Evaluation of the Impact of Bricks of Various Characteristics on Internally Insulated Masonry Walls in Cold Climate

Energy consumption in historic building stock is high compared to current energy efficiency standards. The heritage value of the facade and the limited space on the external surface in densely populated urban streets limit the application of external insulation. Internal insulation can be applied instead. However, it is considered to be a riskier technology due to moisture-related damage. In addition to mold growth and wood rot, frost damage should be considered in cold climates. This study aims to assess the impact of a vapor-open capillary-active calcium silicate internal insulation system with and without adhesive glue on the hygrothermal behavior of masonry from various historic bricks in cold climates by performing numerical simulations in the software Delphin. Test results of hygrothermal properties of 40 historic brick samples were used in numerical experiments to assess the impact of a brick type, the quality of the application of calcium silicate (with or without adhesive), and the impact of cold climate on the hygrothermal behavior. Results show that temperature behavior is similar to all wall types whereas a large difference is observed in moisture behavior. The application of adhesive glue tends to reduce moisture spikes caused by rain events when compared to the same samples without adhesive. Findings only partly correspond to other studies on factors affecting moisture behavior.