Historical Development of Thermal Protection of Prefab Residential Housing and Its Future, an Example of the Czech Republic

Abstract

The paper focuses on the development of a thermal protection and energy requirements in relation to the issue of prefab residential housing buildings and prefab housing estates while emphasizing the need for a conceptual approach and environmental considerations. The development is recapitulated with examples of compositional sets of prefab residential housing on selected sites in the Czech Republic. Based on the comparison of archival documents and results of a long-term observation of the prefab residential housing resources, it outlines the direction of further expected development of prefab housing estates within a social context. The comparison also takes into account the impact of the European Union energy strategy and the implementation of directives into the legal rules and standards of the member states. The aim of the paper is to show the negatives and positives of current political and social strategies in relation to the thermal protection of buildings, the energy management and healthy indoor environment, and that the renovation of prefab residential housing and prefab housing estates is effective with regard to the invested funds.

1. Introduction

After the period 2000–2010, energy savings became a key concern of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The result of these efforts and activities was, in particular, the introduction of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD I and EPBD II). In accordance with the current legislation, which is implemented in the legislative environment of the EU member states, the requirements for new buildings and buildings intended for reconstruction (including EPBD recast) are constantly being tightened. These requirements are mainly reflected in the areas of energy decrees and normative regulations of the member states and place high demands on the gradual reduction of energy consumption and sustainability [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11].

A specific area in the reconstruction and renovation of buildings is the renovation of prefab residential housing, which was carried out in the second half of the last century throughout Eastern Europe. Supporting financial programs, based on the example of the Czech Republic, were launched before 2000 and dealt with the improvement of the prefab residential housing stock in terms of thermal protection technology and energy savings. These programs were called “Green for Savings” and “Panel” and were among the key financial support programs [12,13]. The main goal of the programs was to contribute to reducing the energy intensity of prefab residential housing and to improve the thermal protection parameters of the perimeter claddings at the same time, but also to eliminate possible failures of prefab panels of external wall connecting points and joints to eliminate leakage, etc. As a result, all these activities also contributed to the improvement of the urban environment of housing estates by eliminating the gray monotony through renovation.

The number of prefab residential housing units built in the second half of the last century was fairly large in the Czech Republic and amounted to almost 200,000 prefabricated residential buildings, comprising a total of 1.2 million flats, which is approximately 55% of all flats in residential buildings and approximately 30% of flats in the total housing stock of the Czech Republic [14,15,16].

Achieving the goal of the EU Strategic Concept for 2030 and beyond, which is highly energy-efficient buildings, is a starting point for a decarbonized building stock [17]. Meeting such a demanding goal by prefab residential housing in the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe poses a serious problem and calls for a discussion on whether it is possible to fulfill this strategy at all.

The countries of Eastern Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the former East Germany, are countries which are affected most by large-scale prefab residential housing estate development. While the construction of prefabricated residential housing in Western Europe was abandoned in the 1970s, this type of construction persisted in the Eastern European countries until the end of the 1990s [18].

The extensive construction of prefabricated residential housing, creating compositionally prefab residential housing, represents a specific phenomenon based on the given political situation in the second half of the last century. Opinions on the renovation and reconstruction of prefab residential housing on the part of the political representation, society in general and the professional community differ, including vastly different opinions on the part of architects, among who are its critics as well as defenders who see in the prefab housing development the ideological ideas of Le Corbusier’s “A shining city with high-rise buildings standing in greenery” model. Le Corbusier’s prefab panel type Unité d’habitation residential block in Marseille became a model for the creative activity of European architects in the 1950s, reflected in the creation of housing estates [19]. A positive motivator is also an interview with Dietmar Eberl, during his visit to the Czech Republic, who states: “it seems to me that you strongly underestimate the quality of your own housing structure. Socialist housing estates are not a bad model at all” [20,21].

France abandoned mass panel housing in the 1970s. Housing policy emphasizes the need for a “global” approach to solving the problems of the entire housing estate. The global development plan is being prepared for 10 to 15 years and the plan includes, among other things, the reconstruction of prefab residential housing and solutions for energy saving.

We find motivation for prefabrication in the “Bauhaus school”, too. The work of a number of famous architects, such as W. Gropius, M. Breur, L. M. van de Rohe, etc., brought a different and modern view of the city and urban life. The “Bauhaus school” showed a number of advantages of industrialized operation. This can be shown by the example of the Törten housing estate in Desava (designed by architect W. Gropius). Three hundred and fourteen two-storey family houses were built here, thanks to the principles of belt production. The houses were to bring housing relief during the housing crisis in the then Weimar Republic.

