Abstract
This paper analyzes the resistance to hail of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), i.e., external thermal insulation of foamed polystyrene with the same finishing coat and various reinforcing mesh and base coats used to make the reinforced layer. The manuscript presents our own new method for assessing ETICS resistance to hail and test results obtained according to this method. The basic premise of the presented new research methodology is evaluation of the thermal insulation system surface damage and fracture toughness, in the function of hit velocity with a polyamide ball with a standardized diameter and weight. The results of hail resistance tests were compared with the values of hard body impact resistance obtained in the tests done according to ETAG 004. Results obtained by the new method help to evaluate precisely the resistance of thermal insulation sets to damage as a result of impact of heavy objects of permanent shape, with greater accuracy than the hard body impact test. They also confirmed that thermal insulation sets with dispersion adhesive in the reinforcement demonstrate greater resistance to damage as a result of hail impact than the sets with cement-based adhesives and that weight of the reinforcing mesh used in the system is not significant to affect the hail resistance.
Highlights
In recent years, damage caused by more frequent hail storm occurrences [1,2] are very important for durability of facade insulation systems
The test samples represented the actual arrangement of the render coating, the test was carried out at (23 ± 2) ◦ C, i.e., with no additional cooling of the sample surface, hail impact was simulated with a polyamide ball with a (40 ± 0.5) mm diameter and (38.5 ± 0.5) g weight, with a smooth surface, by hitting the sample surface on the plaster side at a 90◦ angle against the evaluated set plane, at a variable velocity
The result of the test was the specific value of the impact. This paragraph presents the results of the research, which was done in order to confirm the usefulness of the developed research method and answer the question of which of the components of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) has the greatest impact on resistance to hail impact, i.e., is it the type of adhesive used in the reinforcement or the numbers of meshes
Summary
Damage caused by more frequent hail storm occurrences [1,2] are very important for durability of facade insulation systems. External thermal insulation composite system, commonly known as ETICS, is one of the most common solutions for building facades finishing (Figure 1). The systems are applied to new and existing buildings and have been used worldwide since the end of 1950s [13,14,15]. They can be used on vertical walls made of masonry (bricks, blocks, stones, etc.) or concrete (cast on site or as prefabricated panels) and on horizontal or inclined surfaces that are not exposed to precipitation. ETICS are designed to give the wall to which they are applied to satisfactory thermal insulation. The insulation product is faced with a rendering consisting of one or more layers (site applied), one of which contains a Materials 2020, 13, 2452; doi:10.3390/ma13112452 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
