Moraekip, E. (2025). EPS Cement Sandwich Panel Walls: A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solution for Residential Buildings - A Simulation-Based Study of a Residential Villa in Cairo, Egypt. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53(6), 915-932. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.376792.1481
Eslam Mohamed Moraekip. "EPS Cement Sandwich Panel Walls: A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solution for Residential Buildings - A Simulation-Based Study of a Residential Villa in Cairo, Egypt". JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53, 6, 2025, 915-932. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.376792.1481
Moraekip, E. (2025). 'EPS Cement Sandwich Panel Walls: A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solution for Residential Buildings - A Simulation-Based Study of a Residential Villa in Cairo, Egypt', JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53(6), pp. 915-932. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.376792.1481
Moraekip, E. EPS Cement Sandwich Panel Walls: A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solution for Residential Buildings - A Simulation-Based Study of a Residential Villa in Cairo, Egypt. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2025; 53(6): 915-932. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.376792.1481
EPS Cement Sandwich Panel Walls: A Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solution for Residential Buildings - A Simulation-Based Study of a Residential Villa in Cairo, Egypt
Architecture Engineering Department - Faculty of Engineering and Technology - Badr University in Cairo (BUC) - Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
The construction industry represents a considerable portion of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, necessitating the investigation of sustainable alternatives in building materials. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) cement sandwich panel walls have emerged as a promising energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solution, providing lightweight construction, superior thermal insulation, and diminished CO₂ emissions. This study examines the performance of EPS cement sandwich panels in a residential villa in the new administrative capital of Cairo, Egypt, an area characterized by a hot arid climate and a substantial reliance on mechanical cooling systems. Employing Design Builder and Energy Plus, the study contrasts two simulation scenarios: a baseline building model (villa type A) featuring 250 mm-thick conventional concrete block walls, and an EPS cement sandwich panels model (villa type B) that incorporates a 200 mm-thick EPS cement mix mortar core with fiber cement boards facings. Results indicate that EPS cement sandwich panels enhance thermal performance, resulting in an 81.06% reduction in yearly heat gains and losses through external walls, and a yearly 15.41% decrease in HVAC energy consumption. Consequently, yearly CO₂ emissions diminished from 45,413.18 kg to 38,414.73 kg. The EPS cement sandwich panel system attained a U-value of 0.189 W/m²K, in contrast to 1.371 W/m²K for conventional concrete block walls. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of EPS cement sandwich panels in enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating the environmental impact in hot arid climates. The study supports integrating EPS cement sandwich panels in Egypt’s residential sector, aligning with national energy strategies and global sustainability goals.
[1] Alhems, L. M., Ahmad, A., Ibrahim, M., Ali, M. R., & Al-Shugaa , M. A. (2024). Comparative Thermal Evaluation of Two Systems of Wall Panels Exposed to Hot and Arid Arabian Environmental Weather Conditions (Paper). International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 18(35), Pages: 18. doi:10.1186/s40069-024-00676-x
[2] Becker, P. F., Effting, C., & Schackow, A. (2022). Lightweight Thermal Insulating Coating Mortars with Aerogel, EPS, and Vermiculite for Energy Conservation in Buildings (Paper). Cement and Concrete Composites, 125(104283), Pages: 13. doi:10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104283
[3] Consolidated, B. (2025, 03 01).BEAM Consolidated (Web Page). (B. Consolidated, Producer, & ECOBAT for Industrial Development ) Retrieved 03 01, 2025, from Lightweight Composite Cement Panels: www.beam.world
[5] Country, M. (2025, 03 01).Mena Contracting LLC (Web Page). (E. C. Panel, Producer, & Mena Contracting LLC) Retrieved 03 01, 2025, from EPS Cement Sandwich Panel: Mena Contracting LLC
[6] Design Builder, & Energy Plus. (V. 7.0.0.116 - V. 9.4.0). Design Builder Software Limited - Energy Plus. (Building Performance Simulation Software). Stroud, United Kingdom, Stroud, United Kingdom: Design Builder Software Limited - Energy Plus. Retrieved 2025, from https://designbuilder.co.uk/
[7] Gao, Y., Cheng, B., Kang, S., & Ma, P. (2021). Study on Properties of Ultra-Light Thermal Insulation Foamed Cement-Based Composites (Paper). 2nd International Conference on Geology, Mapping and Remote Sensing.783, p. Pages: 6. Zhangjiajie, China: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/783/1/012032
[9] Horma, O., Charai, M., El Hassani, S., El Hammouti, A., A. Moussaoui, M., & Mezrhab, A. (2022). Thermal Performance Study of a Cement-Based Mortar Incorporating EPS Beads (Paper). Frontiers in Built Environment, 8(882942), Pages: 10. doi:10.3389/fbuil.2022.882942
[10] Horma, O., Charai, M., Mezrhab, A., & Karkri, M. (2020). Thermal Characterization of Cement Plaster Expanded Polystyrene Composites (Paper). 5th International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries (REDEC) (p. Pages: 6). Marrakech, Morocco: IEEE. doi:10.1109/REDEC49234.2020.9163883
[11] IFC, I. (2023).Building Green - Sustainable Construction in Emerging Markets (Report). Washington, USA: World Bank Group.
