English

Current interest in building energy efficiency is driving an increase in demand for building energy modelling (BEM) services. Yet practitioners are challenged to deliver BEM services effectively and consistently. Contributing to this is an expansive knowledge requirement, the lack of standardized methods and the absence of defined processes. This paper introduces the concept of a BEM methods and processes (M&P) framework.

Over the last three years the understanding, adoption and use of BIM has gained international momentum.

With the increasing need for higher energy efficiency in buildings, airtightness and ventilation systems choice become major performance issues in well insulated buildings. Buildings energy requirements lead to adapt ventilation strategies in order to reduce energy losses through mechanical balanced or extract ventilation. With the new...

During the construction of a multi-family residential building the developer decided that the building must comply with the airtightness requirements for passive houses. Based on inspection work and preliminary testing, the original design was revised. The execution of the new air barrier system was supervised. Selected flats were repeatedly...

In Denmark we have decided that buildings have to be tested above 50 Pa. But is that reasonable? In this case I meant that we should have brought 15 fans in, and at the test only used 2 fans. I think not, because it gives us unreasonable costs to test very large buildings. So today a lot of my work is done...

Legislative drivers and new research with demonstrated energy impact on the importance of building and ductwork airtightness are leading to increased activity in this aspect of building energy performance. The paper reviews examples of European countries that account for both building and ductwork airtightness and thus include...

At present, a lot of test methods for leakage detection exist. Most of them have a limited application mainly due to possibility of recording, repeatability or reproducibility of the measured results. The aim of the research was creation of a test method to be incorporated into Czech technical standard...

The improvement of air tightness in existing residential buildings could be triggered from the desire for better indoor comfort conditions and the expected reduction of cost for space heating. While the improvement of comfort sensation could not be easily understood from the building owner, the reduction of cost for space heating is much...

Laboratory measurements have been performed to investigate the airtightness of clamped joints in the wind- and vapour layers. Air leakage was measured immediately after mounting with moisture content of the wooden members at approximately 17 weight %, and after drying down to approx. 7 weight %. It was found that screws...

As operator of the Blower Door-test we often come in for a dilemma when government regulations shall be documented. According the standard the test shall be performed on the finished building, but the contractor would like to know if the buildings envelop is airtight as early as possi-ble. A traditional Blower Door-test it often...