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Off-site Technologies for the Building Envelope: Mapping Practices and Innovations of Cold-Formed Steel-Based Systems
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In recent years, mixed reality (MR) technology has gained popularity in construction management due to its real-time visualisation capability to facilitate on-site decision-making tasks. The semantic segmentation of building components provides an attractive solution towards digital construction monitoring, reducing workloads through automation techniques. Nevertheless, data shortages remain an issue in maximizing the performance potential of deep learning segmentation methods. The primary aim of this study is to address this issue through synthetic data generation using Building Information Modelling (BIM) models. This study presents a point-cloud-based deep learning segmentation approach to a 3D light steel framing (LSF) system through synthetic BIM models and as-built data captured using MR headsets. A standardisation workflow between BIM and MR models was introduced to enable seamless data exchange across both domains. A total of five different experiments were set up to identify the benefits of synthetic BIM data in supplementing actual as-built data for model training. The results showed that the average testing accuracy using solely as-built data stood at 82.88%. Meanwhile, the introduction of synthetic BIM data into the training dataset led to an improved testing accuracy of 86.15%. A hybrid dataset also enabled the model to segment both the BIM and as-built data captured using an MR headset at an average accuracy of 79.55%. These findings indicate that synthetic BIM data have the potential to supplement actual data, reducing the costs associated with data acquisition. In addition, this study demonstrates that deep learning has the potential to automate construction monitoring tasks, aiding in the digitization of the construction industry.
An immediate paradigm shift is needed to transform the deep renovation market for improved building performance and expanded energy efficiency horizons. The financial, social, and sustainability challenges of the EU targets suggest research towards reliable, inter-compatible, and interoperable solutions aiming at combining different energy conservation measures. This work proposes the implementation of a lightweight Plug-and-Play (PnP) building system for façade renovation using a set-based design approach. The PnP module, based on a main structure in the form of a Light Steel Frame (LSF) and a metal-faced sandwich panel, is combined with various market-ready components. The efficient integration of these third-party products is highlighted by defining and demonstrating the design process, implementing a solution driven by the reach of a highly industrialised solution, easy to assemble and install, customizable, scalable, and adaptable to the existing buildings. With the set-based design matrix, different integration scenarios are investigated through virtual prototypes. Moreover, to facilitate the shift from design to construction of the integrated PnP module, the study proposes three prototyping levels to demonstrate the efficiency of the design integration methodology and the technical feasibility of both the various module's configurations and the overall module, exploring them through the realisation of preliminary, full-scale façade and actual environment-applied prototypes.
Light Steel Frame structures (LSF) have become one of the main competitors of traditional construction systems. The optimized material use, its lightness, and the timesaving in the construction phase, show the potential of this technology to reduce environmental impacts. The purpose of this study is to review and analyse the current literature on the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to LSF buildings and identify related gaps. A systematic literature review has been performed to query Web of Science and Scopus databases, highlighting methods, limitations, trends, and tools used to address LCA applied to LSF buildings. Although many efforts have been made to evaluate LSF buildings in comparison with other construction solutions, a gap persists in performing whole LCA. Considering the potential disassembly and reuse offered by LSF and the recyclability of steel, there is a need for future research focusing beyond the end-of-life stage.
Recently, there has been an attempt to implement increasingly significant prefabrication in building construction, since this method is considered to represent an opportunity to reduce impacts in the construction sector. For pitched roofs, there have been relevant developments, such as sandwich panels, asphalt shingles, lightweight roof panels, among others. However, in relation to flat roofs, the advances have been of little relevance and are mainly limited to the improvement of technical characteristics and prefabrication of the construction materials used. The main goal of this article is to demonstrate the possibility of developing new solutions for more sustainable flat roofs in the carbon footprint, and for this purpose a system was developed called ADAPTIVE—Advanced Production System for Sustainable and Productive Roofing Retrofit, which consists of developing a composite solution for the rehabilitation of flat roofs, completely prefabricated and with zero waste, with the aim of increasing energy behaviour, collecting and storing rainwater, and using the roof as a garden leisure space. To obtain the validation results, computerised theoretical modelling was conducted with theoretical assessment of the components and the set of components developed, which allowed us to conclude that the system meets the high hygrothermal, acoustic, and structural requirements.
