Renovation of an Apartment Building Using Prefabricated Thermo Panels

Abstract

Lõputöö eesmärk oli uurida, kas korterelamute renoveerimine termoelemendi abil on tehniliselt teostatav ja majanduslikult põhjendatud. Uurimuse hüpotees – „Termoelemendiga saab korterelamuid soojustada“ – leidis kinnitust läbi arvutuslike ja võrdlevate analüüside. Töös anti esmalt ülevaade Kuuma tn 4 korterelamu rekonstrueerimisest puitelementidega ning seejärel pakuti välja alternatiivne lahendus termoelemendiga. Töö käigus lahendati kõik tüüp- ja paigaldussõlmed termoelemendi kasutamise kontekstis. Analüüsi fookuses oli kolme erineva sõlme soojus- ja niiskustehniline toimivus, mida kontrolliti tarkvaraga Therm, järgides kehtivaid standardeid. Tulemustest selgus, et kuigi termoelemendi puhul tuleb rohkem tähelepanu pöörata aurutõkke kvaliteedile ning kondensaadi vältimisele mineraalvilla ja terase vahel, on see lahendus hästi toimiv juhul, kui ehituskvaliteet ja korralik ventilatsioon on tagatud. Eelarveliselt on puitelement soodsam, kuid termoelemendil on mitmeid eeliseid – see on kergem, täpsemalt toodetav ning vastupidavam. Materjali täpsus ja vähene jääk muudavad termoelemendi tööjõu- ja paigalduskulude arvestuses konkurentsivõimeliseks. Kuigi süsinikujalajälje mõttes on puidul jätkuvalt eelis, muudavad terasetööstuse arengud, nagu SSAB fossiilvaba terase suund, ka terase järjest jätkusuutlikumaks valikuks. Kokkuvõttes võib öelda, et mõlemad lahendused – nii puit- kui ka termoelemendid – suudavad tagada energiatõhusa ja kestliku tulemuse. Õige lahenduse valik sõltub projekti iseloomust, materjalide kättesaadavusest ja eesmärgiks seatud elueast ning paigaldusvõimalustest. Autor järeldab töö tulemusel, et termoelemendil on suur potentsiaal muuta korterelamute renoveerimisturg mitmekesisemaks ja innovaatilisemaks.The aging of the residential building stock has become a significant issue both in Estonia and across Europe. Many existing buildings no longer meet modern energy efficiency and indoor climate standards, making large-scale renovation initiatives increasingly relevant. Traditionally, renovation approaches have relied on on-site insulation works using mineral wool or polystyrene, often leading to quality issues due to weather conditions and installation quality. To address these shortcomings, Estonian timber industry companies have developed prefabricated timber elements, offering better quality control, faster installation, and reduced on-site construction work. The aim of this bachelor’s thesis was to investigate whether thermo elements—factory-produced components made of thermal profiles and insulated with mineral or stone wool—could offer a comparable alternative to prefabricated timber elements for the renovation of building envelopes. The study focused on the case of Kuuma 4, an apartment building that was renovated using timber elements. Based on this case, analogous solutions utilizing thermo elements were developed and analyzed. Throughout the research, detailed technological, thermal, and moisture performance analyses were carried out using the simulation software Therm. The study also compared installation methods, the impact of thermal bridging, energy efficiency outcomes, and provided a simplified cost analysis per square meter. Special attention was paid to the risk of condensation between the thermo profiles and the insulation layer, which must be managed carefully to ensure durability. The results confirmed the initial hypothesis that thermo elements are suitable for apartment building renovation. While thermo elements have a slightly higher material cost compared to timber elements, they offer benefits such as lower weight, precise prefabrication, minimal material waste, and improved durability, especially when proper ventilation and airtightness are ensured. Although wood remains advantageous in terms of carbon footprint, the development of fossil-free steel technologies makes thermo elements increasingly competitive in the context of sustainable construction. 36 In conclusion, thermo elements represent a viable and competitive alternative for improving the energy efficiency of apartment buildings, therefore offering a new opportunity for the renovation sector in Estonia and beyond