Abstract
Retrofitting thermal insulation to solid masonry walls alters their hygrothermal behaviour, which can be modelled by hygrothermal simulation software. However, such software needs values of key material properties to ensure satisfactory results and until now data has not been available for Scottish masonry buildings. This work aims to contribute to a Scotland-specific dataset of material properties for use by designers working on such buildings. Thermal conductivity, water vapour permeability, sorptivity, water absorption coefficient, hygroscopic sorption, density and porosity were all determined experimentally for selected historic and contemporary masonry materials. Within the range of materials tested three groups of materials properties emerge. Natural hydraulic lime mortars, hot-mixed quicklime mortar and earth mortar all show comparatively low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, high water vapour permeability and variable but generally high hygroscopic sorption. Craigleith, Hailes and Giffnock sandstones, no longer available but obtained from conservation works on historic buildings, and Locharbriggs and Hazeldean sandstones, obtained from current production, all show intermediate values of these properties. Crathes granodiorite and Scottish whinstone (from current production) show high density, low porosity, high thermal conductivity, low water vapour permeability and low hygroscopic sorption. It is shown that these materials are all relevant to Scottish buildings constructed in traditional masonry and this paper presents the first comprehensive set of hygrothermal property data for them.
Highlights
Moisture from the external environment and generated by activities within a building can cause deterioration of the building fabric and create unhealthy indoor conditions: its management is a major consideration in construction [1]
Solid masonry walls ‘‘breathe’’ and this is a major factor in determining the performance and durability of solid masonry construction [3–6]
When the sandstone samples from Old College, Edinburgh, were cut the specimens looked sufficiently different to raise the question of whether they were different stones: weathering and applied finishes had concealed this, and the results presented below are consistently different
Summary
Moisture from the external environment and generated by activities within a building can cause deterioration of the building fabric and create unhealthy indoor conditions: its management is a major consideration in construction [1]. In England and Wales, 29% of offices and 40% of retail premises (by floor area) were built pre-1918 [8] and may be presumed to be constructed. These buildings can contribute to meeting the UK Government’s CO2 emissions reduction target [9] if walls are retrofitted with thermal insulation. This additional insulation risks upsetting the moisture equilibrium within a wall and, energy-led retrofits to improve the thermal performance of the building fabric almost always change its moisture performance [5, 10] and severe internal conditions can be created by inappropriate work [11]
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