Recommendation for facade insulation material

The fire behavior of EPS should not be overlooked. Of course, there are flame retardants, but: The flame retardant Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), which is added to polystyrene for insulation boards and rigid foam boards, is classified as "very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects" according to the REACH regulation. It is relatively persistent and toxic to aquatic organisms with a very high potential for bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Migration into the environment from intact foamed polystyrene is quantitatively low; emissions can occur during fire, photolysis, and recycling.

That means... hazardous waste on the wall! Mineral wool has significant advantages here.

The internet is full of examples...

God, not again...

I would first get some information... before writing down such nonsense...

I think that's me... and not just out of private interest. Take a look at LCA analyses on the topic, then you'll know what I'm talking about.

here it continues...

Every insulation material has its advantages and disadvantages. Polymers ("Styropor", PUR, Resol) are flammable, which is more of a problem in multi-family houses, because if it burns so fiercely that the facade starts to burn, then nothing inside will be salvageable either. PU is said to be harder to ignite than EPS. Stone, mineral and glass wool as well as other inorganic boards (perlite, ...) are absorbent. Disposal and removal used to be a problem, now the fibers are supposedly treated so that no lung risk arises (personally, I wouldn’t bet my lungs on that). Cellulose-based boards (wood fiber) are absorbent and flammable and can mold if not treated. All approved insulation materials are harmless to health if installed correctly. Differences also exist in thermal conductivity. A PU or Resol ETICS is a few centimeters thinner than one made of mineral wool or EPS.

The structure of the plaster surface is very important because algae growth can occur there and it can be attacked more or less easily. It is also important how well the facade is protected from rain. As an interested layperson and natural scientist, I would say that these two points are among the most important for preventing facade damage. An alternative to ETICS with plaster is the ventilated curtain wall facade.

I consider the discussion about the "indoor climate" to be nonsense. It largely depends on the interior wall material and on ventilation and heating. Purely physically, the type of insulation makes virtually no difference. Generally, a resident will not notice what the insulation material is. Rather, the difference in wall material regarding soundproofing, workability, and heat storage becomes noticeable.

By the way, all opponents should watch the video... in France, passive houses are built from the material

[MEDIA=vimeo]81180775[/MEDIA]