Start 2 Reuse Insulation

With this TETRA project, we aimed to develop a digital tool that provides step-by-step guidelines for the reuse process of insulation materials. At each stage, the focus was placed on the relevant stakeholders (contractors, architects, reuse markets, manufacturers, clients, etc.), enabling them to apply the guidance in their own practice.

The research is carried out in three parts: the dismantling process, performance assessment, and reuse application. The study includes mineral insulation materials such as glass wool and stone wool, synthetic materials such as PUR, PIR, EPS, and XPS, as well as bio-based insulation. These materials may originate from various applications, including walls, roofs, and floors.

Large quantities of insulation from demolition or renovation projects end up as waste in landfills or incinerators, even though they are often not at the end of their service life. This not only results in additional CO₂ emissions, but also leads to the loss of all the embodied energy in these insulation products (from energy-intensive production processes, transport, processing, etc.). Reusing insulation materials therefore presents an ideal opportunity to close material loops and reduce ecological footprints. However, several key elements are still missing to enable large-scale reuse of insulation. We currently lack knowledge on how to dismantle insulation carefully, how to guarantee its performance, and how to repurpose it in new applications.

• UGent
• Buildwise