Energy efficiency of timber-frame buildings in cold climates

Abstract

Ensuring human life in harsh cold climate conditions is one of the priority objectives for the development of the Arctic states. Among numerous building structures used in the construction of energy-efficient buildings, wood-frame panels occupy one of the leading places in the world. They have inherent positive characteristics such as versatility, manufacturability, lightness, high thermal protection qualities and relatively low cost. The main features include a high dependence of their fire resistance and energy efficiency on the choice of materials and structures. In the paper to improve energy efficiency and fire resistance of timber-frame buildings the method of two-layer thermal insulation in permanent formwork made of non-combustible glass magnesite boards with the use of heterogeneous thermal insulation materials is proposed. These include polystyrene foam with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and non-combustible insulating foam concrete. To substantiate the increase of energy efficiency of the enclosing structures, the results of thermal calculation are given, thermograms of field inspection of the quality of thermal insulation are shown. At rational selection of materials and construction the energy efficiency of the offered multilayer wooden-frame wall (thermal resistance 5.66 (m2 × °C)/W) is increased almost two times (by 1.82) in comparison with a single-layer wall from monolithic foam concrete of similar buildings in conditions of St. Petersburg. The results of experimental research on improving the technology of obtaining heat-insulating foam concrete with improved indicators of shrinkage deformation, strength and curing processes are presented.