Thermal Properties

The manufacturing process of this material creates millions of tiny air cells, which provide excellent thermal resistance. This efficiency results in a material with high DBMS (Dynamic Benefit of Massive Systems) equivalency, R-value, thermal mass, and air tightness. As a result, AAC is the only wall system currently available that meets Germany's stringent energy codes without adding insulation. 

This material outperforms a conventional wood framed wall system, reaching an R-value of 30 when constructing a 12" thick wall.   One crucial reason owners choose AAC for home construction is to save money on energy. An 8-inch-thick AAC wall is more energy efficient than a 6-inch stud wall with R-19 insulation. The energy efficiency of a building product is determined by its R-value, thermal efficiency, and the effect of thermal mass. The R-value of a material is a measure of its resistance to conductive heat transfer, which is the energy that moves from molecule to molecule. For example, the R-value of a typical 8-inch-thick AAC wall is approximately  R-22, and a 12-inch wall is R-29. 

The chart above demonstrates thermal mass inertia. In this study, one side of a 10-inch AAC wall is painted black to minimize heat absorption from the sun. A thermometer measured temperature changes on the exterior and interior surfaces over a twenty-four-hour period. The outer surface fluctuated over 126*F while the internal surface fluctuated only +2* F. 

Explore how this long-used overseas product quickly becomes a top building choice in the United States through this article and more.