Relationships between Building Characteristics and Airtightness of Dutch Dwellings

Bramiana, Chely Novia; Entrop, Alexis Gerardus; Halman, Johannes I.M.

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2016.09.103

Cited by 30 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“… n50 – the number of air changes per hour, resulting from a pressure difference of 50 Pa between the internal environment and the building environment (h –1 ) (adopted in accordance with Table 1)…”

Section: Air-tightness Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In terms of the level of air permeability, air-tightness has been included in building regulations all over the world. 1 Individual countries have adopted their own provisions for reducing air infiltration in buildings. 2,3 Airflow is directly related to building quality, 4 because it influences the transport of heat and moisture and affects the indoor environment, as well as the durability of the building enclosure 5 and CO 2 emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling building infiltration using the airflow network model approach calibrated by air-tightness test results and leak detection

Heim

Miszczuk

2020

Building Services Engineering Research and Technology

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This paper presents a computational approach to air infiltration modelling and simulation validated by the blower door test results. In order to evaluate the potential of the airflow network method, three simulation models of the infiltration test were developed and calibrated by field measurements of leaked air change rate per hour at 50 Pa. Models were developed for existing building designs and constructed in low-energy standards differing in construction type and tightness. All leaks were precisely measured during field tests, defined as openings or cracks, numerically described and included in the model. The simulation results of calibrated models for other pressure differences revealed that the models’ accuracy is satisfactory. The differences between field tests and simulation results do not exceed 2.5%. Additionally, the calibrated models were used to estimate the infiltration heat losses of buildings in three different locations under continental climatic conditions. The results were compared with the steady-state method calculations made for the same building models and climatic conditions. It was proved that the steady-state method gives higher results of heat demand to cover infiltration losses than the simulation method. The final results depend on building location and vary between four and nine times. Practical application: The computational modelling and building performance simulations are increasingly commonly used in engineering design. The proposed method of air-tightness modelling and calibration can be used at any phase of a building’s lifecycle, from design and construction to exploitation and maintenance. Using the proposed techniques, it is possible to estimate more realistic processes of air infiltration and its effect on a building’s energy consumption in comparison with the steady-state method. Moreover, the analysis includes the dynamic effect of boundary conditions (external air temperature, wind speed and direction), as well as the effects of the building site and the surroundings.

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Section: Air-tightness Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling building infiltration using the airflow network model approach calibrated by air-tightness test results and leak detection

Heim

Miszczuk

2020

Building Services Engineering Research and Technology

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“…Airtightness of residential buildings in Finland (Vinha et al, 2015) 226 Workmanship identified as a key contributor to airtightness Relationships between building characteristics and airtightness of Dutch dwellings (Bramiana et al, 2016) Data gathered from several organisations Air leakage paths identified included junctions and joints, openings, service penetrations and fittings Building leakage, infiltration, and energy performance analyses for Finnish detached houses (Jokisalo et al, 2009) 170 An almost linear relationship between average infiltration rate and heating energy use with the building leakage rate. 15-30% of the space heating energy associated with infiltration.…”

Section: Evidence Of Housing Performance Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the influence of building fabric, services and occupant related factors on the actual performance of low energy social housing dwellings in UK

Gupta

Kapsali

Howard

2018

Energy and Buildings

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This paper empirically investigates the influence of building fabric, services and occupant related factors on actual energy use of six case study dwellings, located in three new low energy social housing developments in UK, covering a variety of built forms and construction systems (timber frame, hempcrete, steel-frame). Physical monitoring of indoor environment and window-opening is cross-related with building fabric and systems' performance, and qualitative data gathered through occupant surveys, review of control interfaces and handover guidance, to understand the causes of the gap between modelled and measured energy use. Actual energy use is found to exceed design expectations by a factor of three, questioning the need for whole-house mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems at measured air permeability rates of 6m³/(h.m²) against the design target of 3m³/(h.m²). Lack of proper commissioning of MVHR and heating systems, combined with inadequate user comprehension about their operation and control leads to occupant 'misuse' wherein systems are de-activated, thereby negatively affecting indoor air quality. This is confounded by occupant factors related to higher demand temperatures, unexpected opening of windows during winters due to under-performance of MVHR combined with habitual behaviours, and over-use of heating systems to compensate for higher than expected air permeability.

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“…The study found a mean air leakage rate of 4.2 m 3 /h/m 2 @ 50 Pa and highlighted the number of storeys and quality of workmanship as significant determinants of airtightness [36]. The importance of workmanship was stressed in a study in Finland where 170 single-family detached houses and 56 apartments were tested for airtightness [37], as well as in a Dutch study where a number of air leakage paths including junctions and joints, openings, service penetrations and fittings were identified in the dwellings under investigation [38]. In terms of the impact of airtightness on space heating energy use, an evaluation of a typical modern detached house in Finland yielded an almost linear relationship between the average infiltration rate and heating energy use with the building leakage rate, associating 15-30% of the space heating energy to infiltration [39].…”

Section: Building Fabric Thermal Performance: Evidence To Datementioning

confidence: 99%

Magnitude and extent of building fabric thermal performance gap in UK low energy housing

Gupta

Kotopouleas

2018

Applied Energy

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• Air-permeability, U-value and whole house heat loss data were statistically tested.• Building fabric thermal performance gap was widespread in low energy dwellings.• Airtightness gap was trivial in Passivhaus but significant in non-Passivhaus units.• Gap increased by 0.8 m 3 /h/m 2 for every 1 m 3 /h/m 2 decrease in design air permeability.• Building regulations should require in-situ tests to reduce fabric performance gap. ARTICLE INFO Keywords:Building fabric Low energy dwellings Passivhaus Airtightness Heat loss Thermal transmittance Co-heating test ABSTRACT This paper presents new evidence from a nationwide cross-project meta-study investigating the magnitude and extent of the difference between designed and measured thermal performance of the building fabric of 188 low energy dwellings in the UK. The dataset was drawn from the UK Government's national Building Performance Evaluation programme, and comprises 50 Passivhaus (PH) and 138 non-Passivhaus (NPH) dwellings, covering different built forms and construction systems. The difference between designed and measured values of air permeability (AP), external wall/roof thermal transmittance (U-value) and whole house heat loss were statistically analysed, along with a review of thermal imaging data to explain any discrepancies. The results showed that fabric thermal performance gap was widespread especially in terms of AP, although the magnitude of underperformance was much less in PH dwellings. While measured AP had good correlation with measured space heating energy for PH dwellings, there was no relationship between the two for NPH dwellings. The regression analysis indicated that for every 1 m 3 /h/m 2 reduction in designed air permeability, the gap increased by 0.8 m 3 /h/m 2 @50 Pa. Monte Carlo analysis showed that likelihood of AP gap was 78% in NPH dwellings designed to 5 m 3 /h/m 2 @50 Pa or lower. The study provides useful evidence for improving the fabric thermal performance of new housing through in-situ testing.

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Relationships between Building Characteristics and Airtightness of Dutch Dwellings

Cited by 30 publications

References 22 publications

Modelling building infiltration using the airflow network model approach calibrated by air-tightness test results and leak detection

Modelling building infiltration using the airflow network model approach calibrated by air-tightness test results and leak detection

Evaluating the influence of building fabric, services and occupant related factors on the actual performance of low energy social housing dwellings in UK

Magnitude and extent of building fabric thermal performance gap in UK low energy housing

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