The situation in Germany (formerly East Germany) is very similar to the situation in the Czech Republic. The modernization of the prefab residential housing, energy and the new urban concept are being addressed.

A relatively positive approach to the issue of prefabricated residential buildings and prefab housing estates has been adopted by the Scandinavian countries. They consider the form of collective housing to be a very good example of “physical manifestations of the Scandinavian concept of the welfare state”. The architecture of Danish and Swedish prefabricated housing estates relied on the qualities of vernacular humanistic modernity in the 1950s; their prefabricated construction architecture was successful and based on social, cultural and societal needs, arising from a different principle of thinking than was the case in the socialist countries of Europe. Defining prefabricated residential housing buildings in a derogatory verbal expression as a “prefab” block does not have a place in the thinking of Scandinavian society.

Cheap and affordable housing was built after the end of World War II in Italy, too. For example, in northern Italy in the cities of Torino and Milano. Housing opportunities served migrant populations from southern Italy moving for employment opportunities in northern Italy. Housing was guaranteed by a dedicated national fund provided by Gestione Case per i Lavoratori (GesCAL), especially between years 1963 and 1998. The fund was abolished in 1998. The area has become a periphery, social problems are growing and the area is maintenance free.

Italy currently emphasizes sustainable cities, housing renovation and energy efficiency. The direction of renovation was started at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s. Many programs focus on innovative models of sustainable cities and settlements. These are, for example, the “Piano di Riqualificazione Urban-istica” (PRU), the “Urban Pilot Projects” (PPU) and the “Urban Regeneration Programs and Sustainable Development Planning”. A key and current strategy is the European energy “package” until 2030. The new pilot projects focuses on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability [22,23,24,25,26,27].

1.1. Energy, Heat and Renovation of Prefabricated Housing Development before 2000 (Based on the Example of the Czech Republic)

Renovations of prefabricated residential housing in the Czech Republic were started in the 1980s and focused mainly on improving the thermal protection properties of the external wall using lamella cladding with infill thermal insulation (Figure 1c). The effect, material base and technological possibilities were at that time positive. Light concrete external walls were not suitable in terms of thermal protection requirements. It was not unusual for the walls to freeze through in the winter and the interior was then affected by moisture and mold [28]. The lamella lining thus fulfilled its purpose only partially. However, the lamella lining was often devastated by vandals (Figure 1a,b).

A similar lamella cladding appeared in the 1980s in the high-rise construction of prefab residential housing buildings, which were very fragmented in the floor plan (see Figure 2) and the structural arrangement of transverse and longitudinal walls created systematic thermal bridges in the external cladding (Figure 1d). Such cladding was used only up to the sixth aboveground floor, equivalent to a height of approximately 20.00 m above ground, because the thermal insulation of that time used above the mentioned height did not comply with fire safety regulations, bearing in mind that the material base was very limited at that time.

1.2. Energy, Heat and Renovation of Prefabricated Housing Development after 2000 (Based on the Example of the Czech Republic)

The renovation of the prefab residential housing carried out after 2000 in order to improve its energy and thermal protection properties can be considered generally beneficial. However, it is necessary to take into account the technological, material and environmental aspects, which naturally evolve in connection with the energy strategy of 2030 and beyond, and often bring new manifestations of defects and failures that we have not encountered before, and whose consequences are often remediable with new and high investment costs [31,32,33,34].

The best applicable technology for improving the thermal protection and energy properties of a prefab residential housing is the application of composite systems, known as an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) (Figure 3a,b, [35,36,37]).

Higher thermal protection and energy requirements naturally ask for a greater thickness of thermal insulation. While the thickness of the insulator before 2000 ranged between 80 mm and 100 mm, by around 2020 it increased to between 180 mm and >200 mm, in accordance with required standards. The addition of the thermal insulator creates layered constructions which, when properly designed and technologically executed, ensure heat and energy savings.

In the last decade, however, specific undesirable manifestations, such as biodegradation growth on the external plasters of the cladding, have begun to appear in a number of ETICSs used on prefabricated residential housing buildings. In some cases, the internal microclimate began to deteriorate due to the natural loss of infiltration and the CO₂ concentration increased as the result of poor ventilation regimes.

