A Statistical Approach for Predicting Airtightness in Residential Units of Reinforced Concrete Apartment Buildings in Korea

Kyung-Hwan Ji, Hyun-Kook Shin, Seungwoo Han and Jae-Hun Jo
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Kyung-Hwan Ji: Department of Architectural Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
Hyun-Kook Shin: Department of Architectural Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
Seungwoo Han: Department of Architectural Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
Jae-Hun Jo: Department of Architectural Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: In this study, a model equation is derived that uses a statistical analysis based on empirical models to predict the airtightness of reinforced concrete apartment buildings popular in Asian regions. Airtightness data from 486 units personally measured by the authors in the past eight years are used. As major variables used in the prediction model, two groups of variables are configured for the geometric components of the envelope, which is a major path of airflow in a building and is where air infiltration and leakage occur. The two groups of variables represent (1) the areas of the individual components forming the envelope and (2) the connection lengths between different components of the envelope. For the effective prediction of airtightness, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were applied step by step in this study. The results of the correlation analysis indicated that the areas of the slab and the window are the area variables that present the greatest impact, whereas the perimeter length of the window is the connection length variable that presents the greatest impact. Using a multiple linear regression analysis method, airtightness prediction model equations can be derived, and it is found that the model with variables for area is able to predict airtightness more accurately compared to the two models derived from variables for connection length and all variables for area and connection length. Although the statistical approach in this study shows a limitation in that the prediction results may vary depending on the attributes and type of data collected by countries, the methodology and procedure in this study contribute to similar studies for making prediction models and finding the influence of variables in the future with high applicability and feasibility.

Keywords: airtightness; prediction model; multiple linear regression; statistical analysis; apartment building (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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