EIFS in Syria

Insulating against the Desert Climate

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Creating Tomorrow's Solutions

EIFS in SyriaEIFS in Syria


Insulating against the Desert Climate

Damascus, capital of Syria, has been a trading center since time immemorial, a stopping place for spice and incense caravans, brocade and silk merchants. They were met by lush vegetation, sparkling fountains – and the refreshingly cool interiors of the caravansaries. “Architecture has undergone a transformation,” explains Dimitrios Moussios, business development manager at Wacker Chemicals Middle East, Dubai.
Energy costs are rising fast worldwide, which means rethinking our consumption patterns. Even countries with huge oil reserves are looking for ways of saving energy.
Syria may have its own oil, but the “black gold” is becoming scarcer and energy costs are rising rapidly. Not surprisingly, Syrians, too, are thinking about saving energy and want to take effective measures. “Thermal insulation has become a hot topic,” says Moussios.
In fact, this Arab country has carried out its first EIFS project. Syria’s National Energy Research Center (NERC) has worked closely with other local partners to have some 500 square meters of facade at their sites extensively renovated with state-of-the-art EIFS systems.
For the first time, a house in Syria was fitted with an exterior insulation and finish system – an exciting challenge for experienced construction workers.
The goal is to enhance a building’s energy balance, and so conserve energy and reduce operating costs. Although EIFSs have traditionally been applied in regions with generally cold and damp winters, this modern composite system is becoming increasingly popular for facades in hot and dry regions, too.
VINNAPAS

VINNAPAS®Produces Optimum Results

It is important for EIFS systems to bond well to the substrate. And that is only possible with special polymer powders, such as VINNAPAS®. That is because insulating materials such as styrofoam sheets do not form a stable bond to cement.
Starting from the wall, the first layer is the adhesive mortar modified with VINNAPAS®polymer powder. The adhesive mortar has two functions within this sandwich. First, it creates a stable bond between the insulation board and the wall. Second, it levels out irregularities in the substrate.
Thermal insulation is now a focus of attention in the Syrian capital of Damascus, too. The city enjoys mild, occasionally damp winters, though temperatures quite often fall below zero.
In their Syrian EIFS reference project with NERC, WACKER specialists expect energy costs to be about 50% lower. Although precise, reliable figures will not be available for another year, the pilot project has already won over the Syrian Ministry of Energy, which wants to insulate further buildings.
“We are working on a five-story office block with 2,500 square meters of facade,” explains Moussios. NERC is even considering making EIFS systems obligatory for all new buildings. Currently, WACKER POLYMERS Dubai is helping draft the necessary standards and legislation for Syria.
More information

The City of One Thousand and One Nights

Damascus is an important commercial center for figs, almonds and other local fruit. It also produces textiles, gold and silverware, leather goods and inlaid wood, brass and copper products.

Syria’s capital has a population of 1.6 million, with around six million living in the surrounding conurbation. There are traces of settlement dating back to 5,000 BC.

Thermal Insulation Aids

WACKER has developed specific VINNAPAS®polymer powders for exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS). The powders are ideal for formulating adhesive mortars, sealing slurries and tile adhesives with high flexibility and excellent bonding to organic substrates such as styrofoam.

VINNAPAS®polymer powders improve adhesion, flexural strength, deformability and abrasion resistance and are easier to process. Leveling, thixotropy and water retention are essentially unaffected. The powders can also be combined with mortar processing aids.