Contact thermal insulation systems

Contact thermal
insulation systems
are a smart solution
for the external
insulation of buildings.
Covered with a stucco
finish, they do not change the original appearance
of the façade. Their advantage is that they provide
compact insulation of the building with no thermal
bridges. The insulation slabs are positioned between
the outside of the original wall and the structured
stucco, and attached using adhesive and dowel
fixings.
Stone wool is ideal for contact thermal insulation
systems. It has excellent heat insulation properties, is
non-combustible, breathable and has acoustic benefits.
Rockwool insulation products for contact
thermal insulation systems
Fasrock Insulation slabs with longitudinal
oriented fibres designed
for contact thermal insulation
systems.
Fasrock L Insulation slabs with vertical orien-
ted fibres (lamella slabs) designed
for contact thermal insulation
systems. They have a high tensile
strength perpendicular to the plane
of the slab. They are flexible and
easy to sand for a uniform finish.

26 For details of the technical parameters, please see the

appropriate Rockwool technical data sheets. (Table 8)

Before thermal insulation
Assembly
To ensure the quality of a contact thermal insulation
system, it should only be installed by qualified persons
trained by a manufacturer of a certified thermal
insulation system. Clients should insist on viewing
the certificate of training.
The individual components that make up the
system should always be those that are detailed
in the certified thermal
27 insulation system.

28

Applying Rockwool insulation slabs

Façade protected
by Rockwool thermal
insulation
29

Price
The insulation component itself is one of several cost
items that make up an insulation system, but it is
the only item that actually pays off in financial terms.
This is why you should always design the thickness
of the insulation at the upper limit of its recommended
range. Natural stone wool insulation is more expensive
than insulation made of foam plastics. Its higher price,
however, is more than compensated for by its durability,
water vapour permeability, low thermal expansion,
environmentally benign nature and non-combustibility.
After thermal insulation

10
Assembly of the ECOROCK contact thermal insulation
system using slabs with longitudinal oriented fibres

Below are some instructions on how ECOROCK contact

thermal insulation systems should be installed using
Fasrock slabs with longitudinal oriented fibres. The sys-
tem should be assembled and installed by a qualified
person trained by Rockwool. [The detailed instructions
for assembly are delivered with the insulation slabs.]
Fasrock slabs can be used with any other certified
thermal insulation system.

Conditions
Thermal insulation should not be installed if the tempe-
rature of the air, the underlay and the slabs falls below
+5 °C or rises above +25 °C, and if the wind is too
strong. When on site, insulation slabs, reinforcing Figure 30
layers and stucco should be protected against rain. The façade system
is composed of:
Requirements for the underlay
1. adhesive mortar;
The underlay [i.e. the external aspect of the original wall]
2. façade slab with longitudinal
should be solid and clean with no dust particles or grease
oriented fibres;
on it. Any original stucco may need to be removed.
3. plate dowels;
Use levelling mortar to treat the surface if there are pits
4. reinforcing mortar with reinforcing
and bumps of over 1 cm and if the stucco is not uni-
mesh;
form and cohesive. The surface of both ‘stuccoed’
5. flexible mortar;
and naked walls must be mechanically cleaned
6. mineral stucco (with façade
using a brush or pressure cleaner.
coating or external cladding).
Additional requirements
for the preparation of the façade
Insert and mount windows, doors and window sills
before installing the insulation slabs. Please note
that all sills, flashings and external pipe work should
be appropriately shaped and positioned to allow
for the insulation slabs and mortar finishes.

