TY - JOUR
T1 - Durability assessment of external thermal insulation composite systems in urban and maritime environments
AU - Parracha, J. L.
AU - Borsoi, G.
AU - Veiga, R.
AU - Flores-Colen, I.
AU - Nunes, L.
AU - Viegas, C. A.
AU - Moreira, L. M.
AU - Dionísio, A.
AU - Gomes, M. Glória
AU - Faria, P.
N1 - info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/3599-PPCDT/PTDC%2FECI-EGC%2F30681%2F2017/PT#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04625%2F2020/PT#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04028%2F2020/PT#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDP%2F04565%2F2020/PT#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/OE/2020.05180.BD/PT#
Funding Information:
Triple resistance to water, graffiti and biocolonization of external thermal insulation systems), the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy – i4HB ( LA/P/0140/2020 ). The authors also acknowledge CIN, Saint-Gobain and Secil for the material supply and the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) for the meteorological data.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/11/25
Y1 - 2022/11/25
N2 - External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are multilayer solutions which provide an enhanced thermal performance to the building envelope. However, significant anomalies can be detected on ETICS facades, in some cases shortly after the application of these systems. This study intends to evaluate and compare the durability of six commercially available ETICS after two years of outdoor exposure at both urban and maritime conditions in Portugal. The systems were characterized by means of non-destructive testing (i.e., visual and microscopic assessment, water transport properties, thermal conductivity, surface roughness), thus allowing to evaluate the performance loss throughout natural aging. The bio-susceptibility and aesthetic properties (color and gloss) were also investigated. Results showed that the performance and durability of the complete system is significantly affected by the rendering system formulation. The lime-based specimens obtained the highest rate of mold development after one year of aging in a maritime environment, becoming considerably darker and with lower surface gloss. Fungal analysis of this darkish stained area indicated the presence of mold species of the genera Alternaria, Didymella, Cladosporium and Epicoccum, and yeasts of the genera Vishniacozyma and Cystobasidium. An increase of both capillary water absorption and water vapor permeability was also registered for the aged lime-based specimens. Acrylic-based systems obtained lower capillary water absorption after aging and greater dirt deposition on their surfaces, especially in urban conditions. These systems had also higher color variation and surface gloss decrease and slightly higher mold growth, when compared with those aged in a maritime environment. Finally, no mold growth was detected on the silicate-based specimens after two years of aging. However, these specimens obtained higher capillary water absorption and lower vapor permeability after aging, possibly leading to moisture accumulation within the system. Results contribute towards the development of ETICS with enhanced performance and durability.
AB - External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are multilayer solutions which provide an enhanced thermal performance to the building envelope. However, significant anomalies can be detected on ETICS facades, in some cases shortly after the application of these systems. This study intends to evaluate and compare the durability of six commercially available ETICS after two years of outdoor exposure at both urban and maritime conditions in Portugal. The systems were characterized by means of non-destructive testing (i.e., visual and microscopic assessment, water transport properties, thermal conductivity, surface roughness), thus allowing to evaluate the performance loss throughout natural aging. The bio-susceptibility and aesthetic properties (color and gloss) were also investigated. Results showed that the performance and durability of the complete system is significantly affected by the rendering system formulation. The lime-based specimens obtained the highest rate of mold development after one year of aging in a maritime environment, becoming considerably darker and with lower surface gloss. Fungal analysis of this darkish stained area indicated the presence of mold species of the genera Alternaria, Didymella, Cladosporium and Epicoccum, and yeasts of the genera Vishniacozyma and Cystobasidium. An increase of both capillary water absorption and water vapor permeability was also registered for the aged lime-based specimens. Acrylic-based systems obtained lower capillary water absorption after aging and greater dirt deposition on their surfaces, especially in urban conditions. These systems had also higher color variation and surface gloss decrease and slightly higher mold growth, when compared with those aged in a maritime environment. Finally, no mold growth was detected on the silicate-based specimens after two years of aging. However, these specimens obtained higher capillary water absorption and lower vapor permeability after aging, possibly leading to moisture accumulation within the system. Results contribute towards the development of ETICS with enhanced performance and durability.
KW - Biocolonization
KW - Durability
KW - ETICS
KW - Natural aging
KW - Surface properties
KW - Water resistance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135915850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157828
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157828
M3 - Article
C2 - 35934022
AN - SCOPUS:85135915850
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 849
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 157828
ER -