2. Material and Methods

The aim of the the paper is to show the negatives and positives of current political and social strategies in relation to the thermal protection of buildings and energy management, so that the renovation of prefab residential housing and prefab housing estates is effective with regard to the invested funds. This article aims to draw attention to the broader interaction of related defects and failures of prefab residential housing provided with an ETICS and, on the basis of the observation method and the comparison method, take into account the effect of thermal techniques and energy measures set by the European Union. The source material consisted of prefab panel housing development implemented in the locality of Ostrava in the Czech Republic (Appendix A).

2.1. Observation Method

The observation method focused on a selected locality in the Czech Republic, namely the city of Ostrava, and its prefab residential housing stock. The city is part of the Ostrava-Karviná region and has an area of more than 170 km² and is influenced by deep mining. It is a region that is currently undergoing extensive restructuring due to the decline in deep mining. Observations of prefabricated residential housing have been taking place in this locality continuously since 1998 and are focused on the evolving state of the prefab residential panel housing stock in selected structural systems of prefab residential panel housing development (Appendix B) in terms of thermal protection, energy, defects and failures. This observation has been supported over the years by a number of research tasks and projects, the results of which have been continuously published by the authors and a team of authors since 1998 [38].

Tower construction systems with the designations GOS, VOS, VM-OS and VP-OS with a link to the mined area of the observed region were traced. These systems did not occur in other areas in the Czech Republic (Appendix B; GOS Appendix B, Figure A1a,b; VOS Appendix B, Figure A2a; VMOS Appendix B, Figure A2c and VPOS Appendix B, Figure A2d). Said structural systems were structurally and statically secured against the effects of undermining. The VOS tower construction system (Appendix B, Figure A2a) was solved in the façade as a strip architecture based on gas silicate material. From the point of view of thermal technology, this system showed large cooled areas (Appendix B, Figure A2b), as well as thermal technical defects (thermal bridges and thermal bonds, etc.)

2.2. Comparison Method

The comparison focused mainly on the study of standard documents of prefab residential housing and the study of available archival documents focused on the field of thermal protection and energy management. Another strategic study material was the concept of the housing policy in the Czech Republic [39].

2.3. Typification and Unification of Prefabricated Residential Buildings

The basis for the construction of prefabricated residential buildings in the Czech Republic was formed by standard documents of the so-called construction systems of prefabricated residential buildings. Type documents always had two parts, namely a binding part and a guideline part. The binding part comprised binding construction elements for vertical and horizontal load-bearing structures according to which the types of construction systems, also called generic series, were grouped. The guideline comprised the type data which focused on the material bases availability in the Czech Republic regions, and according to which the material solution of the external wall and roof cladding was taken into account in particular.

Typification work in the Czech Republic began before 1950 and the first results of the central typification body, the “Study and Typification Institute” in Prague (STI), were published in the typification composite book in 1951 and 1952. In addition to the typification composite books, including their amendments from 1963 and 1965, type documents were also issued, which contained both type elements and constructions, as well as projects of entire buildings or their sections. The first “Nationwide Typification Composite Book” was created for housing development in 1951, which unified the possibilities of mass housing development in terms of material, construction, technology and volume, while unifying all elements of prefab panel housing construction with the development of elemental and volume typification.

In 1953, volumetric type documents for individual types of prefab residential panel construction systems intended for prefab residential housing were developed by the “Institute of Typification of Building Structures” in Prague and the “Study and Typification Institute” in Prague. In the following years, the typification of prefab residential buildings was carried out in accordance with the edition of code ČSN 73 0020 “Regulations for the design of capital prefab construction of residential buildings”.

In 1961, other new standard materials were developed for prefab housing construction, based on an evaluation of the raw material bases of individual regions in the Czech Republic. In the following years, the typification concept increased the height level of the building and the share of the fully assembled technology reached more than eighty percent of the total volume of prefab residential construction. However, prefabricated panel structural systems already showed at that time significant thermal defects.

After evaluating the development of structural systems, it was decided in 1967 to introduce the “New Construction System” (NCS), which was processed by the “Building Research Institute” (BRI) in Prague and Zlín. The new construction system was implemented in 1972. The research and development solution of the NCS was based on the level of the material base of the regions of the Czech Republic and on the technical and technological forecast of the development of prefab residential housing up to 1980.

The process of application of the NCS, which followed its development phase, did not continue as expected due to delay in the preparation of the experimental construction project and its implementation. Additionally, the then production output of prefabricated elements was not able to cover the material supply required to build the expected number of flats. Further ramifications were brought about in 1980 by the introduction of the new code ČSN 73 0540 “Thermal protection properties of building structures and buildings”, resulting in revision of all structural systems’ type bases in terms of the thermal protection requirements.

