Improve thermal efficiency with new Stormdry water-repellent cream
16 April 2010
A new water-repellent cream called Stormdry has been launched by Safeguard that can improve the thermal properties of masonry walls by ensuring that they remain dry throughout the year.
Tests carried out by the University of Portsmouth show a potential energy saving of up to 29% when Stormdry is applied to single-skin walls constructed from brick or stone.Stormdry is applied to walls in a single coat using a brush or roller. Because Stormdry is applied as a cream it is easy to tell which areas have been treated. Once Stormdry has been applied it penetrates deeply into the masonry before curing to form an invisible barrier that repels water whilst remaining vapour permeable, allowing the wall to breathe naturally.
By preventing walls from absorbing rainwater, their thermal properties are maximised - much in the same way that dry clothes are better insulators than wet clothes.
According to Dr Eric Rirsch who led the Stormdry development team, the new product is not intended to compete with traditional insulation systems - "Many of the older properties in the UK's housing stock fall into the 'hard to treat' category which means that it is impractical to reduce their carbon footprint using traditional insulation products.
Stormdry can often be used in these situations as it does not alter the appearance of the building and does not take up valuable living space as would be the case with external and internal insulation respectively."
The CO2 savings achieved by using Stormdry are not as high as those typically achieved using insulation products, however Dr Rirsch points out that the installation costs of the product are considerably lower.
Stormdry is the result of a three year research and development project.
It is based on a carefully selected blend of silanes and siloxanes which achieve a water repellent effect by lining the pores of the masonry rather than blocking them. Because these molecules form an extremely strong and stable bond with commonly-used masonry materials, the life expectancy of the Stormdry treatment is between 20 and 30 years. Water absorbency tests to EN ISO15148:2002 (E) have been carried out demonstrating Stormdry's effectiveness on brick, sandstone, mortar, and concrete.
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- 09/07/2010 - New Website for Stormdry Water-repellent Cream
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