The E.U. aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This article aims to fill the gap in the selection of solutions to improve living conditions in territorial assets (SDG n.11) to achieve the expected energy performance (SDG n.7) and disseminate the adoption of new approaches and measures for sustainable design (SDG n.13). These objectives were met through the application of a reverse engineering process to the Ape Tau kindergarten in L'Aquila, Coppito area, after the 2009 earthquake. The building's design solutions were investigated according to quantitative levels suggested by the holistic approach of the Active House protocol, which provides the methodology to verify the building's performance according to comfort, energy and environmental criteria. The results highlight the high performance of the building constructed with multilayer dry technology and the method's effectiveness based on process-oriented analysis to user, environment and territory. The article proposes an innovative paradigm for building requalification replicable in numerous contexts and different climatic conditions.
Light steel frame (LSF) building systems offer high structural resilience, lower costs due to fast prefabrication, and high ability to recycle and reuse. The main goal of this paper was to provide state-of-the-art main components for such systems with the intention to be implemented for use in nearly-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). A brief historical outline of the development of LSF systems was given, and the key parameters affecting the design and use of LSF systems were discussed. The influence of the individual components of the LSF system (steel studs, sheathing boards, and insulation materials) was then thoroughly discussed in light of relevant research on energy efficiency and other important properties (such as sound protection and fire resistance). Web of Science and Scopus databases were used for this purpose, using relevant key words: LSF, energy efficiency, sheathing boards, steel studs, insulation, etc. Several research gaps were identified that could be used for development and future research on new LSF systems. Finally, based on the analysis of each component, an innovative LSF composite wall panel was proposed which will be the subject of the authors’ future research. Conducted preliminary analysis showed low thermal transmittance of the system and indicates the path of its further research.
Typically, reinforced concrete and brick masonry construction is the most common construction system of the majority of the southern European residential building stock. However, the lightweight steel framing (LSF) construction system has been progressively assuming a relevant position in the residential sector. Since LSF is not the traditional construction system, the indoor thermal environment of these buildings has not been widely studied and discussed considering the southern European climate context. The low thermal inertia of this construction system is commonly pointed to as a possible weakness in warmer climates. The present work aims to address this research gap by evaluating and comparing the LSF and masonry construction systems in terms of the indoor thermal environment focusing on the level of thermal inertia. The considered methodology lies in a long-term experimental campaign based on the construction and monitoring of two identical experimental test cells, differing only in the construction system. The test cells are in the central region of Portugal. The monitoring period elapsed over an entire year. Dynamic simulations are also carried out with a model experimentally validated to consider a wider range of climatic conditions. It is shown that internally insulating the ground floor has an impact on the indoor thermal environment of the LSF test cell by accentuating the indoor air temperature fluctuations and magnitude of the extreme peak values. However, the results also reveal that the faster and closer response to the outdoor conditions may be beneficial for LSF buildings during the heating season.
The construction and building sectors are currently responsible globally for a significant share of the total energy consumption and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The use of Modern Methods of Construction can help reduce this, one example being the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) construction. CFS channel sections have inherent advantages, such as their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent potential for recycling and reusing. CFS members can be rolled into different cross-sectional shapes and optimizing these shapes can further improve their load-bearing capacities, resulting in a more economical and efficient building solution. Conversely, the high thermal conductivity of steel can lead to thermal bridges, which can significantly reduce the building's thermal performance and energy efficiency. Hence, it is also essential to consider the thermal energy performance of the CFS structures. This paper reviews the existing studies on the structural optimization of CFS sections and the thermal performance of such CFS structures. In total, over 160 articles were critically reviewed. The methodologies used in the existing literature for optimizing CFS members for both structural and thermal performances have been summarized and presented systematically. Research gaps from the existing body of knowledge have been identified, providing guidelines for future research.