The development of typification ceased in the following years, and the social requirements for the quantitative growth of the production of prefab residential housing units gradually began to drop.

Activities which followed in the Czech Republic continued until 1995 and consisted only of completing the last types of prefab construction systems. During that time, defects and failures of prefab panel construction began to manifest themselves in varying degrees.

In concluding the overall view of the development of prefab residential housing construction typification in the Czech Republic and the massive onset of prefabrication, it can be stated that the industrialization of housing construction was not a random phenomenon, but that it was based mainly on the social and political needs of the time and, at the same time, on the Czech Republic material and technical base availability [40,41,42,43].

2.4. The Concept of Housing in the Czech Republic and Meeting Goals Set by the EU in Terms of Thermal Protection and Energy Performance

The concept of housing policy in the Czech Republic was formed up to 2020. It stated that housing and households are influenced by the EU requirement, prioritizing the “Strategy for Smart and Sustainable Growth” of the sustainable “20-20-20” EU growth goal (which has been adopted as a national target by individual member states); it follows from the strategy that [12,39,44]:

• The greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 20% compared to 1990 or, if conditions are favorable, by 30%. The partial target for the Czech Republic is set so that it can increase them by 9% compared to 2005.
• The share of the renewable energy sources in final energy consumption is to be increased to 20%; the partial target for the Czech Republic is 13%.
• The energy efficiency is to be increased by 20%; the target for the Czech Republic has not been set.
• Coordination with the European Union to be implemented.

Final energy consumption by households in most Western European countries is higher per capita than in the Czech Republic. Better quality housing, a higher standard of living and a different set of housing concepts applied from the second half of the last century certainly contribute to this effect.

2.5. Development of Thermal Protection Requirements

Development of thermal protection requirements in the Czech Republic in accordance with the legislation is shown in

Table 1. Development of thermal protection technique requirements in the Czech Republic in the years between 1949 and 2021.

Year	Characteristics
1949	The ČSN 1450 standard is in force, focused on the calculation of building heat losses in central heating design.
1950–1960	At the beginning of prefab residential housing construction in the 1950s, the thermal resistance of the structure was not given normatively. The first ČSN covering thermal protection was issued in 1954. The requirements for thermal protection properties related to horizontal and vertical structures (the evaluation was based on the standard 450 mm thick masonry properties made of solid bricks).
1963	Thermal protection standard ČSN 73 0540, which dealt with the thermal resistance of roof and external wall cladding, diffusion and condensation of water vapor. The standard was valid until 1979.
1979	Revision of ČSN 73 0540, which introduced in particular an increase in the normative values of thermal resistance and evaluation of buildings in terms of energy needs for heating.
1992–1994	Revision 73 0540, which resulted in the publication of a completely new ČSN 73 0540 entitled “Thermal protection of buildings”. The requirements of the standard were aimed at increasing the quality of the internal microclimate of buildings and achieving energy savings.
1997	There was Amendment 1 to ČSN 73 0540, specifying more accurately certain definitions and calculation changes.
2002	Amendment to Part 2 of ČSN 73 0540 “Thermal protection of buildings”. The original requirements of the standard were tightened and new requirements for building structures were introduced. The main change was the introduction of a heat transfer coefficient, evaluating the requirement for opaque structures and at the same time a new specific heat demand evaluation quantity was introduced for heating; the last change concerned the requirement for the energy performance of the building document (energy label).
2005	Code ČSN 73 0540 consists of 4 parts: ČSN 73 0540-1: Thermal protection of buildings, Part 1: Terminology (2005). The text of the standard deals with terms and definitions of quantities that occur in the set of thermal protection standards. ČSN 73 0540-2: Thermal protection of buildings. Requirements (2002–2005), Amendment Z1. It sets out the requirements for the design and verification of buildings with the required state of the indoor environment. The standard applies to new buildings and to alterations to related buildings. It does not apply to mostly large open buildings, inflatable halls, mobile cells, stable buildings, cold stores, freezers and buildings where the state of the indoor environment is not required. ČSN 73 0540 Thermal protection of buildings. Part 4: Calculation methods (2005). It determines and specifies calculation methods for the design and verification of structures and buildings according to the requirements for thermal protection and heating energy saving thereof.
2007	Code ČSN 73 0540 consists of 4 parts (according to 2005). The standard newly introduces the value of the lowest internal surface temperature of the structure, which is evaluated in relative form as a temperature factor of the internal surface. Thermal protection requirements take into account the spread of heat, humidity and air through structures, rooms and buildings, as well as the energy performance of buildings.
2000–2020	EPBD I. Legislation set by the EU with gradual implementation into the legislation of member countries (Directive 2002/91/EC).
	EPBD II. Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May on the energy performance of buildings substantially supplements the EPBD Directive I, implemented in the legislative environment of the Czech Republic by Act 406/2000 Coll. The directive sets out the basic principles and requirements for achieving a significant reduction in the energy performance of buildings. Specific procedures and legislation are the responsibility of individual EU member states.
	EPBD recast (EPBD III). Directive on the energy performance of buildings 2018/844/EU. Introduction into the legislative environment of CZ in the form of an amending regulation, two existing directives (2010/31/EU and 2012/27/EU). Legal application from March 2020.
Current status	EPBD III. Amendments to regulations in CZ, which lead to an effective assessment of the energy performance of buildings. Experience from previous years is taken into account, in accordance with EPBD I-III (including recast).

