Friderik Knez

Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije · Building Physics

The demand for construction timber is continuously increasing, due to its favourable characteristics. However, the adequate protection of wood is key to its successful use, as it is flammable and susceptible to biodegradation. Given that thermal modification enhances the durability of wood, and mineralisation with CaCO 3 considerably improves its f...

The demand for construction timber is continuously increasing, due to its excellent mechanical properties, renewable nature and easy accessibility. As it is flammable and susceptible to biodegradation, however, the adequate protection of wood is key to its successful use. Given that thermal modification enhances the durability of wood, and minerali...

The ISO 5660-1 cone calorimeter is an affordable, practical, and commonly used solution for the measurement of main fire properties of products and materials. Among its chief drawbacks is its limited ability to reproduce combustion conditions found in real fires. This deficiency is mainly due to its inability to control oxygen availability in order...

In order to improve the fire retardancy of wood the eco-friendly method for in situ formation of CaCO 3 deep inside the wood's structure was proposed by the vacuum-pressure impregnation of only one component – water solution of calcium acetoacetate.

The effects of selected printing parameters on the fire properties of additively produced composites from neat polylactic acid (PLA) and wood/PLA filaments were investigated. The reaction to fire of the 3D-printed specimens was tested according to the ISO 5660-1 cone calorimeter test method. The results showed that the properties of the specimens w...

Generated fire effluents are toxic and responsible for the majority of fire deaths and injuries. Therefore, measures of fire safety and the assessment of toxic effects of fires on humans, which are the key factors to assess fire hazards, have been researched in the last decades. However, it is more and more recognized that there is also a need to a...

Fires can have a negative impact on the environment, human health, property and ultimately also on various objects of cultural heritage (CH). This paper deals with an investigation into the degradation of selected proteinaceous paint layers that were exposed to fire-related effects (i.e., fire effluents and/or high temperatures) in a modified cone-...

The construction and demolition sector is one of the biggest consumers of natural resources in the world and consequently, one of the biggest waste producers worldwide. The proper management of construction and demolition waste (CDW) can provide major benefits for the construction and recycling industry. However, the recycling rate of CDW is relati...

The interest in nanocellulose made from woody biomass has been growing rapidly; however, detailed studies on the environmental performance of nanocellulose have only been reported on a few occasions. To fulfill this gap, the environmental performance of nanofibrillated cellulose fabricated from thermo-groundwood (removal of extractives, lignin and...

External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) facades with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation and thin rendering are applied frequently in buildings. Considering high combustibility of EPS, with these facades concerns also arise regarding spread of a possible fire between neighbouring compartments of high-rise buildings. Fire tests of two...

In terms of upcoming energy directive for Nearly Zero Energy Houses (nZEB), we are very much focused on building skin and its properties. Not only thermal characteristics and design, but also durability and environmental aspects should play a role, when deciding on which system will be implemented. External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems or E...

The railway infrastructure is a very important component of the world’s total transportation network. Investment in its construction and maintenance is significant on a global scale. Previously published life cycle assessment (LCA) studies performed on road and rail systems very seldom included infrastructures in detail, mainly choosing to focus on...

The railway infrastructure is a very important component of the world’s total transportation network. Investment in its construction and maintenance is therefore significant on a global scale. Up to now, some results of the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of open railway line, as well as railway bridges and tunnels, have been published, but detailed an...

Nowadays the measurement of water vapour diffusion resistance factor of building components is performed according to EN ISO 12572 or EN 12086. Both these standards use cup methods. However, measuring vapour transmission in this way by means of linear or point water vapour bridges would be difficult because of the limited sample size and shape. The...

Transparent façade collectors can provide solar heating and cooling and lead to primary energy savings even compared to an opaque wall. They can be simulated with a detailed physical model based on laboratory measurements. The demonstration installation in Ljubljana will provide extensive measurement data of transparent façade collectors in an outd...