Installing the ECOROCK

contact thermal insulation system
Mounting skirtboards
Before installing the thermal insulation system, mark the height of the skirtboard and draw a horizontal line.
The skirtboard should be mounted at least 40 cm above the ground. It must be attached horizontally around
the entire building.
31 32 33

1. Measuring up the skirtboard position 2. Drilling an opening 3. Hammering in a dowel

11
 34

4. Applying
the base
layer of
adhesive
Attaching slabs
The insulation slabs are spot and edge bonded.
35
The adhesive is applied in dabs over the slab,
and rolls along the edge of the slab, using a stainless
steel trowel.
Place the slab on a stone wool package, or other
pedestal, to have access from each side. Apply rolls
of adhesive along the edge of the slab and some six
dabs evenly distributed over the slab. Apply enough 5. Applying
adhesive to make sure that the slab adheres firmly dabs and
to the underlay. rolls

36 Laying slabs
The insulation slabs are bonded to each other by being pressed against
the slabs already attached. Remember to remove any surplus adhesive
which may emerge when the slabs are abutted.
Any irregularities across the surface of the slabs
correct incorrect
must be removed within 24 hours, using rough
sand paper attached to a float.
Make sure that the slabs are laid to bond with
each other at the corner of the building, as well.
To align the edges of the corners, cut off any
6. Removing surplus adhesive
overlapping material using a batten and smooth
37
the edges with rough sand paper attached
to a float.
Corners of windows and doors must be insulated using whole slabs Figure 40
(see picture). There must be a joint between the slab and other elements,
such as door and window jambs, window sills, roofs and balconies. The joint
must be filled with a sealing material, such as silicone sealant or an elastic tape.

7. Detail of an angle bond

Window openings must
be insulated as shown
38
in the picture below.

Insulation
of a window
head
8. Cutting off surplus insulation (Figure 42)
in the corner
39

Cross-section
of an insulated
window head
Insulation of
with a correctly
a window sill
shaped slope
(Figure 43)
9. Sanding the slab (Figure 41)

12
Fixing with dowels Example of positioning
Slabs with longitudinal oriented fibres are fixed with dowels no sooner the dowels
than 24 hours after they have been adhered. The type and the length 8 dowels per sq m
of joints (the minimum anchoring depth), and the positions of the dowels,
is specified in the technical documentation for the thermal insulation system.
It is adjusted as appropriate to the type of underlay, the thickness of the
insulation slab, the height of the building, and the load size. Openings are
drilled with a percussion drill, except for openings in perforated bricks
and aerated concrete which are drilled with a standard drill. Plastic plate
dowels are inserted in the openings and screwed or hammered in.
The minimum anchoring depth must be greater than:
• 5 cm in concrete and dense bricks a
• 8 to 9 cm in perforated bricks and cellular concrete Figure 44

45 46 Example of positioning 8 dowels

over an area of 1 sq m according
to the anchoring layout.
Minimum distance from
the edge of the wall:
• > 5 cm (concrete walls)
• > 10 cm (brick walls)

10. Drilling an opening 11. Hammering in a plate dowel

47 48 49

12. Reinforcing a corner 13. Applying flexible mortar 14.Dragging over the mass
with the smooth side of the float with the toothed side of the float

50
Before applying the flexible mortar, smooth the window and door openings
(jambs) and fix the corners using a corner batten and reinforcing mesh.
Stick strips of reinforcing mesh of at least 30 x 20 cm above the corners
of the window and door openings at an angle of 45°. This is to prevent
an increase in tension which could result in cracks.
Cover any additional reinforcing mesh with flexible mortar.
The reinforcing mortar is applied with a toothed float with teeth of 10 x 10 mm.
First apply some mortar to the insulation slab with the smooth side of the float
and then spread it over the slab with the toothed side.
The reinforcing mesh is inserted into the fresh reinforcing mortar
with sufficient overlaps. 15.Applying a reinforcing mesh
The edge of the reinforcing layer should be aligned with the corner batten. and smoothing the flexible mortar

13
 51

Smooth the corners with an angle float.

After the reinforcing mortar dries out, cut off the reinforcing mesh
overlaps along the edge of the skirtboard.
16.Smoothing a corner with an angle
float

Applying stucco 52

After the flexible mortar dries out, a layer of mineral stucco and,
if necessary, masonry paint is applied.

Applying Ecorock primer

Under standard weather conditions, Ecorock primer may be applied after
the flexible mortar has dried out for at least two days. Use a roller to apply it.

