Durability and reusability assessment of naturally aged synthetic foam insulation in existing buildings
- Author
- Gentiel Acar (UGent) , Nathan Van Den Bossche (UGent) and Marijke Steeman (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- Over several decades, insulation materials have served the crucial role of meeting thermal performance standards for buildings. However, a contemporary challenge arises as an in-creasing number of these aged insulation materials are released during demolition or renovation. Regrettably, these materials often end up in landfills or incinerators, even though they are usually not at the end of their potential lifespan. To tackle this challenge, there is a growing need to explore the potential of reusing insulation materials. The key challenge lies in understanding the dismantling process, the performances after ageing, and identifying optimal reuse applications in new constructions with some level of quality control. This necessitates a comprehensive investigation into the durability of naturally aged insulation materials, focusing on commonly used products in the existing building stock, such as synthetic foam insulation. This paper focuses on evaluating the performance of naturally aged polyurethane (PUR), polyisocyanurate (PIR), and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation retrieved from cavity walls, pitched and flat roofs. Assessment of both damage and performance reveal a high potential for reusing these synthetic foam insulation materials, as minimal degradation was observed. These novel findings underscore the potential of reusing insulation materials, thereby promoting circular building and reducing the ecological footprint of the construction industry.
- Keywords
- durability, reusability, synthetic foam insulation, circular building
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01JH5BT1M57ARAPJ1WEDRP5D21
- MLA
- Acar, Gentiel, et al. “Durability and Reusability Assessment of Naturally Aged Synthetic Foam Insulation in Existing Buildings.” MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1, edited by Umberto Berardi, vol. 552, Springer, 2025, pp. 370–77, doi:10.1007/978-981-97-8305-2_51.
- APA
- Acar, G., Van Den Bossche, N., & Steeman, M. (2025). Durability and reusability assessment of naturally aged synthetic foam insulation in existing buildings. In U. Berardi (Ed.), MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1 (Vol. 552, pp. 370–377). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8305-2_51
- Chicago author-date
- Acar, Gentiel, Nathan Van Den Bossche, and Marijke Steeman. 2025. “Durability and Reusability Assessment of Naturally Aged Synthetic Foam Insulation in Existing Buildings.” In MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1, edited by Umberto Berardi, 552:370–77. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8305-2_51.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Acar, Gentiel, Nathan Van Den Bossche, and Marijke Steeman. 2025. “Durability and Reusability Assessment of Naturally Aged Synthetic Foam Insulation in Existing Buildings.” In MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1, ed by. Umberto Berardi, 552:370–377. Singapore: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-97-8305-2_51.
- Vancouver
- 1.Acar G, Van Den Bossche N, Steeman M. Durability and reusability assessment of naturally aged synthetic foam insulation in existing buildings. In: Berardi U, editor. MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1. Singapore: Springer; 2025. p. 370–7.
- IEEE
- [1]G. Acar, N. Van Den Bossche, and M. Steeman, “Durability and reusability assessment of naturally aged synthetic foam insulation in existing buildings,” in MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1, Toronto, Canada, 2025, vol. 552, pp. 370–377.
@inproceedings{01JH5BT1M57ARAPJ1WEDRP5D21,
abstract = {{Over several decades, insulation materials have served the crucial role of meeting thermal performance standards for buildings. However, a contemporary challenge arises as an in-creasing number of these aged insulation materials are released during demolition or renovation. Regrettably, these materials often end up in landfills or incinerators, even though they are usually not at the end of their potential lifespan. To tackle this challenge, there is a growing need to explore the potential of reusing insulation materials. The key challenge lies in understanding the dismantling process, the performances after ageing, and identifying optimal reuse applications in new constructions with some level of quality control. This necessitates a comprehensive investigation into the durability of naturally aged insulation materials, focusing on commonly used products in the existing building stock, such as synthetic foam insulation. This paper focuses on evaluating the performance of naturally aged polyurethane (PUR), polyisocyanurate (PIR), and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation retrieved from cavity walls, pitched and flat roofs. Assessment of both damage and performance reveal a high potential for reusing these synthetic foam insulation materials, as minimal degradation was observed. These novel findings underscore the potential of reusing insulation materials, thereby promoting circular building and reducing the ecological footprint of the construction industry.}},
author = {{Acar, Gentiel and Van Den Bossche, Nathan and Steeman, Marijke}},
booktitle = {{MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE BUILDING PHYSICS, IBPC 2024, VOL 1}},
editor = {{Berardi, Umberto}},
isbn = {{9789819783045}},
issn = {{2366-2557}},
keywords = {{durability,reusability,synthetic foam insulation,circular building}},
language = {{eng}},
location = {{Toronto, Canada}},
pages = {{370--377}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
title = {{Durability and reusability assessment of naturally aged synthetic foam insulation in existing buildings}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8305-2_51}},
volume = {{552}},
year = {{2025}},
}
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