Modular Building System (MBS) offers numerous benefits in terms of productivity, sustainability and safety. Therefore, MBS is considered as a viable option to sort out housing crisis in Britain as well as to drive Britain towards sustainable construction. Development in materials, manufacturing techniques, connection types and structural designs with respect to offsite construction is essential to achieve sustainable goals. Recent advancements in steel manufacturing including Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) has showed potential benefits in structural performance compared to concrete and timber. Meanwhile, researches were conducted to enhance the structural capacities of CFS sections by introducing different cross-sections, composite sections and techniques including optimization. Built-up sections were developed by connecting more than one channel sections and various research studies were conducted to assess the structural performances. However, sustainable performance of built-up sections in modular constructions is still unknown. Hence, this paper intends to develop a MBS using built-up sections for better sustainable performance. Literature review was carried out on sustainability benefits of MBS in terms of economic, environment and social aspects. In addition to that, numerical analysis was performed to investigate the flexural capacity of built-up sections with different screw arrangements to address the sustainable aspects of modular construction by introducing novel sections. The numerical description, results and validations are also stated. Numerical results revealed that flexural capacities of built-up sections are improved up to 156% than that of single sections. Finally, the utilization of built-up sections in the modular construction with sustainability enhancement is addressed and illustrated in a conceptual diagram.
Light Steel Frame (LSF) system is mainly used for construction of short and intermediate-height buildings in developed countries whereas considerable heed is not given to it in developing countries. Unfamiliarity to LSF risks is one of the main reasons for this averseness so risk management can remedy this challenge and develop its application. Hence, this paper investigates the risk management of LSF considering design, construction and operation phase. Three steps entailing risk identification, assessment and responding using fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique are suggested for risk management implementation and validation of responses, a novel index with respect to weighted combination of project quality, time and cost is calculated. The methodology is demonstrated on a pilot study in a developing country. By using interview, 29 significant risks are extracted in design, construction and operation and then evaluated by proposed fuzzy method. Results showed that the share of the risks in these steps are 21%, 31% and 48% respectively. The results revealed that the risks in the construction and operation phases are higher than those in the design phase. The results also show that involving safety as a project object in the risk management process could eventuate acceptable results.
The present paper focuses on the architectural and constructional features required to ensure that building envelope renovation are safe, functional, and adaptable to the building stock, with particular focus on “plug and play” modular facade construction systems. It presents the design of one such system and how it addresses these issues. The outcome of early-stage functional test with a full-scale mock-up system, as well as its applicability to a real construction project is presented. It is found crucial to obtain high quality information about the status of the existing façade with the use of modern technologies such as topographic surveys or 3D scans and point cloud. Detailed design processes are required to ensure the compatibility of manufacture and installation tolerances, along with anchor systems that deliver flexibility for adjustment, and construction processes adapting standard installation methods to the architectural particularities of each case that may hinder its use or require some modification in each situation. This prefabricated plug and play modular system has been tested by reproducing the holistic methodology and new technologies in the market by means of real demonstrators. When compared to more conventional construction methods, this system achieves savings in a real case of 50% (time), 30% (materials) and 25% (waste), thus achieving significant economic savings.
Despite insufficient housing facilities, particularly in developing countries, construction systems are generally selected intuitively or based on conventional solutions sanctioned by practice. The present study aims to evaluate different options for the design of low-income housing in Brazil by integrating the life cycle assessment (LCA) into the decision-making process. To achieve this objective, three single-family projects with different construction systems were selected and analyzed. The most sustainable design was selected through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The considered parameters, which were obtained through a survey with professionals and customers, included cost, environmental impact, thermal comfort, construction time, and cultural acceptance. LCA and life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) were performed with the frontier’s system considering the cradle-to-gate cycle, which included the extraction of raw materials, manufacture of building materials, and housing construction. The projects were modelled using Autodesk Revit software with the Tally application for LCA evaluation. The results indicated that light steel frame houses present a better behavior than other conventional alternatives, and the integration of building information modelling with LCA and LCCA in the design phase can lead to the development of more sustainable houses.