and Figure 4 [45,46].

The development of the standard value of the heat transfer coefficient U_N (W/(m².K)) is given in

Table 2. Development of the standard value of the U_N (W/m².K)) coefficient for the design temperature of θ_im = 20 °C according to ČSN 73 0540 code for heavy construction and light construction [40,41].

UN (W/(m2.K))	1949	1962	1964	1979	2002	2005	2007	2011	Present
External wall	1.45	1.40	1.35	0.80	0.38	0.38	0.38	0.30	0.30
Heavy and light construction	-	-	-	-	0.38; 0.25 0.30; 0.20			0.25 0.20	0.25 0.20

for the design temperature θ_im = 20 °C, for heavy structures, and also for light structures and Figure 4. The development of the thickness of the additional thermal insulation of the perimeter wall in comparison with Table 1 is given in

Table 3. Development of thermal insulation thickness in accordance with the development of thermal protection standard (Czech Code 73 0540 and EPBD (I, II, III)), in comparison with Table 1.

Year/Thickness (mm)	0	50	80 (d)	100 (d)	120	150	160	180	200
1949 (f)	x		x	x
1950–1960	x		x	x
1963	x		x	x
1979 (b)	x		x	x
1992–1994	x		x (c)	x
1997 (a)		x	x
2002		x	x
2005		x	x	x
2007			x	x
2008–2020				x	x	x	x
Current status							x	x	x (e)

Note: ^(a) Material: Extruded polystyrene (EPS) or mineral wool (MW) still; ^(b) lamellar lining (see Figure 1a,b); ^(c) the lamella lining was removed and the ETICS system was applied, approximately from the 1990s; ^(d) ETICS application on still uninsulated walls; ^(e) gradual implementation of directives and change of energy performance assessment of the building, including required values, recommended values and recommended values for passive houses of heat transfer coefficients for selected structures (U_pas,20 = 0.18 to 0.12 (W/(m².K), [45,46,47])); ^(f) these are not panel walls, but brick masonry. X means the thickness of the insulation that was applied to the perimeter cladding in the given years.

.

The implementation of directives and new regulations from 2020 brings a new perspective on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of prefab residential housing. Table 3 shows that 2020 was a turning point for a new approach to renovations, in order to improve thermal protection of prefab residential housing and energy savings. Prefab residential housing equipped with ETICSs before 2020 would deserve a new evaluation and further renovation in accordance with the new requirements.

2.5.1. Characteristics of External Walls of Prefab Residential Housing Buildings

The use of slag pumice concrete or gas silicate as a material for the production of external walls was closely linked to the city of Ostrava’s history, known for deep mining of black coal and iron production. However, neither of these materials were used for the production of prefab external walls, the uninsulated thickness of which ranged between 270 mm and 300 mm (

Table 4. Material solution of external walls of prefab residential housing buildings and U_N requirements (examples of individual type construction systems in the Ostrava-Karviná region).

