Thermal Insulation in Masonry Walls

Masonry walls can be thermally insulated to minimize heat loss in the winter and heat gains in the summer.

Thermal insulation can be done on the exterior wythe, interior wythe, and between the wythes.

A building with panels of polystyrene foam attached to the exterior wall, which are then covered with a layer of polymeric stucco and reinforced with glass fiber mesh, is externally insulated.

Similarly, internal thermal insulation can be achieved by attaching reflective barriers or batt insulation to the interior wall surface using furring strips, followed by the installation of a gypsum wallboard to create a concealed space to house the utilities.

Moreover, maintaining a sufficient air gap between the wythes, inserting slabs of plastic foam within this space, or filling granular insulation, such as perlite, in the cavity between brick wythes helps to thermally insulate the walls."

Nevertheless, for heavily reinforced walls, rebar serves as thermal bridges, and the limited space for insulation leads to reduced thermal insulation.

The choice of thermal insulation depends on building function, building code regulations, and a cost-benefit analysis.