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Report A3132.1 <br /> Page 3 <br /> Objectives <br /> This project was undertaken to record the effect of exposure for several types of <br /> EPS insulation specimens used as exterior basement insulation. The insulation <br /> was exposed to the Ottawa climate, including below grade conditions, over a two <br /> and a half year period from October 1995 to June 1998. The official monitoring <br /> began in June 1996. The following key performance factors of the EPS <br /> insulation were investigated: in-situ thermal resistance, laboratory tested thermal <br /> conductivity and compressive strength. The performance factors were <br /> investigated in the context of: <br /> • a prolonged exposure to the below grade environment <br /> • measured changes in local environmental conditions; i.e., changes in soil <br /> temperatures, soil moisture content, surrounding air temperatures inside and <br /> out, and, <br /> • measured laboratory properties before and after exposure. <br /> A number of types of EPS were investigated to establish whether'type' has a <br /> bearing on these performance factors. <br /> Finally, an equally important objective of this study was to determine the. <br /> relationship between changes in EPS material properties after 31 months of <br /> exposure in the field and changes in EPS properties due to exposure to - <br /> environmental cycling performed in a controlled laboratory test. <br /> Project Deliverables <br /> The project deliverables are: <br /> 1. Test results of insulation material properties before exposure. <br /> 2. Test results of insulation material properties after exposure <br /> 3. Field performance of the material under environmental loading conditions <br /> 4. Laboratory evaluation of durability under environmental cycling (separate <br /> report) <br /> Part 1 - Documentation of Experimental.Approach <br /> Approach <br /> Different types of EPS boards were installed over the full height of the exterior <br /> basement wall of Test Hut #1, at NRC's main Campus in Ottawa. Their <br /> performance was monitored using a strategy developed to monitor the in-situ <br /> thermal performance of roof insulation 2,3. A thermally calibrated, 25 mm layer of <br /> expanded polystyrene board was installed over the entire surface of the interior <br /> of the_basement wall. Thermocouples were systematically placed at the surface <br /> of each element in the wall, in a vertical array consisting of 16 points per <br /> specimen. A schematic diagram of this arrangement is shown in Figure 1. As <br /> well, heat flux transducers were installed at three vertical locations. <br /> L <br />