[12] Li, S., Zhang, B., Yang, D., Wang, H., Liu, Y., He, H., & Fan, H. (2021). Mechanical and Thermal Insulate Behaviors of Pultruded GFRP Truss-Core Sandwich Panels Filled with EPS Mortar (Paper). Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, 21(76), Pages: 12. doi:10.1007/s43452-021-00232-4
[13] Mohamed, Z. E., & Al-Hadithi, A. I. (2022). The Effect of Adding Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS) on Polymer-Modified Mortar (Paper). Engineering, Technology and Applied Science Research (ETASR), 12(6), Pages: 9426-9430. doi:10.48084/etasr.5226
[14] Moraekip, E. M. (2013).Sustainable Architecture Between Theory and Application in Egypt (Book). Berlin, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.morebooks.shop/shop-ui/shop/product/9783659487699
[15] Moraekip, E. M. (2023). Energy Efficiency Optimization in Residential Buildings Using Thermal Insulation Blocks - Case Study in Cairo, Egypt (Journal Article). JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences - Faculty of Engineering - Assiut University, Volume: 51(Issue: 03), Pages: 184-201. doi:10.21608/JESAUN.2023.183679.1193
[16] Moraekip, E. M. (2023). Improving Energy Efficiency of Buildings Through Applying Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete in Building's Envelopes Cladding - Case Study of Residential Building in Cairo, Egypt (Journal Article). Journal of Engineering - Faculty of Engineering - Fayoum University, Volume: 06(Issue: 02), Pages: 32-45. doi:10.21608/FUJE.2023.200212.1045
[17] Moura, B., da Silva, T. R., Soares, N., & Monteiro, H. (2025). Eco-Efficiency of Concrete Sandwich Panels with Different Insulation Core Materials (Paper). Sustainability , 17(4), Pages: 20. doi:10.3390/su17041687
[18] Moutassem, F., & Alamara, K. (2021). Design and Production of Sustainable Lightweight Concrete Precast Sandwich Panels for Non-Load Bearing Partition Walls (Paper). Cogent Engineering, 8(1), Pages: 16. doi:10.1080/23311916.2021.1993565
[19] Petrella, A., Di Mundo, R., & Notar, M. (2020). Recycled Expanded Polystyrene as Lightweight Aggregate for Environmentally Sustainable Cement Conglomerates (Paper). Materials, 13(4), Pages: 17. doi:10.3390/ma13040988
[20] Shi, J., Zhao, L., Zhang, Y., Han, H., Zhou, L., & Wang, C. (2022). Optimizing the Composition Design of Cement-Based Expanded-Polystyrene (EPS) Exterior Wall Based on Thermal Insulation and Flame Retardance (Paper). Polymers, 14(23), Pages: 16. doi:10.3390/polym14235229
[21] Zhongjingtai, X. (2025, 03 01).Xiamen Zhongjingtai Building Materials Co.,Ltd (Web Page). (E. C. Panel, Producer, & Xiamen Zhongjingtai Building Materials Co.,Ltd) Retrieved 03 01, 2025, from EPS Cement Sandwich Panel: www.epssandwichpanel.com
View on SCiNiTO
Top