Moisture dry-out from steel-faced insulated sandwich panels has previously received little attention from researchers. This paper reports the results from laboratory tests and dynamic heat, air, and moisture transport simulations of the moisture dry-out capabilities of a steel-faced sandwich panel with a mineral wool core. Three test walls (TWs) with dimensions of 1.2 m × 0.4 m × 0.23 m were put above water containers to examine the moisture transport through the TWs. A calibrated simulation model was used to investigate the hygrothermal regime of a sandwich panel wall enclosure with different initial moisture contents and panel joint tightening tapes. The moisture dry-out capacity of the studied sandwich panels is limited (up to 2 g/day through a 30-mm-wide and 3-m-long vertical joint without tapes). When the vertical joint was covered with a vapour-permeable tape, the moisture dry-out was reduced to 1 g/day and when the joint was covered with a vapour-retarding tape, the dry-out was negligible. A very small amount of rain would be enough to raise the moisture content to water vapour saturation levels inside the sandwich wall, had the rain ingressed the enclosure. The calculated time of wetness (TOW) on the internal surface of the outer steel sheet stayed indefinitely at about 5500 h/year when vapour-retarding tapes were used and the initial relative humidity (RH) was over 80%. TOW stabilised to about 2000 h/year when a vapour-permeable tape was used regardless of the initial humidity inside the panel. A vapour-permeable tape allowed moisture dry-out but also vapour diffusion from the outside environment. To minimise the risk of moisture damage, avoiding moisture ingress during construction time or due to accidents is necessary. Additionally, a knowledge-based method is recommended to manage moisture safety during the construction process.
Energy saving ordinances requires that buildings must be designed in such a way that the heat transfer surface including the joints is permanently air impermeable. The prefabricated roof and wall panels in lightweight steel constructions are airtight in the area of the steel covering layers. The sealing of the panel joints contributes to fulfil the comprehensive requirements for an airtight building envelope. To improve the airtightness of steel sandwich panels, additional sealing tapes can be installed in the panel joint. The influence of these sealing tapes was evaluated by measurements carried out by the RWTH Aachen University - Sustainable Metal Building Envelopes. Different installation situations were evaluated by carrying out airtightness tests for different joint distances. In addition, the influence on the heat transfer coefficient was also evaluated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The combination of obtained air volume flow and transmission losses enables to create an "effective heat transfer coefficient" due to transmission and infiltration. This summarizes both effects in one value and is particularly helpful for approximate calculations on energy efficiency.
L'industria siderurgica costituisce uno dei settori strategici per lo sviluppo e la competitività di un paese, ma presenta allo stesso tempo aspetti ritenuti responsabili del sempre più rapido processo di degrado che caratterizza l'ecosistema. Per far fronte a questa sfida e sostenere la competizione internazionale, le industrie si stanno indirizzando verso logiche produttive che incorporino maggiori livelli di eco-efficienza, rendendo sempre più evidente la stretta relazione tra nuove esigenze del mercato e maggiore sensibilità alle questioni ambientali. Il settore all'interno del quale è possibile individuare con maggiore evidenza tale strategia risulta essere quello degli elementi in Cold-Formed Steel (CFS). In tale contesto le innovazioni tecnologiche avvenute negli ultimi anni, unitamente ai progressi della ricerca e della sperimentazione nel campo della progettazione strutturale, hanno contribuito alla diffusione di veri e propri sistemi Off-site di tipo leggero, particolarmente adatti all'impiego nel settore dell'edilizia residenziale. L'adozione di processi capaci di ottimizzare contemporaneamente sia la forma che la dimensione degli elementi, la possibilità di personalizzazione del prodotto, la disponibilità degli elementi ad adattarsi alla variabilità delle tecniche realizzative rappresentano le principali potenzialità per la diffusione dei sistemi industrializzati in CFS nel progetto dell'housing contemporaneo.
