Abstract
The uptake of buildings employing cross-laminated timber (CLT) assemblies and designed to Passivhaus standard has accelerated internationally over the past two decades due to several factors including responses to the climate crisis by decarbonising the building stock. Structural CLT technology and the Passivhaus certification both show measurable benefits in reducing energy consumption, while contributing to durability and indoor comfort. However, there is a general lack of evidence to support a fast uptake of these technologies in Australia. This paper responds to the compelling need of providing quantitative data and adoption strategies; it explores their combined application as a potential pathway for climate-appropriate design of energy-efficient and durable mass timber envelope solutions for subtropical and tropical Australian climates. Hygrothermal risk assessments of interstitial condensation and mould growth of CLT wall assemblies inform best-practice design of mass timber buildings in hot and humid climates. This research found that the durability of mass timber buildings located in hot and humid climates may benefit from implementing the Passivhaus standard to manage interior conditions. The findings also suggested that climate-specific design of the wall assembly is critical for mass timber buildings, in conjunction with excellent stormwater management practices during construction and corrosion protection for metallic fasteners.
Highlights
IntroductionThe past two decades have witnessed a global acceleration internationally in uptake of both mass timber buildings and the Passivhaus (PH) standard [1,2]
This paper investigated design and construction features of highly energy-efficient cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings in Australian subtropical and tropical climates; results may inform climatespecific design to minimise mould risks, in respect to the position of the insulation layer, vapour permeability of the weather resistive barrier (WRB), and influence of good stormwater management
The main findings of this study, which employed a step-by-step parametric analysis within WUFI, indicate that CLT structures built to the PH standard can provide excellent performance in Australian hot and humid climates, but climate specific considerations need to be made to ensure proper design, construction, and maintenance to avoid conditions leading to degradation
Summary
The past two decades have witnessed a global acceleration internationally in uptake of both mass timber buildings and the Passivhaus (PH) standard [1,2]. This acceleration is mostly due to the construction sector’s response to the current climate crisis by decarbonising the building stock. The paired use of mass timber for reducing embodied energy and the PH standard for reducing operational energy can assist in decarbonising the construction sector This strategy can be significant in Australia, which urgently needs to progress its sustainability agenda as its effort to improve energy-efficiency is ranked as the worst of any major developed country in the world [6]
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