Prefab Construction System (Type Designation)	Year of Construction	External Wall (Material)	Wall Thickness (mm) (b)	U (W/m2.K)	Requirement UN (W/m2.K) Until 2002
G57	1953–1963	slag pumice concrete	240	0.95	0.38
GOS (a)	1960–1970	slag pumice concretewindow sills: gas silicates	240	0.95	0.38
T02B-OS	1962–1972	slag pumice concrete	240–375	0.95–0.81	0.38
T03B-OS	1963–1972	slag pumice concrete	240–375	0.95–0.81	0.38
VOS, VM-OS (c)	1965–1975	aerated concretegas silicates	180–240–270	1.05–0.95–0.92	0.38
T06B-BTS (OS)	1965–1972	slag pumice concretegas silicates	200–340–375	1.02–0.85–0.81	0.38
BP-70-0S	1970–1982	slag pumice concrete	300–375	0.85–0.81	0.38
P1.11	1982–1989	sandwich concrete prefab panel with 80 mm thick thermal insulation	300	0.45	0.38

Note: ^(a) The red font refers to the prefab systems that are subject to monitoring (Appendix A); ^(b) some perimeter claddings were articulated, hence the thickness of the panel. Some perimeter walls had different panel thicknesses in the gable and in the façade; ^(c) some systems in the realization of the perimeter cladding had 220 mm aerated concrete and 40 mm insulation.

) provided the required comfort from the thermal protection.

Since their construction, the prefab external walls have been gradually exposed to the menace of condensed water vapor hidden inside the external wall structure. This, in conjunction with reduced internal surface temperature, volume changes and increases in mass moisture of the material, has led to significant degradation and reduced life of the external walls. If we add to these shortcomings the deficient thermal protection of roofs and windows and failures of contact points and joints, it then becomes clear why the prefab residential buildings were considered to be very poor quality housing (Figure 5a–c, Appendix C, Figure A4a,b).

The condition of prefab residential housing buildings prior to the application of ETICSs, before 2000, is shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows that well-performed renovation using ETICSs can lead to very successful results (similarly, Appendix B, Figure A3a–c and Appendix C, Figure A4 1c).

2.5.2. Characteristics of External Walls of Prefab Buildings in Conjunction with ETICS and Indoor Environment

After the implemented renovation measures, which improve the thermal protection parameters of the external walls, in many instances, biodegradation manifestations of the outer surface of the ETICS plaster appear over a shorter or longer time horizon. The results of the observations show that the biodegradation processes start earlier in prefabricated residential housing buildings for which the ETICS insulation thickness is greater than 120 mm, buildings which are shaded or the wall construction system creates areas in the façade that are permanently in the shade.

The biodegradation processes also manifest themselves in the case of prefabricated residential housing buildings for which the ETICS thickness is up to approx. 120 mm, but over a longer time horizon after application. However, the above applies if the ETICS is properly installed from a technological point of view and does not show technological defects or technological indiscipline. Where technological indiscipline is evident, such as poor tinsmith workmanship in installing flashing, which then allows permanent wetting of the façade in bad weather, biodegradation processes begin immediately.

Another negative impact after the application of ETICSs is the deterioration of the internal microclimate and higher CO₂ concentration. This is due to the loss of natural infiltration after the external wall is provided with thermal insulation and, as a rule, the original windows are replaced with better insulating and air sealing windows. With a poor ventilation regime, CO₂ concentrations may rise above the recommended values of 1500–1800 ppm [48,49,50,51].

Measurements in this study [49,50] showed that the CO₂ concentration at night after 12.00 a.m. exceeded 2300 ppm (room occupied by 2 people was not ventilated, microventilation was not used at the windows, the house was insulated with an ETICS and no other measures were taken, such as central system ventilation, air conditioning, etc.) [52].

Similarly, this situation can occur in other residential buildings. Users, after the application of an ETICS, are notified in writing (in the project technical report [11]) that they must provide a “regular ventilation regime”. This written notice ensures the hygiene and health requirement [11]. It is up to each homeowner to handle the information. On the other hand, it is up to each of us how to approach our health and a healthy inner environment and what conscious behavior to apply in our lives [53,54].

2.6. Energy Savings

The societal pressure focused on savings and the optimal need for heat and electricity in new buildings and renovated buildings significantly affect the current construction industry [55].

Virtually all European countries are creating financial support for the renovation of the existing prefab residential housing, which can be used to improve thermal protection parameters and energy savings. The Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Slovakia, etc. list financial resources and subsidies. Support includes state subsidies, subsidies from cities and municipalities, bank loans and private subsidies. Subsidies support the economic sector of construction. Member countries welcome subsidies for the renovation of prefab residential housing. Subsidies are often understood as subsidies to support social housing, unlike in the Czech Republic, where prefab residential housing is not social housing [12,16,44].

3. Results

The recapitulation of the historical development of thermal protection requirements shows that the prefab residential housing erected in the second half of the last century already showed serious defects and failures in the field of thermal technology in the 1970s. The quality of the prefab residential housing was very poor. Overall, the experience with prefabricated external walls of residential housing in the second half of the last century in the Czech Republic in terms of the knowledge of materials, construction and technology was very limited, resulting in thermal protection defects.