A large proportion of the existing building stock worldwide needs renovation and upgrading that will help comply with new energy codes and reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Improvements with minimal interference to inhabitants can be achieved by upgrading facades using elements that enhance energy efficiency and user comfort. Prefabricated energy retrofit systems have been suggested, but at present many lack adaptability to weather and usage conditions. This paper presents BRESAER, a retrofit system that provides adaptability through combination of passive strategies and intelligence features , which can be used in different climates and diverse building types. Energy performance was analysed for five types of European climates, results are shown for two climate types and three usages. A comparison was made of the presented system with a mostly passive retrofit system. Results show that in both climates , adaptability provides higher energy savings, complying with current definitions of very low-energy buildings. ARTICLE HISTORY
With a low rate of new building construction and an insufficient rate of existing building renovation, there is the need to step up the pace of building renovation with ambitious performance targets to achieve European Union (EU) climate change policies for 2050. However, innovative technologies, including, but not limiting to, plug and play (PnP) prefabricated facades, information and communications technology (ICT)-support for building management systems (BMS), the integration of renewable energy systems (RES), building information model (BIM) and building performance simulation models (BPSM), advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), advanced geomatics, 3D-printing, and smart connectors, cannot alone solve the problem of low renovation rates of existing buildings in Europe that is hindering reaching of EU-wide targets. A workshop was held at the Sustainable Place Conference 2018 to present, with an integrative approach, the experiences from four H2020 innovation actions, i.e., 4RinEU, P2ENDURE, Pro-GET-OnE, and MORE-CONNECT, which were united by their central aims of improving building energy performance through deep renovation practices. This article presents the outcomes of the joint workshop and interactive discussion, by focusing on technical, financial, and social added values, barriers and challenges, in the context of the building renovation processes tackled by the four projects. Conclusive remarks converge on the identification of open questions to address future innovation opportunities, as well as some recommendations to be used at a policy level and/or in future implementation projects.
The paper presents an innovative approach to the retrofitting of the adaptive ventilated facade module developed in the EU project E2VENT. The E2VENT innovative facade module is targeted to Optimal Adaptability and Heat Exchange for the refurbishment of existing buildings and is composed of two main parts: an adaptable smart modular heat recovery unit (SMHRU), which is adjustable to work within the ventilated façade cavity, is able to recover heat from ventilation air, and can preheat ventilation air in winter while precooling it in summer; and a latent thermal heat energy storage system (LTHES) which is based on phase change materials fitting in the cavity and is complementary to the SMHRU.
Following a brief introduction of the E2VENT project, the integration of the new technology at the building scale, and analysis of the foreseen design issues in terms of interfaces and façade singularities shall be discussed.
The paper will discuss how the systemic managing of these issues at the design level is vital in preventing inconsistencies between parts and helps with the design team working process.
Prefabricated lightweight envelope modules have the potential to renovate existing buildings in a fast way, by simply installing the modules against the existing façade. In order to accommodate all imperfections, the new elements are equipped with an adaption layer, typically executed in a compressible insulation material. Even though this seems to be a simple solution, air flows in this layer might adversely influence the thermal performance of the envelope module. The impact on the overall thermal performance of e.g. compression rate of the adaption layer, leveling of imperfections and airtightness of the new and old building envelope, is not clear. In this paper, two configurations of the adaption layer (as a strip located at the imperfections or as a continuous layer) on three types of existing façades (imperfections of ±50 mm and ±200 mm and a façade ‘out-of-plumb’) were evaluated. Next to that, the impact of the compression rate of the adaption layer and of the airtightness of the new and old building envelope was assessed. To model the compression rate, the airflow resistance Rair (Pa.s/m²) of mineral wool samples was measured (EN 29053) and used as input in the model.
