ETICS External Insulation Systems: The Impact of Installation on Durability Assessment

This article aims to draw attention to the main issues related to the installation of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), which have been widely used for the thermal insulation of buildings since the late 1970s. Although the tools for assessing these systems are now well consolidated, a critical issue remains concerning the assessment of their installation and the regulatory gap in this area, particularly in Italy. This work reports the outcomes of numerous experimental investigations carried out at ITC-CNR (Construction Technologies Institute of the National Research Council of italy), which has long been engaged in the evaluation of ETICS, focusing in particular on the assessment of system durability and the main problems that have emerged, which are very often correlated with improper installation. Correct installation is crucial to ensure both the durability and the effectiveness of the system. Durability refers to the ability of the system to maintain its uniform appearance over time, avoiding physicochemical defects; effectiveness is more closely related to the long-term preservation of thermal insulation performance. Degradation related (also) to poor installation is instead more visible and therefore easier to monitor over time, as detachmentering, cracking, etc. appear over the years and very likely already at the first seasonal changes.