As time has shown, specific modern defects and faults appear in the various time horizons after the application of ETICSs. Biodegradation is one of the most common problems with ETICSs and it is the most common modern disorder. The issue of biodegradation has led to a discussion of how far the increasing thickness of the thermal insulator affects the conditions for colonization of the surface of the external plaster by biodegradation factors such as fungi, algae and lichens. On the one hand, by application of ETICSs, the inter-related building and physical factors contribute to the improvement of the thermal protection parameters of prefab residential housing but, on the other hand, the insulated façade creates suitable conditions for colonization by microorganisms.

Another area that comes to the forefront of interest after the application of ETICSs is the quality of the indoor environment and the microclimate. Prefab residential housing buildings without ETICSs had natural air infiltration through gaps, poorly sealed windows, etc. During renovations, a prefab residential housing building is fitted with an ETICS, but the impact on the interior with regard to the quality of the microclimate is not solved. Recuperation and self-regulating ventilation dampers of new plastic windows in relation to the concentration of CO₂ in the interior of housing units are more of a unique or isolated solution than a systematic approach. This is mainly due to higher investment costs.

The observations of the selected sample (Appendix A) show that the biodegradation processes were evident in the longer or shorter horizon in all monitored prefab systems of residential housing. The thickness of the ETICS insulation used started from 120 mm and more, because the renovation of these housing units took place between 2005 and 2010 and the thickness of the insulation had to meet the requirements of the ČSN 73 0540 [45,46]. The above observation showed that prefab residential housing apartment buildings showed 100% biodegradation manifestations.

At the same time, no prefab residential housing apartment building had measures taken to improve ventilation and air quality, thus predicting increased CO₂ concentrations with insufficient ventilation regimes [55].

The monitored panel apartment buildings were built in the 1960s and 1970s and all of them are gradually being rehabilitated using ETICS technology. If we start from the theoretical consideration of the expected service life of a prefabricated apartment building of 50 years, then these houses would have ended their service life gradually in the years 2010 to 2020. An ETICS extends the life of these buildings by another 20 years, provided prophylactic care and façade maintenance. However, they will not be in passive or low-energy standard mode. This remediation can therefore be considered adequate.

This consideration can be adequately applied to all prefab residential housing apartment buildings in the Czech Republic. The low-energy or passive standard of a prefab residential housing apartment building is a rather unique matter, intended more for research, as well as at what investment costs a better quality standard can be achieved from the point of view of heat and energy.

The environmental interaction of the context of “construction–ETICS–heat–energy–healthy indoor microclimate” in improving the condition of the prefab residential housing panel is addressed marginally rather than purposefully [56,57,58,59,60].

4. Discussion

The socialist approach and the idea of “building residential housing quickly and for everyone” had its justification after the end of World War II, because thousands and thousands of people were left homeless, without a place to live in after the war. Regrettably, this way of thinking and negative impact of the prefab residential housing lasted until the “Velvet Revolution” in the Czech Republic in 1989.

With the end of the 1980s and the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union in 1993, construction requirements began to change. New thinking about construction led to new approaches. ETICS technology began to develop rapidly, and the requirements for new construction and reconstruction of buildings changed dramatically, in terms of materials and construction technology. The overall development in the field of thermal technique requirements and energy management began to be influenced by the political and energy strategy set by the European Union.

Implementation of the European Directive EPBD I and EPBD II (EPBD III, including recast) seeks to implement in the legal and legislative regulations of the member states the passive standard for new constructions and by adequate means in the case of reconstructions. “By adequate means” implies that we should influence the resulting characteristics in the phase of investment preparation of renovation by creating the overall concept, which is balanced, among other things, by volumetric and structural–technological solutions of all spaces of the building and structures at the lowest energy intensity of the building.

From a political point of view and the EU’s strategy until 2030 and beyond, in addition to the requirement to achieve a passive standard, the set goal of reducing CO₂ emissions is attached as part of the fight against global warming, followed by a strategy known as “adaptation of buildings to climate change”.

It is thus a fact that the countries of Eastern Europe are not able to meet the set strategies and concept in full due to the large number of prefab residential housing buildings. The idea that the prefab residential will be renovated to a passive standard widely is more a fiction than a fact at the present time. The idea that there will be a widespread demolition of housing estates and the construction of new flats is also unrealistic. The availability of new flats is poor provided flat prices are high, often beyond the financial means and the possibility of acquisition by the middle social class of the population. If prefab residential housing are demolished, then it will be due to an unforeseen accident or event.

