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Experimental investigation of the hygrothermal performance of insulation materials

Hansen, K. K., Rode, C., and Hansen, E.
2001
Proceedings for Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings VIII: Integration of Building Envelopes, December 2-7, Clearwater Beach, Florida

Hansen, K. K., Rode, C., and Hansen, E., (2001), "Experimental investigation of the hygrothermal performance of insulation materials", Proceedings for Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings VIII: Integration of Building Envelopes, December 2-7, Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Abstract:
Apparatus, methods, and test results from an experimental investigation of (1) the effect of moisture on the thermal conductivity of insulation materials, (2) the properties for moisture performance of the materials, including water sorption, water vapor transmission, and capillary water uptake, and (3) humidity buffering of the indoor climate by an absorbent wall are presented. The materials are cellulose fiber, flax, sheep's wool, perlite, rock fiber, and glass fiber. Rock fiber and glass fiber are materials currently used in Denmark. The test results can be summarized as follows: The thermal conductivities of the materials are not much affected by RH until dew point is reached at the cold side of the test specimen. Some of the properties for moisture performance of the materials are very dependent on the type of material. The results from the sorption measurements confirm previously published data for the pure materials but show that added salts increase the water absorption at a high RH. The capillary water uptake tests show that perlite treated with silicon resin, sheep's wool, flax, rock fiber, and glass fiber have a small water absorption capacity and a small short-term water absorption coefficient. The water vapor permeability, measured at a steady state, is similar for the tested materials. Humidity buffering of the indoor climate by an absorbent wall has no practical influence on the indoor climate of a house if the house is ventilated as recommended. The test results are discussed and interpreted due to use of the materials in practice.

Related Concepts

Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Hansen, K. K.
  1. Moisture Buffer Value of Materials in Buildings
  2. Non-isothermal water vapour transmission through porous insulation. Part 1: The climate chamber
  3. Results of a water vapor transmission round-robin test using cup methods
  4. Sorption isotherms - a catalogues
  5. Sorption isotherms: a catalog and a data base  
Rode, C.
Carsten Rode Pedersen
  1. eds. Annex 41 Final Report, Volume 1: Modelling Principles and Common Exercises
  2. Empirical validation of a transient computer model for combined heat and moisture transfer
  3. Full-scale testing of indoor humidity and moisture buffering in building materials
  4. Global building physics
  5. International building physics toolbox, general report
  6. Investigation of Microclimate by CFD Modeling of Moisture Interactions between Air and Constructions
  7. Latent heat flow in lightweight roofs and its influence on the thermal performance of buildings
  8. Model and experiments for hygrothermal conditions of the envelope and indoor air of buildings
  9. Moisture buffer value of building materials
  10. Moisture Buffer Value of Materials in Buildings
  11. Moisture buffering of building materials
  12. Moisture conditions of non-ventilated, wood-based, membrane-roof components
  13. Moisture: its effects on the thermal performance of a low-slope roof system
  14. Non-isothermal water vapour transmission through porous insulation. Part 1: The climate chamber
  15. Organic insulation materials: effect on indoor humidity and necessity of a vapor barrier
  16. Test cell measurements of moisture buffer effects
  17. The importance of moisture buffering for indoor climate and energy conditions of buildings
  18. The International Building Physics Toolbox in Simulink
  19. The self-drying concept for flat roofs
  20. Tools for performance simulation of heat, air and moisture conditions of whole buildings
  21. Whole-building Hygrothermal Simulation Model  
Hansen, E.
Danish Building and Urban Research
  1. TDR measurement of moisture content in aerated concrete  


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