Katarzyna Nowak

The airtightness measurements of the system buildings are very important. They allow, together with the infrared tests, to verify all undesirable system joint leaks, which significantly increase the heating energy needs. In the article the results of airtightness measurements of two flats, built in system W-70, were presented. One of the buildings is after thermal modernization. During the leakage tests the system joints were monitored with the infrared camera. Thermograms, presented in the paper, confirmed the assumption about the negative influence of joints on the total building airtightness. Described tests are a pilot studies of the problem and provide the starting point to the further measurements on the statistical level.

This paper presents the results of experimental tests of a wall barrier containing a layer with the addition of phase-change material. The study was performed in a climatic chamber for a light frame wall in two versions: with inner lining made of plaster-cardboard panel and of panel containing PCM. Temperature measurements were made on the surface of panels for non- stationary conditions in a climatic chamber. Research stand was prepared, in which heating of coat layers was effecting from an increase of the room’s air temperature rather than from direct heating of the layers. The influence of the PCM was analyzed for faster and slower pace of air heating.

This paper presents the results of the experimental tests of components containing alternating phase material. The measurements of a light frame wall, in two options: plate with internal drywall filling and plate containing phase variable material, were conducted in a climatic chamber. The temperature and heat flux density distribution on the surface of plates for non-stationary temperature conditions in a climatic chamber were analyzed. The research stand simulated the conditions where the cladding plates were heated with the increase of internal air temperature rather than through direct heating. The main goal of the experiment was to check the utility of the test procedure and the measurement equipment to the planned research of building components containing PCM.

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.

As far as modern building technological and material solutions, wood-based constructions are more often applied. New technologies in wood constructions allow to design and construct buildings in low-energy and passive building standards. Producers of system solutions provide the catalogues of different system construction details. The aim of this article is the analysis of thermal bridges of different solution details of both, framework and massive board wood construction. The analysis were conducted in THERM 6.3 program, prepared by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory. THERM enables to model the effects of two- dimensional heat flow effect and is based on finite elements method, which allows modeling of both simple and geometrically complicated building components. All the results of software calculation facilitates the analysis of the heat exchange and finally allows for the estimation of energy effctiveness. Analyzis of local temperature values allows for assessment of condensation and mould growth problems.

The paper presents results of experimental studies on components containing phase change materials. The subject of research was the simultaneous usage of two different PC materials: gypsum-carton boards with paraffin capsules of change temperature 23ºC and a board with a melting temperature of 26ºC. The tests were carried out in a climatic chamber for a light skeleton wall lined with inner facing consisting of a traditional gypsum-carton and a layer of PCM board. Measurements of temperature course were taken as well as heat flux density distribution on the surfaces of the boards for variable conditions in the climatic chamber. The results presented in the article are one of the aspects of widely planned and realized measurements aimed at evaluating and choosing the optimal material solutions, using available phase change materials.

The paper presents an attempt at assessing the impact of how the type of construction of a building influences the thermal comfort of office rooms with a large area of glazing, in summer months. The results of simulations are presented for a two-storey office building. The calculations were carried out in the Design Builder program. Simulations were carried out for the climate in Poland, which allowed for assessment of the conditions for the thermal comfort of the building in the spring and summer. The main aim of the analysis was to determine how the material and design solutions as well as the applied glazing and shades influence the protection of the building against overheating and the thermal comfort conditions.