Research and practice: External thermal insulation composite systems - climate saver or special waste?
The statistics speak for themselves: every year over 40 million square metres of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) are installed in Germany, over 80 % of which with EPS insulation. Meanwhile, there is an on-going debate about the − real or supposed − technical deficiencies of such products. Critics claim that ETICS based on EPS are a fire hazard, that their exteriors are prone to algae growth which can only be overcome with poisonous substances, and that the question of how to recycle them remains unresolved. How accurate are such assertions? What are the manufacturers doing to correct the known deficiencies of their products? The Munich-based architect, Andreas Hild discussed these questions with Gerd Hauser (Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics) and Andreas Holm (Munich Research Institute for Thermal Insulation).
