High Insulation Value
To satisfy the conditions imposed in most European countries, the U-values of the wall must be less than 0.6 W/m2K. The tables below give the U-values for the various types of MHE-AAC walls. In each case, these values are so low that extra insulation material becomes and the overall insulation level K55 is easily achieved.
Is it still possible to build without additional insulation material?
You can simply use MHE-AAC to build a wall of traditional thickness without having to install any additional layer(s) of insulation. A double wall consisting of MHE-AAC blocks of 8” AAC wall and 4” MHE-Por exceeds the current European energy savings code and is a clear PASSIVE HOUSE or ZERO ENERGY Wall system.
MHE is working closely with European window and Door manufactures in order to create the most airtight and all around well insulated Building Shell.
Example, a 12” AAC wall and a 4” MHE-Por shell achieves an overall heat transfer coefficient of 0.26 W/m2K. This value satisfied the European Building Standard requirement of U – Value = 0.27 W/m2K
Effective insulation
Not only does the insulation of a house have to comply with all the applicable regulations; it also has to be correctly put in place on site. Unfortunately this is not always the case. To be genuinely effective, both the AAC wall system and the MHE-Por system need to be installed to an exact specification. Also all windows and doors as well as any other openings like chimneys have to be included in the system so well, that no thermal bridges occur.
You can see standard building systems, like CMU and wood framing, leaving the complete system so often poorly installed, leading to cold bridges or moisture seeping in, resulting in damp walls.
MHE-AAC solution
No insulation material in the cavity, the insulation is inherit. No risk of cold bridges or water seeping in. No chance of damaging the insulation material. This system offers 100% effective insulation for the whole lifetime of the building
The slightest break in the continuity of the insulation results in cold air circulating between the inner leaf and the insulation. Not only can this lead to a drop in the insulation level of the wall, it can also produce thermal bridges. These cold bridges can have serious repercussions for the building in question (internal condensation, the appearance of damp spots on the walls). MHE-AAC can offer an effective solution to this problem. MHE-AAC is insulating in itself and there is no need to fit additional insulation. No more problems caused by poorly installed insulation.
By building with MHE-AAC, you always get a long-lasting insulation that is also 100% effective. The insulation values of MHE-AAC blocks exceed those of the strictest regulations, and this automatically leads to additional savings on heating and cooling costs. All without having to pay for your insulation!
Apart from the insulation values, which directly impact energy use, it is also important to consider the level of comfort and quality of life in the dwelling. MHE-AAC distinguishes itself with its exceptional qualities.
Thermal inertia
During very warm periods (or periods with large amounts of sunshine), a well-insulated dwelling with good thermal inertia remains pleasantly cool during the day and maintains at a comfortable temperature at night.
As soon as the ambient temperature rises, any building material will absorb a certain amount of heat. This amount of heat per square feet is known as the thermal capacity (B). The greater the mass of the material, the higher the value. A concrete block has high thermal capacity due to its mass, but low thermal inertia because it is not insulating. To achieve good thermal inertia, the external wall must have a high thermal capacity (B) so that they absorb large amounts of heat. They must also be insulating so that the heat does not pass through to the other side of the wall too quickly. The ratio A=B must therefore be as high as possible.
This can only be achieved if the material used is both insulating and heavy. A “pure” insulation material has a very low mass and cannot store up the heat. In fierce sunshine, this then gives rise to the “caravan effect”, whereby it becomes unbearably hot in the interior area within a very short space of time. MHE-AAC has the properties of an insulation material but also a considerable mass (between 9492 lbs/sqft and 16611 lbs/sqft). It therefore satisfies all the conditions for creating good thermal inertia. Thus, it appears that the A-value of MHE-AAC is higher than that of other common construction materials. If the thermal inertia is higher (high A-value) this results in a large phase displacement and thermal damping.
Two major conditions for enjoying ideal comfort during the summer months:
MHE-AAC performs exceptionally on both levels.
The comfort zone lies between tc = 66°F and tc = 72°F. In a room with a surface temperature of 15°C, a feeling of comfort (tc = 20°C) is only reached if the air temperature is 25°C.
Since we know that increasing the air temperature by 41°F raises energy consumption by 40%, the importance of a higher surface temperature immediately becomes clear. Thanks to its insulating structure, MHE-AAC contributes to a higher surface temperature, thereby making it possible to save on heating costs and guarantee optimum comfort in the dwelling at all times.
No Cold Bridges
A cold bridge is a zone where the insulation of a house is weaker. If there are not too many cold bridges, they have little impact on annual energy consumption. Nevertheless, they can have disastrous consequences. If the surface temperature of the walls drops below a certain temperature (57°F under normal conditions), damp and mould problems can arise due to air condensing on the wall. These cold bridges and the associated condensation problems can easily be avoided by using MHE-AAC U-blocks, U-lintels or normal lintels as well as MHE roofs and floor systems.
Email: info@mhe-international.com
or Call: 1.888.847.1077
