Building application and thermal performance of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) in Canadian subarctic climate

Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have thermal resistance values, at the center of the panel, up to 10 times or more than those of conventional thermal insulation materials. In Canada, known for its predominantly extreme cold climate, the potential to apply VIPs in the building construction industry is estimated to be enormous, particularly with the introduction of the new 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB 2011). VIPs can play a major role in Canadian buildings to meet energy requirements of the NECB 2011. However, the lack of long-term performance credentials and various constructability issues are among the major barriers for mass application of VIPs in the Canadian construction industry. This paper presents the design strategy, construction details, instrumentation and thermal performance monitoring observations of a VIP retrofitted wall system in Yukon, located in Northern Canada. Experience gained from the construction process and available thermal performance data over a period of three years provide encouraging indicators for the constructability and long-term thermal performance of VIPs in Canadian subarctic weather. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.