Performance Over Time and Durability
Assessment of External Thermal
Insulation Systems with Artificial Stone
Cladding
Sonia Lupica Spagnolo and Bruno Daniotti
Abstract The contribution describes an experimental programme on durability
assessment using the accelerated ageing of an outer wall component consisting of
plasterboard support, an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) in
polystyrene and a cladding that was realised half with natural stone and the other half
with cast stone. The sample was placed in front of the climatic chamber by means of
a special frame, in the so-called door configuration. During the accelerated ageing,
this sample was simultaneously monitored over time using temperatures probes and
flowmeter tests in order to evaluate the decay of the thermal performance over time.
The experimental research was conducted with the aim of assessing the decay in
thermal performance of an ETICS covered with artificial stone, comparing it with a
similar stratigraphy but with a natural stone cladding.
Keywords Artificial stone · ETICS · Service life · Durability · Accelerated ageing
1 Introduction
European economies depend on natural resources, but if current patterns of
resource use are maintained in Europe, environmental degradation and depletion of
natural resources will continue. The issue has also a global dimension (European
Commission 2005). That is why, artificial stones adoption can contribute in reducing
the negative environmental impacts generated by the use of natural resources.
Stones used for cladding are exposed to environmental weathering, which is
responsible for alterations in their microstructure (e.g. open porosity, pore size distribution, chemical-mineralogical composition of the phases, etc.), that, in turn, results
in a modification of physical and mechanical properties (Franzoni et al. 2013).
The main material which is the subject of accelerated ageing is artificial stone
made by means of a suitable Portland cement mix, lightweight aggregates and
S. Lupica Spagnolo (B) · B. Daniotti
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department,
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: sonia.lupica@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_26
277
Assessment of External Thermal
Insulation Systems with Artificial Stone
Cladding
Sonia Lupica Spagnolo and Bruno Daniotti
Abstract The contribution describes an experimental programme on durability
assessment using the accelerated ageing of an outer wall component consisting of
plasterboard support, an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) in
polystyrene and a cladding that was realised half with natural stone and the other half
with cast stone. The sample was placed in front of the climatic chamber by means of
a special frame, in the so-called door configuration. During the accelerated ageing,
this sample was simultaneously monitored over time using temperatures probes and
flowmeter tests in order to evaluate the decay of the thermal performance over time.
The experimental research was conducted with the aim of assessing the decay in
thermal performance of an ETICS covered with artificial stone, comparing it with a
similar stratigraphy but with a natural stone cladding.
Keywords Artificial stone · ETICS · Service life · Durability · Accelerated ageing
1 Introduction
European economies depend on natural resources, but if current patterns of
resource use are maintained in Europe, environmental degradation and depletion of
natural resources will continue. The issue has also a global dimension (European
Commission 2005). That is why, artificial stones adoption can contribute in reducing
the negative environmental impacts generated by the use of natural resources.
Stones used for cladding are exposed to environmental weathering, which is
responsible for alterations in their microstructure (e.g. open porosity, pore size distribution, chemical-mineralogical composition of the phases, etc.), that, in turn, results
in a modification of physical and mechanical properties (Franzoni et al. 2013).
The main material which is the subject of accelerated ageing is artificial stone
made by means of a suitable Portland cement mix, lightweight aggregates and
S. Lupica Spagnolo (B) · B. Daniotti
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department,
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: sonia.lupica@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_26
277