Exterior basement insulation performs many functions. It not only provides thermal resistance between the soil and the interior, it also protects the structure from a challenging environment (e.g. moisture from wet soils, heaving and adhering soils due to frost action). It provides a means of water management at the interface of the soil and insulation, while promoting drying out of the structure. In this context, it is important to set performance parameters for setting appropriate materials. The Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association established a joint research project with the Institute for Research in Construction to assess the in-situ thermal performance of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) applied to the exterior of a basement.

(IRC-IR-820) For more information visit the Source (www.nrc.ca/irc/fulltext/ir820/)

For on site heat flux meaasurement see: Development Of An In Situ System For Measuring Ground Thermal Properties By Warren Adam Austin, Iii Source (www.hvac.okstate.edu/pdfs/Austin_thesis.pdf)

• experiment: field testing and monitoring programs
• insulation : exterior basement insulation.
• thermal analysis and performance

1. Benchmarking of the advanced hygrothermal model hygIRC with mid scale experiments
2. Defining climate regions as a basis for specifying requirements for precipitation protection for walls
3. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)  

1. A comparison of empirical indoor relative humidity models with measured data
2. A logical extension of the ASTM Standard E96 to determine the dependence of water vapor transmission on relative humidity
3. A methodology to develop moisture management strategies for wood-frame walls in North America: application to stucco-clad walls
4. A thermal and moisture transport property data base for common building and insulating materials (final report)
5. Application of gamma-ray spectroscopy for determination of moisture distribution in insulating materials
6. Benchmarking of the advanced hygrothermal model hygIRC with mid scale experiments
7. Building envelope design, Part 2: estimating field performance of thermal insulation
8. Criteria for unaccesseptable damage on wood systems
9. Determination of equilibrium moisture content of building materials: some practical difficulties
10. Durability assessments of wood-frame construction using the concept of damage-functions
11. Effect of exfiltration on the hygrothermal behaviour of a residential wall assembly: results from calculations and computer simulations
12. Final Report, IEA-Annex 24, Task 3: Material Properties
13. Indoor and outdoor weather analysis tool for hygrothermal modelling
14. Influence of material properties on the moisture response of an ideal stucco wall: results from hygrothermal simulation
15. MEWS methodology for developing moisture management strategies: application to stucco-clad wood-frame walls in North America
16. Modeling heat, air and moisture transport through building materials and components
17. Moisture buffering capacities of five North American building materials
18. Moisture diffusivity of building materials from water absorption measurements
19. Moisture transport coefficient of pine from gamma ray absorption measurements
20. On implementing experimental biological damage-functions models in durability assessment systems
21. Prediction of moisture response of wood frame walls using IRC's advanced hygrothermal model (hygIRC)
22. Protecting the long-term performance of building envelope components
23. Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report
24. Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America
25. Taking guess work out of placing air/vapor barriers
26. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)
27. Use of hygrothermal numerical modeling to identify optimal retrofit options for high-rise buildings
28. Vapor transport characteristics of mineral fiber insulation from heat flow meter measurements
29. Water vapor transmission and moisture accumulation in polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams  

1. A methodology to develop moisture management strategies for wood-frame walls in North America: application to stucco-clad walls
2. A precision weighing system for helping assess the hygrotherma response of full-scale wall assemblies
3. An approach to validating computational models for hygrothermal analysis - full scale experiments
4. Assembly and Calibration of a Compact Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor
5. Benchmarking of the advanced hygrothermal model hygIRC with mid scale experiments
6. Executive Summary of Research Contributions Related to Moisture Management of Exterior Wall Systems (MEWS) - Modeling, Experiments, and Benchmarking
7. Summary of Research Contributions Related to Moisture Management of Exterior Wall System (MEWS)-- Modeling, Experiments and Benchmarking
8. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)  

1. Determination of equilibrium moisture content of building materials: some practical difficulties
2. Effect of surface temperature on water absorption coefficient of building materials
3. Summary Report from Task 3 of MEWS Project at the Institute for Research in Construction - Hygrothermal Properties of Several Building Materials  

1. A logical extension of the ASTM Standard E96 to determine the dependence of water vapor transmission on relative humidity