ATISOL C2C - Life cycle assessment as a tool for ecodesigning a "vapour and air barrier membrane – insulator" system, in a cradle to cradle approach

The European directive on the energy efficiency of buildings requires the members to put on the market solutions for insulation of buildings that are simple, effective and last-ing, but also respectful of the environment and of the users.
To reduce energy losses and to guarantee the durability of the thermal insulation, it is necessary to have a vapor and air barrier on the warm side of the building, situated be-tween the thermal insulation and the inside. Hence the passage of moisture from the building is reduced, preventing condensation problems on the insulating material. Cur-rently, the implementation of an insulation system combined with a vapor barrier presents three major problems: an important time for placing, a random durability in time (stability of tapes of junction, adherence to the existing walls, punching resistance), and finally a low disassembly and re-use level.
The ATISOL C2C project aims to develop a complete solution (ecological insulation + renewable vapor barrier + coating), with the lowest environmental impact on its whole life cycle. The solution can be used in both new construction or during renovation.
Compared to the state of the art, the solution that is developed is unique and innova-tive by its simplicity in terms of materials by integration of a vegetal self-adhesive binder to the spunbond reinforcement of the membrane, the latter being also made of renewable resources. The material is appropriate for application on the different wall coverings that can be found in a building. Due to the self-adhesive characteristics, the implementation is made easier in both common surfaces (walls, roofs and ceilings) and to the level of detail such as corners and junctions. In addition, the application of a clay finishing coating on the membrane completes the offer.
The constructive system can be dismantled at the end-of-life of the building and the various elements are recovered and valued in a cradle-to-cradle perspective.
A first step is already carried out: the Derbiskin©. The preliminary life cycle assess-ment results support the technical partners along the whole development and evolution of the membrane by pointing out the hot spots of the system, from the choice of the compo-nents of the vegetal binder or the spunbond reinforcement to the manufacturing process.
This project is supported by the GreenWin Competition Clusters and subsidized by the Walloon Region (BE).