Heat insulation of stonework

The wall occupies the greater exterior surface of a building. Consequently, if it is not insulated, it presents large thermal losses. The heat insulation of stonework can be achieved with 4 alternative ways:

• Externally in the whole surface
• Externally in the concrete elements and in the core of double stonework from bricks
• Internally in the whole surface

The regulation of Energy Efficiency of Buildings does not impose the application of a specific method. It only requires a minimum thermal conductivity U value (ex k) for the stonework. The placement of the insulation layer in these three methods, influences the result of calculation in the study of energy efficiency, contrary to the old study of heat insulation, because the regulation faces the problem with its dynamic form and not only with its statics, because it takes into consideration the mass and the special thermal capacity of each material. This happens in real life, where the type of insulating protection and the placement of insulating material, influence considerably the thermal behavior of stonework. Each way can be considered correct or mistaken, depending on the application and the aimed result.
It is also advisable, whichever method might be selected, to take into account the compatibility of materials and to examine the possibility of problem creation by their application.
It is also frequent the phenomenon of damages in the buildings that are due to the incompatibility of materials. The knowledge of their attributes will help in receiving the suitable measures and mainly in the evasion of serious mistakes that are usually due to the mistaken order of placement of successive layers in the structural element (growth of surface tension, creation of cracks and detachments, humidity etc).