Thermal analysis of the window-wall interface for renovation of historical buildings

Abstract

Due to the long time since their construction, some old buildings have experienced a decline in performance and do not meet contemporary requirements. Retrofitting methods, as opposed to demolition and reconstruction, are considered a more cost-effective and energy-efficient approach, particularly applicable to historical buildings with conservation significance. Exterior windows account for a significant amount of heat loss within the building envelope, but it is a challenge to improve its performance while retaining the historical appearance of the building when retrofitting. In this paper, a new design of the window-wall interface structure was proposed, which facilitated the incorporation of additional thermal insulation materials and mitigated the thermal bridge effect at the joint between the window frame and the wall. Comparative analysis with existing window-wall interface structures revealed the superior thermal performance of the proposed structure, with less heat transfer as well as smaller surfaces at risk of condensation. The structure was first implemented in a renovation project in Nanjing, providing an innovative approach for future exterior window renovations of historical buildings.