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 Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.  You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain  You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.

A large share of the Danish building stock contains historic multi-storey buildings. A considerable energy saving potential exists, achievable through thermal insulation of the façades. Previous research has elucidated problems regarding poor hygrothermal conditions when interior thermal insulation is applied to the façade, but examples exist with positive results. Eight 1x2 m solid masonry test walls with wooden members were installed in an insulated container. The hygrothermal implication of applying 100 mm AAC as interior thermal insulation system was investigated with variations including use of hydrophobation and substitution of insulating material with a deliberate thermal bridge. Highlights • Conditions behind thermal insulation reached critical values for mould growth. • Conditions can be altered by hydrophobation and deliberate thermal bridges. • Hydrophobation reduced relative humidity in summer, with rapid increase in winter. • Relative humidity in built-in wood can be reduced by incorporating thermal bridge. • Example of fit between wind driven rain model and measurements.

The hygrothermal conditions in historic solid masonry are expected to change for the worse, with the application of internal insulation. Nevertheless, internal insulation plays a role in a holistic energy retrofit of historic buildings. With careful considerations and correct application, hydrophobic treatment may help remedy moisture ingress from external rain loads. This study includes experimental investigations of the effect on hygrothermal performance of various hydrophobization treatments on both brick and air lime mortar. An investigation of water migration through masonry applied with imitated climatic loads is also reported. The study showed a larger efficiency of hydrophobization on specimens of brick compared to the efficiency of hydrophobization of specimens of air lime mortar, which may be problematic in cases where mortar joints are the primary means for water ingress. Silane-based treatments generally proved to be most efficient in brick, whereas a variety of other active components were most successful in air lime mortar treatment. The investigation of water migration showed a distinct effect of silane, cream hydrophobization, though most evident in the external part of the brick.