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Details

Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study.

DE141159382

Publication Date	2014
Personal Author	Schirber, T.; Mosiman, G.; Ojczyk, C.; Rothgeb, S.
Page Count	53
Abstract	Building science research supports installing exterior (soil side) foundation insulation as the optimal method to enhance the hygrothermal performance of new homes. With exterior foundation insulation, water management strategies are maximized while insulating the basement space and ensuring a more even temperature at the foundation wall. However, such an approach can be very costly and disruptive when applied to an existing home, requiring deep excavation around the entire house. The NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership team implemented an innovative, minimally invasive foundation insulation upgrade technique on an existing home. The approach consisted of using hydrovac excavation technology combined with a liquid insulating foam. The team was able to excavate a continuous 4 in. wide by 4 to 5 ft deep trench around the entire house, 128 linear feet, except for one small part under the stoop that was obstructed with concrete debris. The combination pressure washer and vacuum extraction technology also enabled the elimination of large trenches and soil stockpiles normally produced by backhoe excavation. The resulting trench was filled with liquid insulating foam, which also served as a water-control layer of the assembly. The insulation was brought above grade using a liquid foam/rigid foam hybrid system and terminated at the top of the rim joist. Cost savings over the traditional excavation process ranged from 23% to 50%. The excavationless process could result in even greater savings since replacement of building structures, exterior features, utility meters, and landscaping would be minimal or non-existent in an excavationless process.
Keywords	Foundations Thermal insulation Houses Basements Building materials Concretes Construction Energy efficiency Excavation Indoor air quality Installation Material properties Walls Water management Waterproofing Building science research NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
NTIS Subject Category	89D - Structural Analyses 89B - Architectural Design & Environmental Engineering 89G - Construction Materials, Components, & Equipment 91E - Housing 71 - Materials Sciences
Corporate Authors	Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	201509

Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study.

Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study.
DE141159382

Publication Date	2014
Personal Author	Schirber, T.; Mosiman, G.; Ojczyk, C.; Rothgeb, S.
Page Count	53
Abstract	Building science research supports installing exterior (soil side) foundation insulation as the optimal method to enhance the hygrothermal performance of new homes. With exterior foundation insulation, water management strategies are maximized while insulating the basement space and ensuring a more even temperature at the foundation wall. However, such an approach can be very costly and disruptive when applied to an existing home, requiring deep excavation around the entire house. The NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership team implemented an innovative, minimally invasive foundation insulation upgrade technique on an existing home. The approach consisted of using hydrovac excavation technology combined with a liquid insulating foam. The team was able to excavate a continuous 4 in. wide by 4 to 5 ft deep trench around the entire house, 128 linear feet, except for one small part under the stoop that was obstructed with concrete debris. The combination pressure washer and vacuum extraction technology also enabled the elimination of large trenches and soil stockpiles normally produced by backhoe excavation. The resulting trench was filled with liquid insulating foam, which also served as a water-control layer of the assembly. The insulation was brought above grade using a liquid foam/rigid foam hybrid system and terminated at the top of the rim joist. Cost savings over the traditional excavation process ranged from 23% to 50%. The excavationless process could result in even greater savings since replacement of building structures, exterior features, utility meters, and landscaping would be minimal or non-existent in an excavationless process.
Keywords	Foundations Thermal insulation Houses Basements Building materials Concretes Construction Energy efficiency Excavation Indoor air quality Installation Material properties Walls Water management Waterproofing Building science research NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
NTIS Subject Category	89D - Structural Analyses 89B - Architectural Design & Environmental Engineering 89G - Construction Materials, Components, & Equipment 91E - Housing 71 - Materials Sciences
Corporate Authors	Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	201509