Insulation Material Tests — EN 13162…13171 / EN 12667

What Is Insulation?

Thermal insulation material tests determine the thermal performance and physical durability of the material. The basic test is thermal conductivity measurement (EN 12667 or EN 12939); Additionally, compressive strength, tensile strength, dimensional stability, water absorption, water vapor diffusion resistance and fire behavior are measured.

Purpose of Insulation

The aim is to show that the material provides the declared thermal conductivity value and the mechanical properties required by the application. Insulation performance is a direct input into the building energy calculation.

Which Products Is Insulation Applied To?

EPS and XPS sheets
Rock wool and glass wool products
Polyurethane (PUR/PIR) sheets
Wood fiber and natural insulation materials
Insulation systems applied on-site

In Which Sectors Is Insulation Used?

ConstructionConstructionEnergy

Standards Related to Insulation

TS EN 13162 (mineral wool products)
TS EN 13163 (expanded polystyrene — EPS)
TS EN 13164 (extruded polystyrene — XPS)
TS EN 13165 (hard polyurethane foam)
TS EN 12667 (thermal resistance — protected hot plate and heat flow meter)
TS EN 12939 (thermal resistance in thick products)
TS EN 1602 / EN 826 (apparent density and pressure behavior)

Insulation Conditions

Conditioning: It is brought into balance at the temperature and humidity defined in the standard before measurement.
average temperature: Thermal conductivity is measured and reported at defined average temperature
Ageing: For some foam products, the declared value is determined after aging
Thickness: The measurement thickness is recorded; thermal resistance is directly proportional to thickness

Equipment for Insulation

Protected hot plate device
Heat flow meter (HFM) device
Compression and tensile test presses
Climate and ageing chambers
Water absorption test tanks
Water vapor diffusion experimental setup

Sample Requirements for Insulation

Conditioning in building materials directly determines the result: concrete with incomplete curing time, damp wood or insulation material that is not balanced will not show its true performance. Sample age and conditioning conditions are always stated in the report.
Plate samples of size and number defined in the standard
Material type, density and thickness must be declared
Production date must be stated on foam products — aging affects value
Samples must be undamaged and have smooth surfaces.

Duration of Insulation

Thermal conductivity measurement takes several hours after conditioning; The actual time is determined by the samples coming to equilibrium. For foam products that require aging, the time required for the declared value is significantly longer.

Insulation Procedure

1Samples are conditioned under conditions defined in the standard.
2Size, thickness and density are measured.
3Thermal conductivity is measured at a defined average temperature.
4Compressive and tensile strength are determined.
5Dimensional stability and water absorption tests are applied.
6Water vapor diffusion resistance is measured.

Insulation Acceptance Criteria

The EN 13162–13171 series defines the properties and classification levels to be declared for each type of product. The minimum thermal resistance required for the building is determined by national energy performance regulations. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

Thermal conductivity depends on the measurement temperature; Values taken at different average temperatures cannot be directly compared. In addition, the declared value (lambda D) is a statistical value and differs from a single measurement result. In practice, the actual performance of an insulation material that absorbs moisture drops significantly below the laboratory value.

Insulation Report

Material type, density and thickness
Conditioning conditions
Measurement average temperature
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance values
Mechanical and physical property results
Water absorption and vapor diffusion results

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011
2010/31/EU Energy Performance in Buildings Directive

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Insulation test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Insulation

Why is the declared value and the value we measure different?

The declared value (lambda D) is a statistical value that covers production variability and is more conservative than the measurement result of a single sample. Single measurement may be better than declared value; This is an expected situation.

Does wet insulation material retain its performance?

It does not protect. Water conducts heat much better than air; The thermal conductivity of the material that absorbs moisture increases significantly. Therefore, water absorption and vapor diffusion properties are measured separately and detail solution becomes critical.