Methodology for the Study of the Envelope Airtightness of Residential Buildings in Spain: A Case Study

Jesús Feijó-Muñoz, Irene Poza-Casado, Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano, Cristina Pardal, Víctor Echarri, Rafael Assiego De Larriva, Jesica Fernández-Agüera, María Jesús Dios-Viéitez, Víctor José Del Campo-Díaz, Manuel Montesdeoca Calderín, Miguel Ángel Padilla-Marcos and Alberto Meiss
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Jesús Feijó-Muñoz: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid; Valladolid 47014, Spain
Irene Poza-Casado: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid; Valladolid 47014, Spain
Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano: Department of Architecture and Design, Universidad CEU San Pablo; Boadilla del Monte, Madrid 28668, Spain
Cristina Pardal: Department of Architectural Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña; Barcelona 08028, Spain
Víctor Echarri: Architectural Constructions Department, Universidad de Alicante; San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante 03690, Spain
Rafael Assiego De Larriva: Art and Architecture Department, Universidad de Málaga; Málaga 29071, Spain
Jesica Fernández-Agüera: Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Madrid 28033, Spain
María Jesús Dios-Viéitez: Architectural Constructions Department, Universidade da Coruña; A Coruña 15008, Spain
Víctor José Del Campo-Díaz: Department of Thermal Engines and Machines, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU; Bilbao 48013, Spain
Manuel Montesdeoca Calderín: Architectural Constructions Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35017, Spain
Miguel Ángel Padilla-Marcos: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid; Valladolid 47014, Spain
Alberto Meiss: RG Architecture & Energy, Universidad de Valladolid; Valladolid 47014, Spain

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Air leakage and its impact on the energy performance of dwellings has been broadly studied in countries with cold climates in Europe, US, and Canada. However, there is a lack of knowledge in this field in Mediterranean countries. Current Spanish building regulations establish ventilation rates based on ideal airtight envelopes, causing problems of over-ventilation and substantial energy losses. The aim of this paper is to develop a methodology that allows the characterization of the envelope of the housing stock in Spain in order to adjust ventilation rates taking into consideration air leakage. A methodology that is easily applicable to other countries that consider studying the airtightness of the envelope and its energetic behaviour improvement is proposed. A statistical sampling method has been established to determine the dwellings to be tested, considering relevant variables concerning airtightness: climate zone, year of construction, and typology. The air leakage rate is determined using a standardized building pressurization technique according to European Standard EN 13829. A representative case study has been presented as an example of the implementation of the designed methodology and results are compared to preliminary values obtained from the database.

Keywords: infiltrations; airtightness of the envelope; blower door test; residential buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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