Airtightness and Heat Energy Loss of Mid-Size Terraced Houses Built of Different Construction Materials

Valdas Paukštys, Gintaris Cinelis, Jūratė Mockienė and Mindaugas Daukšys
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Valdas Paukštys: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
Gintaris Cinelis: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
Jūratė Mockienė: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
Mindaugas Daukšys: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų st. 48, 51367 Kaunas, Lithuania

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: The European Union has adopted legislation aimed to increase the use of renewable energy and improve the effectiveness of conventional-form energy use. Additional structure insulation helps to decrease heat energy loss. Airtightness of the building envelope (building airtightness) is an additional factor that determines comfortable and energy-saving living environment. The conformity of heat energy loss with the object’s design energy class is one of the mandatory indicators used in the obligatory building energy performance certification procedure. Optionally, the objects to be certified are the entire buildings or separate units (flats). There is an issue of concern whether a flat assessed as a separate housing unit would meet the requirements of design energy class depending on the location of the unit in the building. The study is aimed to determine the change in heat loss of end units in terraced houses (townhouses) as a result of various factors, leading to uneven airtightness of the building envelope. The non-destructive assessment of building airtightness was implemented through the combined use of methods, namely Blower Door Test (around 200 measurements) and Infrared Thermography. The hollow clay unit masonry showed ca. 7–11% less airtightness than the sand–lime block masonry structure. The end units were up to 20% less airtight compared to the inside units.

Keywords: airtightness; Blower Door; heat energy loss; thermographic photo research; building energy performance (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: 2021
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