Thermal and acoustic performance expectations on timber buildings

Abstract

In recent years, building technologies have been developed in order to improve comfort and energy saving. European institutions and single countries firmly invite individuals to choose high energy-saving strategies in order to decrease carbon emissions and energy consumption. Examples could be found in thermal insulators added to façades and improvement of glazing performance. At present, two technologies are the most used in construction realization: traditional (concrete, masonry or in general heavyweight structure) or wood (timber, crosslam or in general timber lightweight structure). Designers, scientists and builders have their own opinions on these two topics, but good insulation performance are achievable with both of them. Nevertheless, for lay people as well as for designers, wooden structures seem more comfortable, reliable and insulated. Therefore, an international survey was realized in order to investigate what individuals expect from these two different construction technologies in terms of insulation performance. Results indicate that timber buildings stereotypes are confirmed for acoustic and thermal insulation and show how scientific communication may help to deal with new or untraditional constructions.

Analysis of Research Topics and Scientific Collaborations in Energy Saving Using Bibliometric Techniques and Community Detection

“…An example of these technologies is the thermal insulation added to the facades and the improvement of the performance of the glazing or a district heating designed in a residential area. Nevertheless, although these technological advances can be implemented in concrete and wood buildings, the studies carried out highlight how timber construction is associated with thermal comfort and is perceived as innovative [19]. This is paradoxical because, after having expanded the use of gravel and concrete, the wood construction was increasingly neglected for a period of time.…”

Analysis of Resilient Design by Thermoacoustic Adaptation of Tropical Urban Model

“…It is not recommended for high reflection coefficient material because it could make a flanking effect for vertical propagation if the barrier is designed in a horizontal way. Traditionally, tropical building using timber are confirmed for acoustic and thermal insulation as Caniato et al (2017) suggested and it shows how scientific analysis may help to deal with new buildings style. It should be realized that with high acoustic insulation, comfort, and high energy performance, the tropical building material usually has a role as building fire hazard.…”

“…However, there were no specific previous findings related the requirements for integrated factors, especially for the tropical building. Most of them analyzed many factors separately (Kruger, Zannin 2007;Huang et al 2012;Caniato et al 2017) or effect one factor to the others only (Hodgson, Khaleghia 2012;Freihoefer et al 2015;Paris-Newton et al 2016).…”

Predicting Heating and Cooling Loads in Energy-Efficient Buildings Using Two Hybrid Intelligent Models

“…Sant'Anna et al [4] conduct research for conventional and green buildings in terms of indoor environmental quality perception. In another research, Caniato et al [5] studied the expectations of the thermal and acoustic performance of wooden buildings against a heavyweight structure.…”