From these simulations, the adaption strip seems to have potential if the airtightness of the joints between the prefabricated modules is guaranteed. In case the joints are not airtight, the compression rate of the material in the adaption strip can improve the thermal performance, but the effect is limited. Nonetheless, with air leakages from outside it is advised to fit the entire surface of the existing façade with the adaption layer. Future research will further explore the potential of an adaption strip at façades with large imperfections, through simulations in dynamic weather conditions and in-situ measurements.
Two major factors contribute to the sustainability of buildings: material efficiency and energy efficiency. Material efficiency relates to the use of environmental-friendly materials and to the minimization of construction waste materials, either during construction and at the end-of-life stage of the building. Energy efficiency is currently understood as the optimization of the energy used during the operation stage of the building. This entails the energy needed for heating, cooling, lighting, etc. Often in order to improve the energy needs of a building, more insulation material is used, thus leading to a trade-off between embodied energy and operational energy. It is the aim of this paper to analyse and discuss the balance between the embodied energy and the operational energy for various levels of insulation, over its life cycle. The operational energy is estimated based on the simplified approach provided by the Portuguese Code of practice. The estimated operational energy is then balanced against the life cycle embodied energy of the system. Finally, the simplified approach for the calculation of the operational energy is confronted to more sophisticated dynamic simulations using the software EnergyPlus.
Prefabrication can have advantages in terms of materials and time efficiency, but the overall environmental and cost trade‐offs between the two construction methods are unclear and influenced by the choice of the structural material. A life cycle assessment was carried out to compare two constructive systems (prefabrication and conventional) and different structural materials for a single-family house. Impacts, waste, costs, and production time were assessed for two prefabricated construction systems – lightweight steel frame (LSF) and wooden frame (WF) – and two conventional construction systems – reinforced concrete (RC1) with a single layer concrete block or with a double-layer brick external wall (RC2). Results showed that WF has the lowest impacts followed by LSF, and that embodied impacts can represent more than half of total impacts. Prefabricated houses have up to 65% less embodied impacts, and end-of-life impacts of prefabricated LSF are lower due to recycling; thus, unveiling the importance of embodied and end-of-life phases. Prefabrication can decrease impacts, materials consumption, and waste generation, pushing forward circularity within the construction sector.
Purpose
As the population grows, one of the major global crises is the management of human settlement. A proper solution to deal with this issue is mass housing. Given the variable needs in these projects, two constraints of height and volume of construction play an essential role in fulfilling success criteria. Hence, this paper aims to choose the most appropriate building method to satisfy time, cost, quality and safety factors considering the volume and height of construction.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the proper construction methods in mass housing projects in two volumes of up to 1000 (small) and 1000-3000 (medium) residential units in three ranges of the height of 5, 5-10, and higher than ten floors were determined with a focus on the success criteria based on real experiences through questionnaires and interviews.
Findings
The results show that steel bolt and nut and tunnel framework systems in higher than five-floor building projects act better than other methods, while in up to five-floor building projects, LSF saves time and cost and steel bolt and nut provides higher quality and safety.
Originality/value
Given the extent of work, the results of this research can be considered as a benchmark in the mass housing industry.
The objective of this study is to develop a framework for the selection of construction systems of low and medium rise buildings used in residential, office and commercial applications. The construction systems considered are reinforced concrete framing (RC), structural steel framing (SS) and cold-formed steel framing (CFS). The framework is developed in accordance with the relevant guidelines for life cycle analysis and sustainability and is intended to support decision making in the design stage. The system boundary for the study is from cradle-to-grave, including all cost components from construction stage, use stage and disposal stage in addition to possible recycling/reuse options. The developed framework
integrates building information modeling, energy simulation modeling and end of life scenarios to calculate and compare life cycle costs and sustainability advantages of construction system alternatives.
