Winter Insulation of Prefabricated Houses in Northwest China

Winter insulation of prefabricated houses in northwest China can be achieved through integrated construction, reasonable material selection, and targeted insulation measures.

1. Integrated Construction Enhances Overall Thermal Performance
Prefabricated integrated houses in Yinchuan adopt an integrated construction method combining light steel keels, energy-saving panels, and composite insulation layers. This deep integration of structure and insulation reduces thermal bridge effects and enhances the overall thermal performance of the building. This design effectively blocks the transfer of indoor heat to the outside during winter and prevents cold air infiltration caused by weak local insulation, significantly improving insulation effectiveness.

2. Selection of Exterior Wall Insulation Materials Should Match Climate Characteristics
Given the severe cold and large diurnal temperature variations in northwest China, exterior wall insulation materials should have low thermal conductivity, high weather resistance, and fire resistance. Extruded polystyrene board (XPS) or expanded polystyrene board (EPS) are recommended, with thickness adjusted according to local climate conditions (e.g., a recommended thickness of ≥50mm in Yinchuan). Additionally, phenolic insulation board is an excellent choice for exterior wall insulation in northwest China due to its stable low-temperature performance, excellent insulation, Class A fire rating, strong wind resistance, low water absorption (≤3%), and strong weather resistance, especially suitable for areas with strong winds and large temperature variations.

3. Window and Door Insulation Should Adopt Thermal Break Technology
Windows and doors are major channels for heat loss. It is recommended to use double-glazed or triple-glazed tempered glass profiles with thermal break layers, which block heat conduction through the aluminum profile's thermal break structure and, combined with low-emissivity (Low-E) coating technology on the insulating glass, can reduce the heat transfer coefficient of windows and doors to 1.5-2.0W/(㎡·K), effectively reducing indoor heat loss through windows and doors.

4. Roof Insulation Should Combine Waterproofing and Heat Insulation Needs
Roof insulation should involve adding a rigid foamed cement insulation layer (recommended thickness ≥80mm) on top of the waterproofing layer. This material has low thermal conductivity (≤0.08W/(m·K)) and high compressive strength (≥0.5MPa), effectively blocking the transfer of indoor heat upward and preventing insulation layer failure caused by freeze-thaw cycles on the roof. Additionally, foamed cement has strong adhesion to the waterproofing layer, reducing the risk of roof leakage and extending the building's service life.

5. Comprehensive Measures Ensure Insulation Effectiveness
In addition to the above individual measures, attention should also be paid to the overall airtightness of the building, reducing cold air infiltration through sealing strips and airtight coatings. At the same time, reasonable design of building orientation (e.g., facing south) and window-to-wall ratio should be implemented to fully utilize passive solar heating and further reduce winter energy consumption.