Thermal Performance of Buildings

Photo story

The test buildings have been constructed at the UTS Yarrawood Convention Centre Site 75 km north-west of Sydney. This area has a wide annual temperature range from 40 deg.c in summer to 0 deg.c in Winter making it ideal for thermal testing.

The four buildings are identical in dimension (4.5 metres square with an internal volume of 38.4 m3). Each building has an insulated corrugated iron pitched roof with gable ends and an insulated plasterboard ceiling. The buildings are orientated true north and have a glass door in the northern wall, with ventilation louvres being installed above the door. Each building has a different wall system, one building is clad in lightweight Hebel panels over an insulated timber stud frame, the second has mud brick walls, the third a traditional insulated brick veneer wall system and the fourth timbercrete walls.

The purpose of this research project is to compare the thermal performance of the four buildings and to provide data for correlation with mathematical models to be used as part of the Building Code of Australia approval process. Thermal monitors are placed outside and inside the structures and temperature is measured for periods of time in all seasons. Durability testing will also be carried out on the southern wall of the earth building. CSR Hebel, the Earth Building Association of Australia, Austral and Timbercrete are supporting this project. The construction will provide practical experience for students enrolled in the subjects Design and Construction of Earth Buildings, and Construction Practical. Please revisit this web page to follow the development of this project.

Concrete floor slabs under construction

See the complete photo story.

Related research articles:

Comparative Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Three Test Buildings