Edinburgh Napier University

  Applications of nanotechnology in the form of high performing aerogel insulation are now widely used from space exploration to the oil and gas industry and in more recent years in the construction industry. Previous research has shown the merits of the new material as a high performing and effective solution which improves the thermal performance of complex building elements like solid walls. This research focuses on the development of a new aerogel based insulation Product aimed specifically at the retrofit market where space is limited and floor-to-ceiling heights are considered critical. The paper describes the testing being carried out on the application of coated aerogel samples designed to mitigate the thermal performance is-sues associated with solid wall buildings. Results are presented and their influences on the over-all design of the new aerogel insulation material are evaluated. Results from MVTR, Thermal Conductivity testing and U-value calculations show that a maximum thermal performance can be gained for solid wall buildings with a minimal loss of internal room space, thus demonstrat-ing its possible contribution to refurbishing hard-to-treat buildings