ABSTRACT
The main non-structural function of masonry elements is as a cladding to buildings, and the key role of such elements is to maintain habitable conditions within the buildings. It is therefore important to know how effective masonry wall systems are at preventing heat loss in winter and maintaining comfortable conditions in summer, avoiding ingress of wind and rain, reducing noise transmission and limiting the spread of fire should it break out. Fire-resistant insulating finishes such as vermiculite plaster can still improve the performance further. The properties of walls used as thermal barriers are normally expressed in the form of the 'U value', the overall heat transfer coefficient, which is a synthesis of the k value of the actual materials and the heat transfer coefficients at the hot and cold sides. Vapour absorbed within the wall will condense and cause damp walls. Moisture vapour permeability is strongly dependent on the materials temperature.
