Evaluation of Embedded VIPs for Use in the Building Envelope

Abstract

An objective for expanded use of vacuum insulation panel (VIP) products in buildings will be assisted by an understanding of the relationship between small-scale laboratory thermal measurements and large-scale tests of building components. Thermal resistances of a typical element of VIP embedded in closed-cell cellular plastic (foam) insulation obtained with a heat flow meter (HFM) apparatus are compared with results obtained with a hot-box facility for a building component. Small-scale samples of the foam-VIP composites were measured in single- and multi-transducer HFMs. The multi-transducer HFM was used to determine the heat flow distribution across the different sections of the VIP, i.e. center-of-panel vs. edges and joints. These measurements enable validation of numerical models, which can be utilized to model and evaluate large-scale building components containing VIPs.