What is the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS)?

The External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS), previously known as the Seamless Insulation System (BSO) and originally referred to as the light-wet method, is a system for insulating external walls. It involves attaching polystyrene or mineral wool boards to the substrate, covering them with a reinforcing layer made of a mesh embedded in adhesive mortar, and then applying a thin-layer decorative plaster.

The ETICS system consists of several interconnected layers:

1. Load-bearing wall
2. Insulation boards (either polystyrene or mineral wool; for mineral wool, additional mechanical fasteners are used)
3. Reinforcing mortar
4. Reinforcement mesh
5. Another layer of reinforcing mortar
6. Primer coat
7. Thin-layer plaster