Some Performance Aspects of Glass Fiber Insulation on the Outside of Basement Walls

This paper reviews the technical aspects of one particular insulation system concept where a rigid fibrous insulation is placed outside the basement wall and thus contributes to both thermal and moisture control of the building structure. The following properties of mineral fiberboards are discussed: drainage characteristics of the material and water retention after the drainage process, thermal resisitance, compressive strength, and elastic and irreversible deformations. All these properties are affected by the aging process of the material. Effects of various aging conditions simulated in the laboratory are compared with deterioration of the material exposed for 5 or 6 years in soils and on an experimental roof deck. Findings of Scandinavian and Canadian research are presented.