A2PBEER – Affordable 

and Adaptable Public  ISOLEIKA
Buildings through  Andrew Ferdinando
Energy Efficient 
Retrofitting

Train the Trainer Workshop
12‐13 September 2016, Bilbao
A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

Internal insulated facade

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

Content of the Presentation
 Overview
 The need for the Technology.
 Main design features of the Technology. 
 Description of the main benefits – level of innovation, energy 
savings etc. 
 How and where the Technology can be used for retrofitting.
 Benefits of retrofitting the technology – energy savings, costs, 
ease of installation, uniqueness etc.
 Evaluation

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 Overview
The objective of this solution is to offer an internal insulated facade system that
can be applied in public buildings where external solutions are not viable.

The final solution consists of a

continuous VIP layer adhered to
the existing wall with a free
standing standard plasterboard
solution on the interior. The
solution also includes resolution of
thermal bridging at floor and
ceiling by means of horizontal VIP
insulation below existing floor
finish and slab.

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 The need for the Technology.
External insulation systems are not always viable.

For historical buildings with

facades that are protected
from alterations, alternative
solutions need to be applied
in order to improve thermal
performance.
An internal insulated
facade solution is
therefore necessary

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 Main design features of the Technology. 
Protection of the VIP from perforation
The insulating qualities of VIPs are due to the vacuum created around the
core silica material, if this vacuum is perforated the panel loses its thermal
properties.

Therefore the VIP must be protected from perforations both during

installation and during its in building use.
HOW?
RUBBER PROTECTION ON VIP
OSB + LAYER OF MINERAL WOOL

Thermal conductivity of VIP = 0.005 W/m.K

Thermal conductivity of perforated VIP = 0.023 W/m.K.
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Hygrothermal performance
Using continuous impermeable VIPs on the internal surface of an existing 
facade can cause a series of moisture related problems if vapour control 
strategies are not employed.  The building envelope is no longer able to 
“breathe” meaning humidity transportation mechanisms such as diffusion 
(interior to exterior), capillary conduction and point condensation need to 
be resolved  to avoid material damage.
HOW?
Diffusion ‐ Humidity buffers on the 
warm interior faces: vapour barriers
Internal mechanical ventilation
Point condensation – Guarantee 
continuous insulation: avoid cold 
bridging

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

Thermal performance (cold bridging)

External insulation retrofitting solutions  provide 
continuous thermal envelopes that eliminate cold 
bridging however this is not possible with internal 
solutions, with floors and internal walls creating breaks in 
the new insulated coat.

Additionally, due to its extremely low thermal 
conductivity, the effect of thermal bridges in a continuous 
VIP solution is incremented.
HOW?
Sealing of  joints, guarantee continuous  VIP and 
reducing cold bridging in floors and internal walls by 
continuing insulation in these planes

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

Integration of existing services and structures

Existing walls will have a number of architectural 
elements and services that need to be integrated into 
the design.  In the case of existing services such as 
electrical sockets, wiring & switches, radiators, 
thermostats etc, these elements will need to be 
modified and relocated in the process of installing an 
internal insulated solution whilst avoiding perforating 
the VIP.
HOW?
Provision of  service space free of VIPs and vapour 
barriers with enough depth to incorporate elements

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

Solution:  

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

•Asphalt laminated (3+3mm) VIP insulation (30mm) adhered to existing wall

VIP panel manufactured by Isoleika: ISO‐VAC

•Polythene vapour barrier adhered to previous layer.

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

•Mineral wool insulation (40mm) within free standing aluminium vertical

profiles (46mm) at 400mm centres on 48mm head and floor channels.

•Oriented strand board ‐ OSB (9mm)

•Plasterboard (15mm)

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 Description of the main benefits – level of 
innovation, energy savings etc. 
A set of selection criteria were also established using key variables from the
specifications previously established.
These criteria along with the compliance of the previous requirements have
become the main benefits of the system offering a solution that would be
sufficiently attractive in the interior energy retrofit product market. The
main benefits being:

•HIGH ENERGY SAVING POTENTIAL ‐ U‐value: 0.15 W/m2K

•MINIMUM INTERNAL SPACE REDUCTION: ‐Thickness: Maximum of 10cm

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 How and where the Technology can be used for 
retrofitting.
The prototype installed in the Tecnalia Kubic test centre clarified the
installation procedures , confirmed the benefits and highlighted possible
problems.

