The sample consisted of 25 buildings with EIFS installations in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and in the mountain regions of B.C. and Alberta. The buildings had been in service for from two to thirteen years. A range of building types was included in the sample, specifically: high-rise residential, a recreation complex, shopping centres, hotels, off i c e buildings, low-rise residential, a restaurant, mixed use retail/residential and mixed use retail/off i c e . Most of the EIFS were of the soft coat type with thin, relatively flexible, acrylic polymer stucco finish over polystyrene insulation. Buildings originally incorporating the finish, as well as those with EIFS retrofit, were considered.

The study consisted of two sets of activities:

1. Each installation was visually examined for signs of distress or deterioration. If close examination was not possible from the ground, binoculars, a spotting scope and a bosun's chair were used. Photographs were taken of the problems encountered at each installation. Building owners, occupants and managers were interviewed, and the working drawings were examined. Where apparent problems had been noted on the exterior, the interior was examined whenever possible for signs of damage.

2. In 10 cases, representative samples of the insulation and finish were taken for laboratory analysis. All the coatings sampled were soft coat (polymer- b a s e d ) . Testing determined lamina weight, thickness of finish and base coats, water absorption, polymer type and amount and reinforcement. Samples were weighed, measured, examined microscopically and photographed.

Results

Visual examination

Overall, researchers reported that the finish was in excellent condition in many cases, including the oldest installation observed (on a high-rise apartment building). Key findings included the following:

1. More than half of the installations were in good to excellent overall condition, although none was entirely free of defect.

2. Approximately 30 per cent had visible problems sufficiently serious to threaten serviceability.

3. Impact damage and ingress of moisture into the system were the most common causes of damage that was sufficiently serious to demand repair or replacement.

Specific problems observed included: failed joints, cracking, impact damage, excessively thin applications, softening, erosion of the finish, delamination, poor attachment, fading, freezing during construction prior to cure, colour variation, cracking at locations of movement in underlying supports, unsatisfactory repairs, algae and moss growth on the surface, water-saturated insulation, damage from interior water sources and complete detachment of the system from the building (Table 1).

Laboratory Analysis

Overall, the samples were reported to be of good quality. The test results are summarized below. (A detailed discussion of these laboratory results is provided in the research report.)

• EIFS : CHMC report

1. EIFS: Canadian Field Performance
2. Thermal Bridges -- Heat flow models with HEAT2 HEAT3, and a general purpose 3-D solver