A Comparative Evaluation for Three Residential Wall Insulation Systems in a Hot-Arid Climate Using Simulation Tools and Experimental Testing

The composition of typical wall systems impacts the rate of heat gain through the building envelope in the hot arid climate. A wall system performance can be predicted using simulation tools and can be measured effectively in lab. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis for the commonly used wall insulation materials that are suitable for the hot arid climate. The research approach utilize simulation tools and is validated by experimental testing utilizing a state of the art guarded hot box test rig able to analyze the performance of large scale wall insulation specimens under varied conditions using the standard ASTM C1363-11(1). Three different wall insulation types representing the commonly built systems in the research location were applied in the lab to a standard wall system detail. The study revealed the importance of vertical wall insulation in hot arid climates, however, with specified optimum thickness validated by experimental testing. The main limitations of both simulation tools and experimental testing are also noted.