All future costs are discounted to their present value using the appropriate interest rates. Uncertainties in the input parameters are modeled using realistic probability distributions and then used in a Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis to investigate the impact of changes in the input parameters on the result. Application of the developed system to a university building revealed the following results. The total life cycle cost is nearly the same for RC framing system and CFS framing system, while the life cycle cost of SS framing system is 13.4% more. When the system is credited for possible revenues resulting from early operation and recycling/reuse, the total life cycle cost of the RC framing system and the SS framing system become nearly the same while the life cycle cost of the CFS framing system becomes 22% less. Sensitivity analysis of the results shows that the discount rate has the most effect on the estimated mean cost followed by the inflation rate and the construction cost. The
sustainability assessment focuses on calculating the LEED points associated with material recycling/reuse potentials and waste management.
A responsible use of resources is necessary to achieve a drastic reduction of environmental impact of the construction sector. This paper investigates the environmental impacts of a new dry construction based on the adoption of cold formed steel (CFS) members as main structural components, which was developed during the ELISSA European FP7 project. The peculiarity of the system is to achieve both high seismic and thermal performance. The first prototype, cited in this paper as ELISSA mock-up, was realized in the laboratory of University of Naples Federico II. The development of the prototype was a fundamental source for a precise evaluation of the environmental impacts. The quality of data in Life Cycle analysis (LCA) is indeed critical for the validity of any study. This paper presents the first LCA of a CFS house, which is based on a real case. The LCA is carried out according to a “Cradle to gate approach, with options EN 15804:2012 + A1: Production and Construction; End of Life”. The study demonstrates that when materials are carefully selected to reduce operational energy as well as embodied carbon, then the structural system is highly responsible for the LCA impacts. However, when one square meter of the ELISSA mock-up wall is compared to a conventional reinforced masonry wall, than the environmental impacts are much lower than those of the conventional system. This study demonstrates that the ELISSA wall with a thickness, which is one fifth of a comparable conventional system, presents Global Warming Potential that are drastically lower.
Lightweight steel buildings made up by cold formed steel (CFS) members as main structural components are growing in popularity in the most industrialized countries. CFS buildings start to be adopted also in seismic regions thanks to their efficient fabrication, reduced site work, short time of construction and good structural performance. However, the dynamic properties and full seismic performance of CFS buildings completed with finishing is an open question. This paper attempts to provide a contribution to this research question, by a full experimental campaign aiming at investigating the dynamic properties of a modular building developed within the “Energy efficient LIghtweight Sustainable SAfe steel construction” (ELISSA) research project. The work shows the results of an international collaboration between universities and industrial partners aimed at developing a CFS prefabricated dry construction system with improved anti-seismic properties and energy performance. This work will discuss the design of the modular building named ELISSA house, the experimental investigation going from small scale tests of components, to static tests of shear walls, up to shake table tests of a two storey Mock-up building. It will analyse the dynamic properties of the structural system compared to the building completed with all the finishing, focusing on fundamental period of vibration, damping ratio, building drift and observed damage.
Building envelopes are perhaps the most influencing players on assuring indoor comfort conditions, in alliance with their impact on the sustainability and energy-efficiency of the building during operation. However, given the multitude of commercial solutions available on the market and the use of different criteria and inconsistent semantics among the existing categorization/classification systems of construction objects, there is still a need for uniformisation of the many regarding the main Prefabricated Enclosure Wall Panel Systems (PEWPS) for building applications. In such context, this paper firstly explores the distinct categories of off-site Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and how can they be classified. Secondly, focus will be given to panelised systems, where the classification of PEWPS is thoroughly investigated. Lastly, a summarised literature review of selected innovative research trends in advanced building envelopes is presented, with positive consequences on the comfort, energy and environmental performance of buildings. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive framework to understand which singularities and challenges are associated with PEWPS; This set of tools should be accessible to designers (and construction stakeholders in general) to realise how each building solution is supposed to work on the road to fulfilling user requirements.
