SEDL / STP / STP1116-EB / STP16354S

Experimental Test Results of Interior Vs. Exterior Insulation in Extremely Hot Climates

Al-Mofeez, I
assistant professorassistant professor of Construction Science, King Faisal UniversityTexas A&M University, DammamCollege Station, Texas

Woods, PK
assistant professorassistant professor of Construction Science, King Faisal UniversityTexas A&M University, DammamCollege Station, Texas

Pages: 13    Published: Jan 1991

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Abstract

Three room-sized building modules were constructed in Elhasa, Saudi Arabia during the summer of 1988. These test modules were identical except for the manner in which they were insulated. One had no insulation, another had insulation on the exterior surface of the exterior walls, and a third had insulation on the inside surface of the exterior walls. Hypotheses were developed and tested based upon an equation expressing the anticipated relationship of lifecycle costs among these three test modules. The equation is: Lifecycle cost (E) < Lifecycle cost (I) < Lifecycle cost (U); where (E) is exterior insulated condition, (I) is interior insulated condition, and (U) is uninsulated condition.

To estimate present worth and equipment size, MRT field measurements were used to fine tune an hour-by-hour energy simulation program called ENERCALC. The thermal characteristics of the buildings were entered along with the annual weather data for the site of the experiment. The buildings' annual heat gains and losses, peak heat gains and losses, summer hourly air-conditioning demand profile, and the present worth of each building were then compared. The comparison indicated that the life-cycle cost of the externally insulated building was the lowest among the three buildings.