Retrofit cavity wall insulation (IWT TETRA-project)
Retrofit cavity wall insulation (CWI) has great potential for reducing the energy use in Flemish houses. This is due to the reduced complexity and costs of the procedure compared to interior and exterior retrofit wall insulation and to the vast amount of non-insulated cavity-walls in Flanders.
This IWT TETRA-project studied the state of the local market, the quality of the materials and workmanship and the potential energy savings and risks. It was led by Ghent University (UGent), together with the Belgian Building Research Institute (BBRI/WTCB), the Belgian Insulation Counsel (CIR) and Sint-Lucas School of Architecture-Ghent. UGent was also responsible for the measurements in the lab (thermal conductivity, water absorption and diffusion) and in situ (heat-flux, IR-thermography, airtightness, indoor climate, energy use).
The project initiated the creation of new guidelines and a quality control framework (STS 71-1) required for new governmental incentives supporting retrofit CWI.
Project Info
Research group: Building Physics
Start date: 01-11-2009
Researchers: Marc Delghust, Joachim Rummens and Arnold Janssens