Requirements for thermal protection of buildings.

Six important requirements apply to the planning and construciton of buildings and building components.
These are:

Stability
Safety in use
Fire protection
Noise protection
Hygiene and Health
Energy Conservation

It is evident from this list that thermal insulation of buildings is differentiated into hygenic aspects and energy conservation aspects.
The requirements of hygenic thermal insulation are meant to protect against mold growth on the internal surfaces of building components. Mold and its spores can cause allergies and represent a compromise to the hygiene of a building and consequently, the health of its residents. The hygenic thermal insulation requirements describe the minimum requirements for the design of building components that transfer heat.

Determination of the thermal resistance RT and the thermal transfer coefficient U of building components.
With the introduction of DIN 4108-2 and DIN V 4108-6, the mode of calculation for the determination of thermal resistance RT and the thermal transfer coefficient U of building components. Previously, DIN 4108-5 and DIN V 4108-4 specified the modus of calculation.  Subsequently, the thermal resistance RT and the thermal transfer coefficient U are determined according to European standards.

Improvement of the thermal protection of buildings and the optimisation of the detail connections (heat bridges) lead to a lower annual primary energy need.

Thermal transfer coefficient U.
The thermal transfer coefficient U of a building component - both sides bordered by air - is determined from the recriprocal value of the thermal resistance RT.
U=1/RT (1)
It should be noted that the values of thermal conductivity should be calculated exactly to at least three decimal places, while the final result of the thermal resistance and thermal transfer coefficient are rounded to two decimal places.

Heat transfer via the ground as per  DIN EN ISO 13370.
Contrary to popular opinion that in heated areas abutting the ground, the heat is transferred to the ground via the separating building components, the harmonized European standard DIN EN ISO 13370 stipulates that heat flows from these areas via the ground into the outside air.

Air-tightedness of building components and connections.
An impairment of the use of rooms and buildings can result from errors at the abutments of elements of a structure and the resulting leakages in the building shell.

A convectional heat bridge, a natural, uncontrolled exchange of warm inside air and cold outside air, causes not only considerable and unnecessary energy loss, but can also cause condensation problems in the building component and moisture penetration which may lead to mold growth on the internal surface of the building component. The design of the air-tightedness of building components and connections plays a significant role in the creation of a healthy room climate as well as in the compliance with the requirements of building components.

Single-wythe and double-wythe KS exterior walls as well as KS exterior walls with a thermal insulation system, each with exterior thermal insulation are non-critical and do not need a certificate for condensate water in the building components. The same applies to exterior basement walls with permiter insulation as well.


Necessity of energy conservation.
The necessity of energy conservation is indisputible today. Aspects of environmental protection and ensuring public services represent the main motivation. The construction sector plays a central role in this as a large conservation potential exists, and the necessary technology is available. Government policy intends to stimulate actions in this area by means of the Regulation on Energy Conservation (EnEV) and hopes for drastic reductions in energy consumption through its introduction.

It has been shown that improving the thermal insulation also improves the comfort in summer as well.
An additional positive effect is the heat retention charasteristic of calcium silicate block. Solutions for connection areas and calculation possibilities of the delta UWB value can be found in the heat bridge catalog for calcium silicate block.
Further information can be found in the reference book "Calcium silicate block, planning, design, construction".
The certificate program for EnEV (download at www.kalksandstein.de) uses the monthly balance sheet procedure so that economic solutions can be found for planners and clients.