cost more -  however, insulation materials are **relatively inexpensive**.  
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   * Passive-House-suitable components for building envelopes are available for **all types of constructions**.  This has already been demonstrated in all kinds of Passive Houses:  brickwork constructions (cavity-wall, wall with a compound insulation system or curtain-wall  facade), pre-fabricated building elements consisting of lightweight concrete, prefabricated concrete building elements, timber constructions (classical or lightweight construction beams), formwork element techniques, metal structure building elements and semi-translucent wall superstructures.   * Passive-House-suitable components for building envelopes are available for **all types of constructions**.  This has already been demonstrated in all kinds of Passive Houses:  brickwork constructions (cavity-wall, wall with a compound insulation system or curtain-wall  facade), pre-fabricated building elements consisting of lightweight concrete, prefabricated concrete building elements, timber constructions (classical or lightweight construction beams), formwork element techniques, metal structure building elements and semi-translucent wall superstructures.
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   * Measurements in completed Passive Houses have shown that the insulation effect of "thick insulation layers" exactly meets the expectations.  The actual heat losses were just as small as calculated and the houses stayed warm with the minimum heat input stated.  This is proven by thermal images (see below) which reveal clearly elevated temperatures at the interior surfaces of the building.  Highly insulating components, as used in Passive Houses, have significant advantages over standard building envelopes which are usually poorly or moderately insulated.\\   * Measurements in completed Passive Houses have shown that the insulation effect of "thick insulation layers" exactly meets the expectations.  The actual heat losses were just as small as calculated and the houses stayed warm with the minimum heat input stated.  This is proven by thermal images (see below) which reveal clearly elevated temperatures at the interior surfaces of the building.  Highly insulating components, as used in Passive Houses, have significant advantages over standard building envelopes which are usually poorly or moderately insulated.\\
 \\ \\
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 To a certain extent, highly insulated components mitigate any **remaining thermal bridges** compared with moderately insulated components – this is particularly important in [[planning:refurbishment_with_passive_house_components:thermal_envelope:minimising_thermal_bridges|refurbishments]].  Although people tend to believe it must be the other way round, this has been proven to be true in numerous cases and can be explained quite simply:  In highly insulated buildings the supporting structures and the inner component layer are protected by thick layers of insulation and stay evenly warm in continuous areas.  As a result, they aren’t even affected by minor thermal bridges. In poorly insulated constructions on the other hand, great parts of the structure are already cold. Additional thermal bridges quickly cause temperatures to fall below the dew point. Nevertheless, thermal bridges do cause additional heat losses in Passive Houses too. That is why, in spite of the large error margin, we recommend that thermal bridges be reduced to a minimum when designing a Passive House. To a certain extent, highly insulated components mitigate any **remaining thermal bridges** compared with moderately insulated components – this is particularly important in [[planning:refurbishment_with_passive_house_components:thermal_envelope:minimising_thermal_bridges|refurbishments]].  Although people tend to believe it must be the other way round, this has been proven to be true in numerous cases and can be explained quite simply:  In highly insulated buildings the supporting structures and the inner component layer are protected by thick layers of insulation and stay evenly warm in continuous areas.  As a result, they aren’t even affected by minor thermal bridges. In poorly insulated constructions on the other hand, great parts of the structure are already cold. Additional thermal bridges quickly cause temperatures to fall below the dew point. Nevertheless, thermal bridges do cause additional heat losses in Passive Houses too. That is why, in spite of the large error margin, we recommend that thermal bridges be reduced to a minimum when designing a Passive House.
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 ===== See also ===== ===== See also =====
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 [[planning:thermal_protection:don_t_save_on_the_insulation|]] [[planning:thermal_protection:don_t_save_on_the_insulation|]]
  
-[[planning:thermal_protection:windows:requirements_for_windows:required_u-values_for_passive_house_windows|Required U-values for Passive House windows]]+[[planning:thermal_protection:windows:requirements_for_windows:required_u-values_for_passive_house_windows|Required U-values for Passive House windows]]  {{:picopen:members_only.png?25|}}
  
 [[planning:calculating_energy_efficiency:phpp_-_the_passive_house_planning_package:u-values|PHPP - The overall heat transfer coefficient or U-value]] [[planning:calculating_energy_efficiency:phpp_-_the_passive_house_planning_package:u-values|PHPP - The overall heat transfer coefficient or U-value]]
  
-[[planning:refurbishment with Passive House components:thermal envelope:Insulation measures for the external envelope]]+[[planning:refurbishment with Passive House components:thermal envelope:Insulation measures for the external envelope]]  {{:picopen:members_only.png?25}}
  
 [[basics:passive_houses_in_different_climates:passive_houses_in_cold_climates:frost-free_foundations|]] [[basics:passive_houses_in_different_climates:passive_houses_in_cold_climates:frost-free_foundations|]]
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 [[basics:passive_houses_in_different_climates:passive_house_in_tropical_climates:interior_insulation_in_tropical_climates|]] [[basics:passive_houses_in_different_climates:passive_house_in_tropical_climates:interior_insulation_in_tropical_climates|]]
  
-[[phi_publications:Nr.48 Heat losses towards the ground|Heat losses towards the ground]]+[[phi_publications:Nr.48 Heat losses towards the ground|Heat losses towards the ground]]  {{:picopen:members_only.png?25}} 
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 +[[certification:addendum_concerning_the_use_of_vacuum_insulation]] 
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 +[[:planning:tools:thermal_image]] 
 ===== Multimedia ===== ===== Multimedia =====
  
 [[http://www.passivehouse-international.org/index.php?page_id=181#insulationandairtightness|Video on insulation and airtightness]] [[http://www.passivehouse-international.org/index.php?page_id=181#insulationandairtightness|Video on insulation and airtightness]]
planning/thermal_protection/integrated_thermal_protection.1512059291.txt.gz · Last modified: by kdreimane