Thermomodernisation of residential buildings

Buildings made in the “large panel” technology built in the 1960s and 1980s are currently being modernised and insulated to reduce heat loss. Today, the new ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) used in thermomodernisation allow for significant heat energy savings and contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the environment.

Large panel building technology in Poland has a huge dimension. Approximately 60,000 buildings were constructed using this technology, and currently some of them have already been insulated in accordance with current standards. Based on the results of a 2019 study by the Building Research Institute (ITB), defects in large panel buildings are divided into those caused by technological defects and failure to adhere to the rigours of the processes, as well as inadequate transport and assembly, and defects caused by combining panels with other elements.

In view of the modernisation work to be undertaken, the most important aspect for investors should be the current technical condition of the building, including cracks and fractures in the texture layer, leaks in the joints, losses in the concrete and the degree of degradation of the hangers connecting the load-bearing layer with the texture layer. These hangers are an element extremely vulnerable to dampness and, consequently, corrosive processes. This dampness is caused by precipitation and the penetration of water vapour at the joint between the insulation and the concrete layer.

Detailed guidelines for assessing the condition of an object in large panel technology are contained in ITB Instruction No. 360/99 ‘Testing and assessment of concrete sandwich panels in residential buildings’.

A key safety requirement for the new thermal insulation layer is to take into account the loads acting on the whole system, with particular emphasis on the texture layer, which is loaded by the weight of the insulation itself. The design of the new thermomodernisation should also take into account the parameters of the new insulation, such as the thickness of the thermal insulation material, the method of fixing and the positioning of the fasteners and their number in different zones.

The WK-RENO system offered by Klimas Wkręt-met, a producer of construction fastenings, is used to reinforce walls in this technology. The selection and arrangement of WK-RENO fasteners itself should be developed by the designer, taking into account the parameters of the building.

The WK-RENO system consists of M20 threaded rod made of A2 or A4 stainless steel together with an expanded washer and nut (PGOA2/A4 + POD20-A2/A4 + NMA2/A4), 26 mm diameter metal mesh sleeve (TSM) and WCF-VESF or WCF-EASF resin mortar. The producer’s resin mortar dispensers, borehole cleaning pumps and brushes are elements that improve installation.

Proper renovation of the large panel enables the new insulation system to be securely fixed. Thermal insulation work can take place after 24-48 hours, using a group of fasteners dedicated to ETICS insulation systems. Correct installation of these consists of guiding the fasteners through the thermal insulation with the adhesive layer to the texture layer of the large panel. The number of fasteners should be included in the design of the insulation system.

The execution of the ETICS on the ETICS (i.e. new thermal insulation on top of the existing one) requires a technical expertise of the existing solution, and the method of fixing the thermal insulation itself and its elements is specified in detail in the ITB instructions. It is worth mentioning that the fixing of the ETICS on the ETICS must always be carried out in the texture layer of the large panel, so the fastener is carried out through both layers of the insulation. The guarantee of correctness and certainty of fixing in the substrate in such a case is provided by a fastener with a hammer-in or screw-in steel nail

Klimas Wkręt-met offers fasteners that can be used for new thermal insulation, as well as additional ones in buildings undergoing renovation. Particularly for the second group of thermal insulation, the WKTHERM S8 fasteners and the entire family of ECO-DRIVE fasteners are recommended. These fasteners are designed for any type of substrate.

Adherence to the guidelines and, last but not least, the use of suitable components for the execution of the insulation system itself guarantees its safety and functionality. We encourage you to use Klimas Wkręt-met products which are covered by European Technical Assessments and guarantee the STRONG FOR GENERATIONS effect.

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