Applying Ecorock mineral stucco

Ecorock mineral stucco may be applied after the primer has dried
out for at least 24 hours.

17. Cutting off surplus mesh

53 Prepare and apply the stucco according 56

to the instructions for use.
Ecorock scraped stucco is applied
with a stainless steel float. Ecorock rolled
stucco is applied with a plastic float.
Surplus stucco, if any, should be removed
with the float at an angle of nearly 90° to
the surface. The thickness of the stucco
should approximate to the average
grain size.
18. Applying primer After the surplus material is removed 21. Applying silicone paint
the stucco should be float finished while
still wet, using a plastic float. Rolled
54 57
stucco should be polished by moving
the float in circles. Scraped stucco
should be float finished in the required
direction - either horizontally or vertically.
While fastening and drying out,
the stucco must be protected against
strong sunlight, rain and wind. With
low temperatures or high air humidity,
the stucco will take longer to dry out.

19. Float finishing the stucco 22. Example of a decorative groove

Applying masonry paint
55 After the stucco has been left to dry 58
for seven days, Ecorock masonry silicone
paint can be applied. It is usually applied
with a roller. Ecorock silicone paint
is available in 360 shades and is easy
to use as a decorative finish to achieve
aesthetic features such as grooves
and flutes.
Use covering strips to achieve a boundary
line between two shades of paint.
20. Smoothing in circles 23. Creating a boundary line using
a covering strip

14
Installing ECOROCK - L thermal insulation system
using slabs with vertical oriented fibres (lamella slabs)
Except for some details, the instructions for instal-
ling a thermal insulation system with Fasrock L
vertical fibre slabs are identical to those applicable
to longitudinal fibre slabs. The following section
only includes instructions which are different.
The main difference and advantage of a lamella
slab system is that lamella slabs do not need to be
anchored mechanically if the building is less than
20 m high, except when anchoring is required with
respect to the façade system.
Attaching insulation slabs
The slabs must be prepared by brushing thoroughly.
To ensure that they adhere perfectly to the underlay,
apply the adhesive over the entire surface of the
slab in two steps using what is referred to as
a “comb method”.
60
Step 1
Apply the adhesive to the slab with the smooth edge
of the float and spread it over the entire surface.
Place the slab on a stone wool package or other
pedestal to have access to it from each side.
61
Step 2
Apply the adhesive to the slab with the toothed edge
of the float (12 x 12 mm teeth) and spread evenly.
Make sure that the adhesive is spread over the entire
surface of the slab.
15
Figure 59
Cross-section of the thermal insulation system
using Fasrock L slabs with vertical oriented
fibres (lamella slabs)
1. adhesive mortar;
2. façade slab with vertical fibres;
3. reinforcing mortar with reinforcing mesh;
4. flexible mortar;
5. mineral stucco (with façade coating or external
cladding).
Anchoring with dowels
Insulation slabs must be anchored with plate dowels on
bearing underlay over 20 metres, as well as on soft and
non-bearing underlay, such as stucco or aerated conc-
rete, regardless of the height of the building. The type
and the length of the joints (the minimum anchoring
depth) and the position of the dowels is specified
in the technical documentation for the thermal insulation
system. It is adjusted as appropriate to the type
of underlay, the thickness of the insulation slab,
the height of the building and the load size.
The minimum anchoring depth must be greater than:
• 5 cm in concrete and dense bricks
• 8 to 9 cm in perforated bricks and cellular concrete
The diameter of the dowel plate must be at least 140 mm.
Example of positioning the dowels
4 dowels per sq m
Example of positio-
ning 4 dowels over
an area of 1 sq m
and 5 dowels at the
edge according to
the anchoring layout.
a Figure 62
Minimum distance from the edge of the wall:
• > 5 cm (concrete walls)
• > 10 cm (brick walls)
Any information contained in this data sheet describes the product
properties applicable as at the time of issue. With respect to continuous
development of these materials, changes to their properties may take
place from time to time.