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INSTALLATION DETAILS AND PROCEDURES

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

CONSIDERATIONS

1. Walls must be free from damp before the installation of VIPs.

2. Any superfluous element should be detached from the wall in order that the
surface is as planar as possible.

3. Suspended ceilings and floor coverings need to be removed.

4. The position of services should be pre-determined and their installation planned

into the frame erection stage.

5. VIP modules layout will be adjusted when previous steps are completed.

6. Maximum floor to ceiling height will determinate the type of aluminum stud needed
for the internal lining.

7. Heavy elements to be hung from the wall should be considered in the lining
design

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting
VIPs cannot be cut on–site under any circumstance since this would dramatically reduce its thermal
resistant properties. A selection of modularized sizes will be developed to maximize coverage
however PIR will be used where VIP modules are not feasible, such as around windows
VIP modules PIR insulation

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

INSTALLATION TIPS

Measures to avoid perforating or breaking VIP’s.

• VIPS will arrive in containers that can pass through a standard door and
each container will correspond to each room to be retrofitted leaving sorting
offsite.
• Each package will contain handling instructions and warnings: “Do not fold,
puncture, nail or screw….” “Handle with care” “panels should not be cut or
penetrated” “The substrate must be clean, dry and level, and free of sharp
objects or edges.”
• Panels should always be loose-laid, break bonded where practical, with all
joints lightly butted. Ensure panels are firmly in contact with the existing wall
(in order to avoid any gaps may allow convective loops to transport moisture
and heat), and that a complete air barrier is formed.

Vapour barrier.
• Take care when the existing wall has already a vapour barrier to avoid
trapping moisture between the two barriers
• Seal well all edges of the barrier to ensure airtightness.

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

INSTALLATION TIPS

Exterior wall protection.

• The external wall will become colder due to the internal retrofit therefore
measures must be taken, especially with materials such as concrete or
brick. Upgrading rain protection will be essential by applying rain repellant
coatings.

Lining independence.
• The structural lining should be an independent system that does not touch
the existing wall or lean on the VIP layer.

Insulation continuity around windows and other openings.

• Insulation should be continuous up till the window frame in order to avoid
cold spots in the interior window sills

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 Benefits of retrofitting the technology – energy savings, 
costs, ease of installation, uniqueness etc.
Kubik feedback:
• No vacuum loss was observed in the reception VIPs.
Apparently, no vacuum loss occurred during the installation.
• Small displacement of the asphalt layer were observed in
some of the VIP panels, hampering the continuity of two VIP
panels in the wall.
• The targeted thermal transmittance of the wall according to
the requirements set in D3.2 U, was 0.15 W/m2K was
achieved according to measurements carried out.
• Regarding hygrothermal performance, no relative humidity
higher than 80% was observed during this period (July-
October 2015).
• Installation proved not to be too complicated, as long as the
installation procedures are followed carefully.

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A2PBA2PBEER– Affordable and Adaptable Public Buildings through Energy Efficient Retrofitting

 Evaluation
THE DEVELOPED SYSTEM IS A VALID SOLUTION FOR INTERIOR RETROFITS THAT CAN BE
CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS IF CARE IS TAKEN AND THE PROCEDURES CARRIED
OUT CORRECTLTY. THE SOLUTION ACHIEVES THE PROJECTED ENERGY SAVINGS WHILST
OCCUPYING MINIMAL INTERIOR SURFACE AREA IN CONTRAST TO TRADITIONAL
SOLUTIONS .
THE SYSTEM RESOLVES THE IDENTIFIED KEY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

• PROTECTION OF VIPS FROM PERFORATIONS

• OPTIMAL HYGROTHERMAL PERFORMANCE,
• OPTIMAL THERMAL PERFORMANCE THROUGH MINIMAL COLD BRIDGING
• INTEGRATION OF BUILDING SERVICES AND STRUCTURES

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Thank you for listening!

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 609060. 
The information in this presentation does not necessarily represent the view of the European 
Commission. 

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