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Title: Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study

Abstract

Building science research supports installing exterior (soil side) foundation insulation as the optimal method to enhance the hygrothermal performance of new homes. With exterior foundation insulation, water management strategies are maximized while insulating the basement space and ensuring a more even temperature at the foundation wall. However, such an approach can be very costly and disruptive when applied to an existing home, requiring deep excavation around the entire house. The NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership team implemented an innovative, minimally invasive foundation insulation upgrade technique on an existing home. The approach consisted of using hydrovac excavation technology combined with liquid insulating foam. The team was able to excavate a continuous 4 inches wide by 4 feet to 5 feet deep trench around the entire house, 128 linear feet, except for one small part under the stoop that was obstructed with concrete debris. The combination pressure washer and vacuum extraction technology also enabled the elimination of large trenches and soil stockpiles normally produced by backhoe excavation. The resulting trench was filled with liquid insulating foam, which also served as a water-control layer of the assembly. The insulation was brought above grade using a liquid foam/rigid foam hybrid system and terminated at themore » top of the rim joist. Cost savings over the traditional excavation process ranged from 23% to 50%. The excavationless process could result in even greater savings since replacement of building structures, exterior features, utility meters, and landscaping would be minimal or non-existent in an excavationless process.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. NorthernSTAR, Minneaplolis, MN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NorthernSTAR, Minneaplolis, MN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1220342
Report Number(s):
DOE/GO-102014-4487
6933
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
residential; Residential Buildings; NorthernSTAR; Building America; Thermal enclosure; walls below grade; foundation insulation; liquid insulating foam; hydrovac excavation technology

Citation Formats

Schirber, T., Mosiman, G., and Ojczyk, C. Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.2172/1220342.
Schirber, T., Mosiman, G., & Ojczyk, C. Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1220342
Schirber, T., Mosiman, G., and Ojczyk, C. 2014. "Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1220342. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1220342.
@article{osti_1220342,
title = {Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Field Study},
author = {Schirber, T. and Mosiman, G. and Ojczyk, C.},
abstractNote = {Building science research supports installing exterior (soil side) foundation insulation as the optimal method to enhance the hygrothermal performance of new homes. With exterior foundation insulation, water management strategies are maximized while insulating the basement space and ensuring a more even temperature at the foundation wall. However, such an approach can be very costly and disruptive when applied to an existing home, requiring deep excavation around the entire house. The NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership team implemented an innovative, minimally invasive foundation insulation upgrade technique on an existing home. The approach consisted of using hydrovac excavation technology combined with liquid insulating foam. The team was able to excavate a continuous 4 inches wide by 4 feet to 5 feet deep trench around the entire house, 128 linear feet, except for one small part under the stoop that was obstructed with concrete debris. The combination pressure washer and vacuum extraction technology also enabled the elimination of large trenches and soil stockpiles normally produced by backhoe excavation. The resulting trench was filled with liquid insulating foam, which also served as a water-control layer of the assembly. The insulation was brought above grade using a liquid foam/rigid foam hybrid system and terminated at the top of the rim joist. Cost savings over the traditional excavation process ranged from 23% to 50%. The excavationless process could result in even greater savings since replacement of building structures, exterior features, utility meters, and landscaping would be minimal or non-existent in an excavationless process.},
doi = {10.2172/1220342},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1220342}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}