Shake table tests are particularly indicative to assess dynamic properties and seismic response under earthquakes in the case of a new building structure. In last years the University of Naples was involved in the research project named “Energy Efficient LIghtweight-Sustainable-SAfe-Steel Construction” (Project acronym: ELISSA), which was devoted to the development and demonstration of enhanced prefabricated lightweight CFS skeleton/dry wall constructions with improved antiseismic properties. Within the ELISSA project, in order to evaluate the global building seismic response, shake table tests on a full-scale two-storey building, named “ELISSA mockup”, were carried out. The mockup was tested in two different conditions. In the first condition the mockup included mainly structural components of walls, floors and roof, whereas in the second condition it was completed with all nonstructural components. This paper presents the testing program and the obtained results in terms of dynamic identification (fundamental period and damping ratio) and earthquake performance (global lateral response, building drift, acceleration amplification, diaphragm response, and observed damage).
This paper reviews recent developments in pre-fabricated construction systems using light steel and modular technologies, and describes the economic context in which the use of these systems has expanded. Examples of recent important projects using these technologies are illustrated. Hybrid or mixed construction systems have been developed which optimise on manufacturing costs and space provision. Background research and testing is also presented.
Sandwich panels are being used increasingly as the cladding of buildings like factories, warehouses, cold stores and retail sheds. This is because they are light in weight, thermally efficient, aesthetically attractive and can be easily handled and erected. However, to date, an authoritative book on the subject was lacking. This new reference work aims to fill that gap. The designer, specifier and manufacturer of sandwich panels all require a great deal of information on a wide range of subjects. This book was written by a group of European experts under the editorship of a UK specialist in lightweight construction. It provides guidance on: materials used in manufacture thermal efficiency and air- and water-tightness acoustic performance performance in fire durability special problems of sandwich panels in cold stores and chill rooms architectural and aesthetic considerations structural design at the ultimate and serviceability limit states additional structural considerations including fastenings, the effect of openings and the use of sandwich panels as load-bearing walls test procedures The book concludes with some numerical design examples and is highly illustrated throughout.
The choice of building envelope is critical for the energy performance of buildings. The major part of the energy used by a building during its lifetime is used for maintaining a suitable interior thermal climate under varying exterior conditions. Although exterior heat radiation properties (i.e. total solar reflectivity and long wave thermal emissivity) have been well accepted to have a large impact on the need for active cooling in warmer climate, the effect of a reduced thermal emissivity on interior surfaces on the building thermal energy flux is rarely studied. This paper addresses the sensitivity of the thermal energy flux through a sandwich panel, by systematically varying the surface thermal emissivity (both interior and exterior) and total solar reflectance of exterior surface, for three geographical locations: southern, middle and northern Europe. A model is introduced for calculating the effect of both interior and exterior optical properties of a horizontal roof panel in terms of net energy flux per unit area. The results indicate potential energy saving by the smart choice of optical properties of interior and exterior surfaces.
Sandwich panels are a good option as building materials, as they offer excellent characteristics in a modular system. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using the microencapsulated PCM (Micronal BASF) in sandwich panels to increase their thermal inertia and to reduce the energy demand of the final buildings. In this paper, to manufacture the sandwich panel with microencapsulated PCM three different methods were tested. In case 1, the PCM was added mixing the microencapsulated PCM with one of the components of the polyurethane. In the other two cases, the PCM was added either a step before (case 2) or a step after (case 3) to the addition of the polyurethane to the metal sheets. The results show that in case 1 the effect of PCM was overlapped by a possible increase in thermal conductivity, but an increase of thermal inertia was found in case 3. In case 2, different results were obtained due to the poor distribution of the PCM. Some samples showed the effect of the PCM (higher thermal inertia), and other samples results were similar to the conventional sandwich panel. In both cases (2 and 3), it is required to industrialize the process to improve the results. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
Communication from the Commission -Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe
European Commission (2014) Communication from the Commission -Towards a
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