The project in five facts.
Challenge, approach and results.
The diploma thesis compares expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and wood fibre insulation in terms of technical, thermal, environmental, economic and sustainability properties. The purpose of the work was to determine how the selected materials differ when used in façade systems and which material is more suitable depending on various construction project requirements. The comparison was carried out on the basis of professional literature, manufacturers' technical data sheets, environmental product declarations and a practical example of residential house Z.
Solution and Method
The diploma thesis compares expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and wood fibre insulation in terms of technical, thermal, environmental, economic and sustainability properties.
Results
The purpose of the work was to determine how the selected materials differ when used in façade systems and which material is more suitable depending on various construction project requirements. The comparison was carried out on the basis of professional literature, manufacturers' technical data sheets, environmental product declarations and a practical example of residential house Z. The work analysed façade EPS JUBIZOL EPS F – W1 and wood fibre insulation STEICOspecial dry.
Regarding basic thermal properties, it was found that the materials have very similar thermal conductivity. EPS has a slightly lower thermal conductivity value, therefore achieving slightly better stationary thermal insulation at the same thickness. Wood fibre insulation, however, has significantly higher density and higher specific heat capacity, which means it accumulates heat better and has a more favourable effect on the summer thermal stability of the building.
Special emphasis was also placed on phase shift and decrement factor, as these indicators better demonstrate the behaviour of the construction during summer overheating. Comparison of the entire wall assembly showed that wood fibre insulation achieves greater phase shift and better attenuation of the temperature wave than EPS. This means it is more suitable for buildings where summer living comfort is important.
The environmental comparison was based on LCA analysis and EPD declarations. It was found that wood fibre insulation has a more favourable carbon footprint, as it is made from renewable raw materials and stores biogenic carbon during use. EPS is based on fossil raw materials, therefore having a greater environmental impact, although it remains a very widespread material due to its low mass, good insulation properties and ease of installation.
A cost comparison was also carried out using the example of house Z. The calculation showed that implementation with EPS insulation is significantly cheaper than implementation with wood fibre insulation. EPS is therefore a more economically favourable choice, whilst wood fibre insulation represents a more expensive but sustainable and thermally efficient solution in terms of summer comfort.
The final conclusion of the work is that the choice of insulation material must not be based solely on price or thermal conductivity, but must include a broader comparison of technical, environmental, economic and implementation factors.
Module, programme and stories.
Your diploma project for a real company.
A diploma thesis at Academia solves a challenge from a company – often the one where you do your 800 hours of placement. Read about the Gradbeništvo module or book a consultation.