Impact of preparation procedures on results of airtightness tests

Requirements connected with the designing of low-energy and passive buildings impose an obligation to conduct airtightness tests during the building process and after the completion of building works. Proper building preparation is required before initiating an airtightness test. In case of commercial buildings with complicated HVAC systems, the proper preparation may appear to be very complicated and can unfavorable affect the tests results. On the example of tests conducted in the low-energy office buildings in Wrocław, the authors describe the problems met during airtightness tests

Influence of the Balcony Glazing Construction on Thermal Comfort of Apartments in Retrofitted Large Panel Buildings

AbstractThis paper presents the results of the annual computational simulations conducted for separate flats of a ten-story W70 large-panel building. The calculations were carried out in the Design Builder program which prepares a simulation of the building envelope as well as the separate parts of the building interior. The simulations conducted for the polish climatic conditions allowed the assessment of the thermal comfort of the entire multi-family building and of the particular flats. It is very rare to take into consideration the requirements connected with the overheating effect in the panel buildings. This issue is closely related to the thermal comfort of the building, especially during the summer months. For the last couple of years modernization of large panel buildings has become very popular. Most of the multi-family large panel buildings in Poland have already been insulated, windows were exchanged and in many cases balconies were closed with glazing constructions. Based on conducted simulations authors analyzed the microclimate conditions in different apartments, with different orientation of balconies. Different simulation steps were analyzed which allowed an evaluation of the influence of different windows, loggia glazing framings and night cooling on microclimate in different apartments

Thrmal comfort of the individual flats of multi-family panel building

The paper presents the results of the annual computational simulations conducted for the W70 panel building. The calculations were carried out in the Design Builder program which allows preparing the simulation of the building envelope as well as the separate parts of the building interior. It is very rare to considerate the requirements connected to the overheating effect in the panel buildings. This issue is closely related to the thermal comfort in the building, especially during the summer months. Based on the conducted simulations, authors indicated the influence of building orientation, individual flat location and thermal insulation on the thermal comfort in the different flats of prefabricated panel building

Measurements of the thermal comfort in the W70 panel building

It is estimated that about 4 million flats in Poland are made of prefabricated elements in different systems. Moreover, at present more than 10 million Poles live in system buildings. Despite the commonness of those buildings the analyses of the microclimate of the interior space are very rare. The paper presents the results of the thermal comfort measurements conducted in different flats of multi-family panel building made in W70 system. It appears there is a problem with the overheating effect during the summer months in all parts of the building

Symulation of night cooling in a single dwelling of a large panel building

When analyzing large panel buildings, it is very rare to take into consideration the requirements connected with the overheating effect. The paper presents the results of the annual computational simulations of thermal comfort conducted for one flat of W70 multi-family large panel building. Basing on the simulations the authors analyzed the influence of night cooling on thermal comfort inside the flat. Different simulation steps were taken into consideration: windows with and without shading systems, opened during entire night or just during given periods of time to keep specific thermal conditions

Simulation analysis of microclimate conditions in a multi – family large panel building

When analyzing large panel buildings, it is very rare to take into consideration the requirements connected with the overheating effect. This issue is closely related to the thermal comfort of the building, especially during the summer months. Based on the simulations conducted in the Design Builder program, the authors determined the influence of building orientation, individual flat location and thermal insulation on the thermal comfort of the different flats of a large multi-family panel building

Influence of shading systems on the microclimate conditions in large panel buildings

The thermal comfort conditions of multi-family buildings, including large panel buildings, are rarely analyzed. Simulations of large panel buildings conducted by authors in the Design Builder program show very unfavorable microclimate conditions in buildings after thermal modernization. The simulation results of the influence of internal and external shadings on the thermal comfort of dwellings in multi-family large panel building are presented in this article

The role of solar shading in reducing solar gains in summer in the passive primary school

W nowo projektowanych budynkach edukacyjnych o radykalnie zmniejszonym zapotrzebowaniu na energię do ogrzewania oraz wysokim oporze cieplnym przegród budynku poszukuje się rozwiązań zapewniających bezpieczne oraz komfortowe warunki dla młodych ludzi. To, co jest niezwykle pożądane zimą (dobra izolacyjność, duże przeszklenia po stronie południowej, wysoka szczelność), latem może stanowić problem w uzyskaniu komfortu cieplnego. Ochrona pomieszczeń przed przegrzewaniem staje się działaniem równie ważnym co zapewnienie odpowiednich warunków użytkowych zimą. Przy użyciu programu symulacyjnego Design Builder utworzono model szkoły. Sprawdzono, w jakim stopniu modyfikacje zastosowanych w szkole systemów osłon zewnętrznych i wewnętrznych wpłyną na zyski solarne w trakcie wybranych miesięcy wiosenno-letnich. Na podstawie analizy stwierdzono, że zewnętrzne łamacze światła na elewacji wschodniej w bardzo ograniczonym zakresie redukują zyski solarne latem. Z kolei wysokie wartości współczynnika przepuszczalności energii słonecznej w pasywnych szkleniach generują niepożądane latem znaczne zyski solarne, z którymi zastosowane osłony wewnętrzne nie są w stanie sobie dostatecznie poradzić w okresach użytkowych.In newly designed educational buildings with a significantly reduced heating energy demand and the high thermal resistance of building partitions, the solutions should ensure safe and comfortable conditions for young people. What is extremely desirable in winter (good insulation, large glazing on the southern side, high tightness) may be a problem in obtaining thermal comfort during the summer season. The protection of rooms against overheating becomes as important as ensuring appropriate operating conditions in winter. Using the Design Builder simulation program, a model of the school was created. It was checked to what extent the modifications of the internal and external shielding systems used in the school will affect the solar profits during the selected spring and summer months. Based on the analysis, it was found that external light breakers on the eastern façade reduce solar gains in the summer to a very limited extent. On the other hand, high values of the solar energy transmittance coefficient in passive glazing generate significant solar gains undesirable in summer, which cannot be effectively reduced using the internal covers during the usage periods

How to Adapt Mongolian Yurt to the Modern Requirements and European Climate—Airtightness versus CO₂ Concentration?

There are currently trends in the world to transfer and adapt traditional solutions to contemporary needs. This applies, inter alia, to mobile shelters used by nomadic peoples. The article is devoted to the research on the quality of internal air in the yurt and the possibilities of its adaptation to high contemporary quality and environmental requirements, while maintaining its characteristic sustainable values. The tested traditional Mongolian yurt was moved from the dry and cold climate of the Asian steppe to the temperate climate of Central Europe and has been significantly modified. The outer shell materials have been changed, replacing natural materials with modern tight insulating foils. The wood-fired stove has been replaced with an electric heater and the roof opening has been firmly closed. All of these modifications resulted in far-reaching changes in the quality of the internal environment in the yurt. The conducted measurements and simulations of CO2 concentration in the modified yurt proved that the efficiency of ventilation system is not sufficient and that the air quality is very poor (even for a single user). In the case of a larger number of users, the concentration of CO2 has already reached a level that was dangerous to health. The simplest method of improving the air quality in the yurt is its careful unsealing to the required level. Striving for a low energy demand, however, would require a completely different approach (for example, in the form of forced ventilation with a heat recovery unit, ultimately powered with a PV array). Such a solution is very different from the traditional yurt model but is close to modern expectations and environmental requirements