Pathology of dampness. Coated walls in the building sector

Since the first oil crisis in 1973, the need to save energy has led legislators to establish "thermal regulations" applicable to new buildings.

In rehabilitation, no regulation has yet seen the light of day, perhaps because of the difficulty of reliable analysis in the absence of descriptive documents of the thing built.

What's more, while regulations bind builders (prime contractors and/or owners) to an obligation of results, regulations leave them complete freedom to achieve them. Through their constant evolution, legislators use rules as a means to achieve energy savings, which contribute to a significant reduction in greenhouse gases; less CO and CO ₂ returned to the atmosphere.

Under Article 1792 of the French Civil Code, the builder is held liable as soon as he takes part in the act of building. Of course, this liability is covered by compulsory insurance. Without going into too much detail, in the event of defects, claims must be reported, which can ultimately have a financial impact on the builder's civil liability premium.

The aim of the hygrothermal study that follows is to provide the builder with a scientific understanding of the physical behavior of the elements that make up a "clad wall" using different thermal insulation systems, and to analyze their performance and limitations in the face of the aggression of natural agents such as heat and water, in all their forms, acting separately or together.