Abstract
Buildings are more vulnerable to faults in design and construction, when exposed to the extreme Greenlandic climate, however, most new materials and designs have not been tested for Arctic conditions. Thus even minor errors can result in failures like mould growth, discomfort, and unnecessary heat loss. Rekognizing the source of the error can be difficult, yet valuable. But how can it be identified whether the error lies in the design or quality of workmanship? This paper describes a case study from Nuuk, Greenland, where a new mineral wool insulation system was implemented. Residents were complaining about draft and cold areas. An investigation revealed that inaccurate use of the system caused several problems. Simulations of the exterior wall performance were conducted and compared to measurements. This paper discusses whether these measurements and simulations support the identified issues, and therefore if this kind of general surveillance of exterior walls can be used to determine the total performance of an exterior wall. The paper concludes that the collected data can support the issues of the complaints, and that the fundamental reasons for the problems are the design, the precision of the casted concrete and the lack of a wind barrier protecting the insulation.
Highlights
The arctic climate is harsh due to a combination of cold temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds
Rekognizing the source of the error can be difficult, yet valuable. How can it be identified whether the error lies in the design or quality of workmanship? This paper describes a case study from Nuuk, Greenland, where a new mineral wool insulation system was implemented
The insulation system used in these buildings was new to the Arctic and did not contain a wind barrier
Summary
The arctic climate is harsh due to a combination of cold temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds. Before introducing new building materials and methods to the marked, these are usually tested under controlled conditions, but the practical aspects are difficult to test or assess before introducing it to reality, where the conditions are no longer controlled Sometimes, this results in inexpedient situations, where mistakes or unforeseen challenges result in a product or design, which does not comply with the expectations. This results in inexpedient situations, where mistakes or unforeseen challenges result in a product or design, which does not comply with the expectations This scenario occurred in a multi storey building in Nuuk, where a new insulation material of mineral wool was introduced to the construction sector in Greenland. The residents of the buildings started complaining about draft, cold floors and walls and general discomfort in the apartments Often complaints like these are treated by measuring the indoor temperature over some time to determine if the residents’ complaints are justified. Because the insulation system was new, the building had been chosen as a case study in another project and the façade was already equipped with
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