Course detail

Special Insulations

FAST-BJA018Acad. year: 2025/2026

The course builds on the previous problems of building insulation and thus creates for the students the deepening of the knowledge in the studied subject. The course will be presented with special knowledge in the field of thermal insulating materials focusing on individual production technologies and final properties of insulators after their incorporation into the structure. In the course of the course, the topic of Super insulation materials and materials will be presented on a natural basis and on the basis of secondary raw materials. Separate chapters will be devoted to waterproofing materials, fire protection and building materials reaction to fire. Another area will be devoted to thermal insulation of building structures and external contact insulation systems of ETICS. At the end of the course, the issue of special insulators will be addressed in extreme conditions and radon and ionizing radiation insulation.

The following tutorials have laboratory and calculation character.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Jiří Zach, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Technology of Building Materials and Components (THD)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of building materials production technology, building physic (heat and moisture transfer), insulation materials, basic knowledge of mathematic and physic, basic knowledge of insulation of construction.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

Specialty of technological processes in using up-to-date building materials, use of insulation materials from heat-insulation, moisture and acoustic demands of buildings. Risks of new materials use in buildingsSecuring of humidity state in buildings, utilization of natural materials in building. Testing of insulation materials.Evaluation of materials effect on environment, technology of alternative heat sources utilization, low-energy buildings.
The student would manage the goal of the subject by acquiring knowledge on technological processes when using the modern construction materials, when using the insulation materials in terms of heat-insulation, moisture and acoustic requirements on constructions.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ČSN 730540 Tepelná ochrana budov (části 1 - 4), Úřad pro technickou normalizaci, metrologii a státní zkušebnictví, Praha (CS)
CHYBÍK, J. Přírodní stavební materiály. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada Publishing, a.s., 2009. 272 s. ISBN978-80-247-2532-1 (CS)
IEA-EBC Annex 65: Long-Term Performance of Super-Insulating Materials in Building Components & Systems was a research project set up to investigate the potential long-term benefits and risks of newly developed super insulation materials and systems and to provide guidelines for their optimal design and use, EBC Executive Committee Support Services Unit, 2019, https://www.iea-ebc.org/ (EN)
Šťastník, S., Zach, J.,: Stavební akustika a zvukoizolační materiály. CERM, Brno, 2002. ISBN 80-214-2117-7. (CS)
Zach, J., BJ13 Speciální izolace, VUT v Brně 2006  (CS)

Recommended reading

Hatcover, T.: Energy-Efficient Building: The Best of Fine Homebuilding. Taunton Press, 1999. ISBN-13: 978-1561583409. (CS)
Häupl, P., Homann, M., Kölzow, Ch., Riese, O., Maas, A., Höfker, G.: Bauphysik - Lehrbuch. Springer, 2012. ISBN: 3834814156. [http://www.weltbild.de/3/17194478-1/buch/lehrbuch-der-bauphysik.html] (CS)
Kaňka, J., Stavební fyzika 3. Akustika pozemních staveb, ČVUT, 2015, ISBN: 978-80-01-05674-5 (CS)
Richard T. Bynum, Daniel L. Rubino: Handbook of Alternative Materials in Residential Construction. Book, Inc, 1994. ISBN-10: 0070119783. (CS)
Šťastník, S., Zach, J.: Zkoušení izolačních materiálů. CERM, Brno, 2002. ISBN 80-214-2253-X (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization M , 4 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Jiří Zach, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Special insulation and related legislative requirements (including thermal building protection).
  • 2. Thermal insulation materials – distribution, properties.
  • 3. Traditional Thermal Insulation Materials – EPS, XPS, PUR, Mineral Wool, Glass Wool
  • 4. Super insulation materials – aerogels, vacuum insulating panels (VIP) – part 1.
  • 5. Super Insulating Materials – aerogels, vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP) – Part 2.
  • 6. Thermal insulating materials on a natural basis – distribution, production technology, properties.
  • 7. Heat insulating materials based on secondary raw materials – distribution, production technologies, properties.
  • 8. Waterproofing materials – division, requirements, production, properties.
  • 9. Fire protection, reaction of building materials to fire.
  • 10. Thermal insulation of building structures – ETICS systems – Part 2, special insulation.
  • 11. Methods of location of building-physical defects. New trends in the use of insulation, so-called passive energy houses.

Exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Jiří Zach, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • 1. Introduction, 2. Determination of properties of waterproofing bituminous foils.
  • 2. Determination of acoustic properties of insulation materials (dynamic stiffness) – part 1.
  • 3. Determination of acoustic properties of insulation materials (sound absorption coefficient) – part 2.
  • 4. Determination of mechanical properties of insulation materials – part 1 (tension at 10% defformation).
  • 5. Determination of mechanical properties of insulation materials – part 2 (tensile and shear strength).
  • 6. Determination of short time water absorption of insulation materials
  • 7. Determination of dimension stability under defined temperature and humidity conditions.
  • 8. Study of dependence of thermal insulating properties of thermal insulating materials on moisture – part 1.
  • 9. Study of dependence of thermal insulating properties of thermal insulating materials on moisture – part 2.
  • 10. Determination of fibers thickness by optical microscopy.
  • 11. Verification, credit test, credits.