Standardisation of VIP technology is progressing well: final draft expected in 2016

Since 2013 the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is working on a standard for the use of vacuum insulation panels (VIP) technology in building applications. The work is progressing well and the Working Group expects to have a final draft ready still this year.

The CEN Technical Committee 88 (thermal insulating materials and products) Working Group 11 (vacuum insulation products – VIP) is responsible for drafting the factory made vacuum insulated panels (VIP) for buildings specification. The drafting process is actually coming to the final stages. The Technical Committee 88, WG 11, agreed on a general procedure to extrapolate the results of accelerated aging tests, both for silica and non-silica core materials like glass fibers. This allows determining the mean thermal conductivity values throughout the considered service lifetime of the panels, which for applications in the construction industry, similar to other insulation materials in this industry, is set to 25 years.

VIPA International is a liaison organisation to the CEN TC 88 WG11 and many of its member companies take part in the WG 11 meetings. The president of VIPA International, Roland Caps stated: “the VIP industry is looking forward to the publication of this standard. This was one of main motors driving the creation of the association and in the past year we commissioned three studies which will hopefully accelerate some of the technical discussions within WG 11. Standards are key tools to increase customer trust in new products so we hope this will impact very positively on the market acceptance of vacuum insulation panels.”

The association plans to extend the procedures defined by the CEN TC88/WG11 which apply only to buildings, to other applications where VIPs are used like appliances, hot water tanks and containers or boxes for temperature sensitive goods. A separate quality and testing regulation already exists and is being reviewed together with an approved Inspection and Certification Body. A special VIP Quality Mark will be awarded to VIP manufacturers that comply with these rules.