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Purpose of the work
Usually, it is easier to plan and install airtight barriers in new buildings than in old buildings. When combining professional technical plans based on well-known and specific (mostly also tried and tested) materials with professional workmanship and ongoing quality controls you will be able to create a permanently airtight barrier and to significantly reduce the risk of damages.
This sounds quite "simple" when dealing with new buildings, but when retrofitting existing buildings many a planner and contractor has despaired or caused quite some building damages, if he failed to identify and take into account the problems involved.
So how can you successfully plan and install airtight layers in existing buildings?
Method of approach
We will use case studies to explain important principles that should be observed when planning and installing air barriers in old buildings.
Content of the contribution
Planning is not everything, but without plans, everything else is nothing! (Unkown author)
A complete refurbishment, where the entire facade shell is removed down to the brickwork, is still the easiest method when planning airtight barriers for the existing building stock.
Things, however, are more difficult when refurbishing only parts of the building, e.g. the roof or the windows, or when the building is refurbished in phases. A mix of exterior and interior insulation or small-scale insulations at historical monuments pose a greater challenge. Refurbishing buildings with occupants is even more difficult, because you cannot open all of the components or might not even be allowed to enter the dwelling units.
The greatest challenge for designing and installing airtight barriers would be a mix of the difficulty levels described above.
What is more, the airtight barriers with a new design often have to be connected to existing components, materials or pre-existing "airtight layers" whose condition and quality are difficult to asses.
We will also present various solutions to facilitate communication with and amongst contractors..
Results and assessment of their significance
In this presentation I will explain that you need in-depth expertise in buildings structures, component layers, the new materials to be installed, in the planned or existing building utilization and communication amongst contractors when planning and installing such airtight barriers.
For further information please contact Helmut König at: helmut.koenig@herz-lang.de