Thermal insulation under close scrutiny – solutions in view
3rd/4th Session of the DAW Stakeholder Dialogue: The Future of Thermal Insulation
Ober-Ramstadt, 6th February 2015 (DAW) – Within the scope of the six-stage series of dialogues set up by DAW, the company together with promoters and critics of thermal insulation from industry, environmental and consumer organisations, architects, application-worker operations and fire brigades met in October 2014 and again in February 2015. The focus of the third and fourth dialogue sessions was on the current critically discussed topics of fire protection, efficiency, life cycle, innovative design approaches and solutions for the future. The results that have emerged over the series of dialogues will be presented to the broad public on 10th June 2015 in Frankfurt am Main.
"The special feature of this dialogue is that the critical groups are speaking constructively and directly with one another," said Dr. Ralf Murjahn, CEO of DAW SE, on introducing the fourth dialogue workshop. He emphasised the social responsibility of his company which is managed as a family enterprise in its fifth generation. The Stakeholder Dialogue has developed into a living network which gives important impetus and creative ideas about the current challenges in the field of climate protection and energy-saving optimisation, emphasised Murjahn.
PC: For DAW's CEO, Dr. Ralf Murjahn, the constructive and open interchange within the scope of the Stakeholder Dialogue is very important.Improving fire protection together with fire brigades
In both workshops the topics of fire protection, efficiency and the future of thermal insulation which were worked out by the dialogue group were substantially consolidated. The fire chiefs from Darmstadt and Frankfurt who were participating in the dialogue pointed out during the analysis of the fire incidents with thermal insulation composite systems that primarily the causes of the fires need further investigation. Following the motto "Find the causes", a whole bunch of measures has been developed in order to keep possible fire sources away from the facades.
Efficiency scrutinised
Is climate protection in the buildings sector economical on a national scale? Or is more money being spent on investment and promotional programmes than is generated? In his presentation on this question Dr. Michael Böhmer, Chief Economist of Prognos AG, drew a positive résumé for the thermal insulation measures and at the same time pointed out the urgency of implementation: "If the climate protection targets of the national government are to be achieved, a significant increase in energy-saving refurbishment is required," concluded the expert.
An example of a monitoring project that has been implemented in the Ludwigshafen Brunck Quarter was shown by Peter Hildenbrand, Senior Manager of LUWOGE Consult, who demonstrated how energy-saving refurbishment in the housing industry pays off in the long term. Here, various viewpoints in sustainability were imparted, such as technology, economy, ecology and, for the first time, also psychological and social aspects, such as "feel-good factors§. Positive effects could be seen with all factors, reported Hildenbrand.
The future of thermal insulation – what must an insulated facade provide in 2015?
Furthermore, the dialogue group considered the future. In the "Ideas workshop: ETICS of the future" ideas for the material and system development in the coming years were outlined. Supporters and critics together described which requirements the materials of the future should exhibit." "We have learnt a lot and we are very grateful for the trust that despite opposing views an open and creative dialogue was possible. The dialogue will certainly be continued beyond the final session," said Dr. Christoph Hahner, Executive Director for Research and Development at DAW, in closing the event.
PC: DAW Director, Dr. Christoph Hahner, has attended the Stakeholder Dialogue since he started with the Company in July 2014.
The results of the whole DAW Stakeholder Dialogue series on the subject of the Future of Thermal Insulation will be presented to the public on 10th June 2015 in Frankfurt.
The series of sessions was supervised by DIALOG BASIS, a scientifically orientated dialogue organisation with a great deal of expertise in the field of civil involvement and stakeholder dialogues.
