Empirical comparative study of new field-cast foamed cement insulation systems

Abstract

In practical building construction, simply judging the insulating performance of the material by its thermal conductivity is not fully comprehensive. Therefore, the study used the “four identical tests” to compare the effects of insulation materials on energy consumption and indoor comfort in actual buildings. New field-cast foamed cement and extruded polystyrene plate insulation materials with lower thermal conductivity are used in Test Houses 1 and 2. The test houses' indoor temperature and energy consumption were monitored. Comparison of two Test Houses shows that, during the heating shutdown, Test House 2 daily temperature dropped 0.5 °C more than Test House 1. Conversely, Test House 2 exhibits a 5.97 % higher temperature fluctuation during heating than Test House 1. Under normal and heating conditions, Test House 2 consumes 2.2 kW h and 1.6 kW h less energy on average than Test House 1, with energy fluctuation rates 13.54 % and 9.33 % higher, respectively. Although the energy consumption of Test House 1 experimental room using the new type of field-cast foamed cement is slightly higher, it exhibits better temperature stability during the heating period, significantly improving indoor comfort. Moreover, it demonstrates good energy-saving potential and durability, making it a better choice for building insulation.