EnerPHit-green concept Modernisation of a historic building with application of an aerogel insulation plaster

Starting point/Motivation

The renovation of buildings with historic structure requires innovative concepts to meet both the design requirements and a technical-economic consideration. The Aerogel high-performance insulation plaster provides a new alternative for the field of historic building renovation which have façade worth preserving.

Contents and Objectives

The demonstration took place in the course of the reconstruction and revitalization of a building constructed before 1872, which was severely damaged due to a gas explosion. It is exemplary for how the adaptation of evolved urban structures can meet the requirements of a modern, energy-efficient building stock. Prime objective was the testing of new technologies in renovation. On the one hand, the technical feasibility and practicability of such renovation solutions should be demonstrated, on the other hand a high visibility and multiplication effect should be transported. Further objective was the metrological monitoring of the renovation project in order to determine the effect of the plaster and to evaluate the overall renovation.

Methods

The application of the aerogel plaster on the existing masonry took place for the first time on a structured façade and in close cooperation of architects, plaster manufacturers and executing companies. In the project, a layer thickness of about 5.5 cm was realized at a facade area of approximately 205 m². As the first steps, the old plaster had to be knocked off and the existing brickwork prepared before the aerogel plaster was applied by machine and in one processing step. After completion of the tensile parts, cornices, etc. (also with aerogel plaster), the coating was carried out.

In the inventory as well as after completion of the renovation work, a heat flow measurement was carried out at several test points and the resulting U-value was calculated in-situ. In addition, the building was equipped with energy consumption and comfort monitoring.

Results

The visible result is the successful renovation of a historic building for which it was managed to restore the external appearance and to achieve a visually unrecognizable transition between old building and the reconstruction. At the same time, the high standards of an energy-efficient building stock could be fulfilled. However, the measured heat transfer coefficient does not fully correspond to the arithmetical requirements / specifications.

The additional evaluation of the long-term monitoring project takes place in a separate report after one, respectively two years of operation.

Prospects / Suggestions for future research

The Aerogel plaster represents a market-ready and tested alternative to meet high energy efficiency standards and to preserve external appearance of historical facades. As a comparatively new technology, it is all the more crucial to transport the practicality demonstrated in the project into the market. The project was able to fully meet the high constructional and design requirements. However, the expected thermal performance was not achieved.

Project management

Immobilienverwaltung und -vermittlung Helga BRUN

Project or cooperation partners

• Trimmel Wall Architekten ZTGmbH
• Schöberl und Pöll GmbH Bauphysik und Forschung
• e7 Energie Markt Analyse GmbH

Immobilienverwaltung und -vermittlung Helga BRUN
Grimmgasse 31
A-1150 Wien
Tel.: +43 (1) 892 131 00 - 0
E-mail: immobilien@brun.at
Web: http://immobilien.brun.at