As a cost-effective and efficient insulation system, Do u know ETICS?

ETICS - External Thermal Insulation Composite System

​

This is currently the most mainstream and widely applied solution. Its core involves fixing the eps insulation board directly to the exterior side of the building wall, followed by protection and finishing.

​​System Composition (From Inside to Outside):​​

1. ​​Substrate Wall:​​ Load-bearing or infill structural walls such as concrete, masonry (brick, blockwork).
2. ​​Bonding Layer (Adhesive):​​ Special polymer-modified cement mortar used to bond EPS boards to the substrate wall. Common application methods include:
   • ​​Perimeter and Dot Method (Dab-and-Strip):​​ Apply a continuous band of mortar around the board perimeter and place several mortar dabs (with vent holes required) in the center. Most common and material-efficient.
   • ​​Strip Method (Trowel Application):​​ Apply strips of mortar longitudinally or transversely across the board surface.
   • ​​Full-Bedding Method:​​ Apply mortar over the entire back surface of the board (less common, used for high-flatness substrates or specific requirements).
3. ​​Insulation Layer:​​ EPS Insulation Board. Typical density range 18-22 kg/m³, must meet fire rating requirements (In China, typically B1 flame-retardant material). Thickness determined by calculation according to local building energy efficiency standards (commonly 8-12cm in cold regions, potentially thicker in severe cold regions).
4. ​​Mechanical Fixings (Anchors):​​ After the bonding layer cures (typically after 24 hours), use specialized plastic anchors (with expansion sleeves) to provide supplementary mechanical fixing of the EPS boards, enhancing system security (wind resistance, anti-detachment). Anchor quantity and layout determined by building height, location (e.g., negative wind pressure zones, corners), and code requirements.
5. ​​Basecoat Render (Reinforcing Layer):​​ Apply a first layer of specialized polymer-modified cementitious crack-resistant mortar over the EPS board surface.
6. ​​Alkali-Resistant Reinforcing Mesh:​​ Embedded into the wet basecoat render before it dries. Its role is crucial:
   • ​​Enhanced Crack Resistance:​​ Prevents cracking in the render layer.
   • ​​Improved Impact Resistance:​​ Protects the insulation layer from physical damage.
   • Reinforcements are typically required at stress concentration points like window/door corners (e.g., using diagonal mesh strips or additional mesh layers).
7. ​​Additional Basecoat Render:​​ Apply a second layer of basecoat render over the mesh, ensuring the mesh is fully encapsulated and achieving the designed thickness (total thickness typically 3-6mm). Ground floor or high-traffic areas may require double-layer mesh or thicker render.
8. ​​Finishing Layer:​​
   • ​​Thin-Coated Finish (Render/Paint):​​ Most common, economical, wide variety available (e.g., stone-like render, textured coatings, elastomeric paints).
   • ​​tile Cladding Finish:​​ Requires strict design adherence to codes:
     • Must use specialized flexible tile adhesive.
     • Requires enhanced alkali-resistant mesh (or hot-dip galvanized steel mesh) instead of standard mesh.
     • Requires increased anchor density and optimized layout.
     • Requires flexible, waterproof grout.
   • ​​Insulated Cladding Panels / Composite Panels (see below)​​ are a prefabricated form based on this system.

​​Advantages:​​ Effectively eliminates thermal bridges (cold bridges), protects the main structure, improves wall thermal inertia (warmer in winter, cooler in summer), occupies minimal interior space, mature technology, high overall cost-performance ratio.

​