Reuse applications by insulation type and building element.
Not every combination of recovered insulation and building element is equivalent. The research provides a risk analysis overview with 'little additional risk', 'mitigable risk' and 'increased risk/not suitable'. These three categories are also used in the digital tool to indicate which insulation from the cases is suitable for the selected building elements.
By insulation type, by building element.
Each insulation type reacts differently to moisture, pressure and thermal cycles. A panel that spent 30 years in a facade may still be perfectly suitable for use in a roof. By decoupling the insulation from its originally intended application and looking instead at the performance it still offers, you open up many more possibilities for reusing recovered insulation.
Which insulation fits which building element?
Designing with reuse essentially requires the same considerations as designing with new materials. Material properties evolve during their service life under the influence of moisture, loading, ageing and use. There is therefore always some uncertainty about how a material will perform over its entire service life, in a new or reused application. By evaluating the expected exposure, possible material degradation and its consequences for the building system together, risks can be estimated and managed.
This can be done, for example, by using additional protection, a less exposed application or selective testing where requirements are more critical or the consequences of failure are greater.
| Isolatietype | Minerale wol | EPS | PUR/PIR | XPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitched roof / Interior application (wall, suspended ceiling) / Between battens / Timber frame construction / Ventilated facade / Party wall / Inaccessible attic | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Cavity wall with facing masonry | Conditional | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Interior insulation | Conditional | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Floor, interior application / Accessible attic | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Floor above a cellar, cold damp spaces / Floor on solid ground | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Flat roof (more certainty recommended due to high loads and possible consequential damage) | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| ETICS | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
How to read: "Conditions" means that the application is possible provided protective measures are taken (vapour barrier/rain protection/membranes) or that the reference values must be verified. In the tool, this is classified as 'Mitigable risk'.
"Not recommended" means that the combination of insulation in a particular application involves an increased risk. In this case, the reference values must be verified with a conservative estimate; if they are insufficient, testing is advisable. For ETICS specifically, reuse is complex and no statements can be made on the basis of the material alone. In the tool, this is classified as 'Increased risk'.