Forensic Investigation of Insulation Failures

Insulation systems in walls, floors, roofs and façades are a common feature of modern buildings, affecting building performance, thermal comfort and energy efficiency. But when insulation fails to perform as intended, it can lead to cracking, collapse and moisture problems in both the insulation and its adjacent materials. Our investigations have found that such insulation failures typically follow on from deeper issues with design, manufacture, installation or overlooked hygrothermal dynamics. Previous cases have involved:

• External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) adversely affected by weather or poor installation.
• Underfloor insulation board settlement.
• Pumped full-fill cavity insulation shrinkage.
• Hygrothermal failures where moisture accumulation damages adjacent materials.

Each case requires careful consideration of construction details, installation methods, environmental conditions and material behaviour to determine why performance diverged from expectations.