Where to use vacuum insulation … and where not!

The classical - film covered - vacuum insulation panel (VIP) has made it's way from the research state to an accepted building material that is used in different fields of application. Some manufacturers of VIP have even mastered the testing procedures necessary for getting a national technical approval from the german Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt). Other types of vacuum insulation are subject of an ongoing research process but not available on the market by now. Due to economical aspects, in general the use of vacuum insulation is limited to applications where the reduced heat loss and/or the financial consequences of creating slim building structures equalize the higher material prices. But accompanying the growing market relevance some application fields and building products have occurred, where the use of vacuum insulation misses the self-chosen aims. Unconsidered thermal bridges, high conductive coverings, misinterpreted calculation standards and an obsessive endeavour to use innovative solutions whether it is useful or not, result in underestimated heat losses or costs for construction and maintenance. By using examples, this paper shows some cases that should set the alarm bells ringing - in other words: Where to use vacuum insulation … and where not.