Renovations of existing prefab residential housing with the application of ETICSs are still in the interest of supplier construction companies. In addition to the application of ETICSs, it is necessary to focus on other factors that can positively affect the life of these objects.

These factors include:

• Consistent architectural and structural design of the building envelope.
• Thorough revision of heating systems [55].
• The possibility of using renewable resources [17,44].
• Possibility of controlled central ventilation in order to improve the quality of the indoor environment (the aim is to ensure the quality of the indoor environment and eliminate CO₂ concentrations) [52,55].
• Take into account climatic conditions and prepare prefab residential housing as part of activities to adapt buildings to climate change [17,44].
• To review and consider the possibility of adding another ETICS layer in prefab residential housing with an ETICS layer up to 120 mm thick (total thickness of the ETICS layer from 200 mm and more, provided that the perimeter cladding is sufficiently load bearing and ensures the requirement for mechanical resistance and stability [11,37]); to consider additional layer insulation technology appropriately, at a thickness of <120 mm or consider a complete new ETICS layer.
• Strictly adhere to the implementation technology.
• Take into account the interaction of the context of “building–environmental environment”, in the phase of architectural and structural design (the aim is to eliminate biodegradation of perimeter cladding) [52,53,55,60].
• Create financial subsidies and other support resources [12].
• Innovative material trends, such as perforated diffusely open polystyrene-based boards and wood fiber boards and to always use environmentally friendly materials.

The application of ventilated façades or other external cladding with an air gap has no wider application or tradition in the Czech Republic. Development trends show that the improvement of thermal protection parameters is done by adding another layer of the ETICS or by removing the original layer of the ETICS and applying a new compact layer in the required new thickness of the ETICS.

5. Conclusions

Experience shows that investment activities in the renovation of prefab residential housing in terms of thermal protection and energy requirements are aimed at the application of ETICSs so that the life of ETICSs, provided a proper system of prophylactic care and maintenance is applied, extends the life of prefab residential housing stock by at least another 20 years. This is actually happening in the Czech Republic, and it is also documented in a case study.

The latest available data show that the Czech Republic is not fully implementing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [17,39,55]. The development of more demanding investment-intensive requirements for the energy performance of buildings with almost zero energy consumption is also lagging, and so is the more investment-intensive new construction. Neither will the renovation of prefab residential housing in the form of the application of ETICSs ensure the fulfillment of the set goals. The prefab residential housing represents a category of older residential stock in the Czech Republic.

The actual report [39] states that the weaknesses of the Czech Republic include older housing stock, neglect of prefab residential housing and their high energy intensity. The average age of inhabited residential housing is approximately 52.4 years. If we take into account that the first prefab residential housing was built in the Czech Republic in the years 1955–1960, then the age of these buildings is currently 60 years and more. Their originally planned service life of 50 years [40] is currently being exceeded. If we further assume that the application of ETICSs will extend the life of a prefab residential housing by at least another 20 years, then the life of prefab residential housing would be extended from 2020 to 2030 or 2040. However, the European Union concept of energy strategy and program document goals will not be fulfilled.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of how to proceed with prefab residential housing estates, what their future is and what impact strategic concepts set by the EU in the field of heat and energy management have on the current construction industry. At the same time, its purpose is to show that the issue of improving thermal protection in prefab residential housing brings new negative phenomena (CO₂ issues, biodegradation), and new findings, such as another new thickness of ETICSs on existing insulation layers, and others.

It is also necessary to take into account the interaction of all contexts related to the above issues, i.e., a healthy environment, the quality of the indoor microclimate, quality of work and, last but not least, cultural, social and societal contexts. The issue does not only concern the Czech Republic, it is in the interest of all member countries of Eastern Europe. Prefab residential housing buildings and prefabricated housing estates will be a form of housing for the next several decades, for the eastern countries of Europe. The properties of prefab residential housing buildings, which are renovated by the application of ETICSs, can positively affect the stability of the territory of cities and settlements and the intensity and manner of the use of housing estates by the middle social class, as well as the prices of local real estate. These properties lead to the social and economic sustainability of the given localities comprising prefab residential housing buildings. The housing estates of today have a good infrastructure and they have mature greenery and landscaping. Additionally, these are certainly values that will affect the further development of housing, especially in the eastern countries of Europe.