Thermal Insulation Products and Applications - Future Road Maps☆

Abstract The European energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction policy sets challenging targets both for new buildings and retrofitting actions. Nearly zero energy buildings cannot be realized without highly insulated building envelopes. New thermal insulation solutions are needed to fulfil the performance and buildability requirements. There is on-going strong development of new insulation materials and applications and also the performance properties of conventional insulations are continuously improved. A project was created to form road-maps for thermal insulation materials, products and solutions applicable in northern conditions. These road maps answer the needs of the building industry, applied research and authorities for the mid- to long-term periods. The main objective was to identify the R&D topics, product development priorities and the emerging and promising technologies and materials that can support technology leaps towards energy and resource efficient targets. The study included state-of-the-art report, analysis of key performance indicators of thermal insulation products, a sophisticated patent search and several interviews of professionals in the building sector. The interviews followed by workshops revealed the visions, expectations, barriers, trends and hypes that are related to the energy efficient building envelope applications. This study that was focused on Finnish perspective, but the formed road-maps cover the Northern climate conditions, European regulations and the international material and product development aspects. The challenges discovered in cold climate conditions give perspective also for the development needs and potentials in other climates.