A building must be designed and constructed according to today’s requirements in such a way that the heated spaces are surrounded by structures with the same thermal performance from all directions.
This continuous surface is called the thermal envelope of the building. It is relatively easy to provide large, continuous facade parts and roofs with thermal protection and insulation, but there are connection points where the thermal insulation material must also meet other criteria. Special thermal insulation must be used in these areas with complex loads!
Where are these places? The largest such surfaces are found in the plinth of the building, in the floor, in structures in contact with the ground – basements and along the foundations.
- The thermal insulation placed on the building base must be resistant to moisture from the ground and precipitation. It must be flexible but have high strength so that the plaster is not vulnerable in this easily accessible, damage-prone zone.
- In the case of the floor, the high strength of the thermal insulation must be utilized, as it is important that after the house is completed, the floor remains flat for many years and that the cabinets do not lean towards the center of the room.
- When insulating a basement wall, we take advantage of both the strength and water resistance of the thermal insulation. In this case, the thermal insulation also protects the waterproofing, so it has a dual role.
- In addition to thermal insulation, closed-cell polystyrene foam placed next to the base body can also be used as permanent formwork, which can often save a significant amount of concrete.
RAVATHERM XPS closed-cell polystyrene foam products are excellent for thermal insulation of areas and building parts exposed to moisture or high loads. In this article, we will primarily deal with one of the most stressed building parts in terms of thermal insulation, which is none other than the building plinth.
Why is it necessary to insulate the base of the house?
Well-designed and implemented baseboard insulation can reduce the building’s total heat loss by up to 8-10%, so the investment will pay for itself in a few years.
In addition to saving energy, condensation and mold formation along the floor-wall junction can also be avoided.
In addition to saving energy, condensation and mold formation along the floor-wall junction can also be avoided.
What material should you choose?
For the thermal insulation of the building base, a material must be selected that meets the complex demands encountered here in all aspects.
RAVATHERM XPS 300 WB is a closed-cell, factory-roughened, plasterable closed-cell polystyrene foam. Its typical application is in those parts of buildings where, in addition to effective thermal insulation, high mechanical resistance and excellent thermal insulation performance, even in humid environments, are required.
It provides excellent thermal insulation, its thermal conductivity is only 0.033-0.035 W/mK depending on the thickness. It is not sensitive to moisture, it is not damaged or soaked by rain and water. It is highly durable, so the finished insulation is less vulnerable compared to other parts of the facade, which is an important aspect in the easily accessible building plinth zone.
How thick should it be?
In parallel with the increased thermal insulation requirements, thick closed-cell polystyrene foam sheets have also appeared on the plinths. It is optimal if the plinth part is the same thickness as the facade thermal insulation, or 1-2 cm thinner. In the latter case, a water-drip separating/starting profile must be installed at the junction of the two types of thermal insulation so that water running off the wall cannot get behind the thermal insulation. The minimum recommended thermal insulation thickness is 12 cm, but the optimal one is around 20-22 cm.
What should you pay attention to?
When renovating a building, always seek the advice of a professional! Damp, wet walls can only be insulated after the necessary repairs have been made, or only to a limited extent.
In the case of energy modernization, the entire building must be treated as a single unit. If necessary, set up a sequence with the help of a specialist, because an ill-considered investment can even lead to a deterioration of the existing condition!
Why RAVATHERM XPS?
Thanks to its rough surface, RAVATHERM XPS 300 WB can be plastered and, if necessary, covered with stone or brick.
It is simple and easy to install. It retains its excellent thermal insulation properties for decades.
A Hungarian product made exclusively from quality ingredients in Balatonfűzfő with over 25 years of experience.
RAVATHERM XPS thermal insulations are manufactured in the spirit of environmental protection, with strict internal quality control and full compliance with the requirements of the ISO 14001 environmental management system.
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