Thermal Monitoring of Low-Income Housings Built with Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in a Hot-Dry Climate

Abstract

The construction of housing in series for low-income families located in cities with hot-dry climate like Mexicali requires the use of constructive systems in the envelope, which cushion the effect of ambient temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius during the summer period. The conventional constructive system used was concrete block walls and beam and polystyrene vault. This system causes environmental conditions outside the ranges of thermal comfort in summer time. The use of nonconventional constructional systems for the housing in series is an option that needs to be evaluated, as is the autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC-based building envelope systems); we have data of thermal properties of the manufacturer, but we do not count with experimental data of a house built with the AAC system in a zone of warm climate, to know its thermal performance in conditions of high ambient temperature. This article shows the results of the thermal monitoring of a proposed bioclimatic model of affordable housing built in Mexicali, based on the AAC construction system. Measurements were made from September 21 to October 6, 2016; the variables monitored on site were indoor ambient temperature, relative humidity, and black globe temperature; HOBO type sensors were used. The outdoor temperature was taken from the weather station of the Autonomous University of Baja California. The frequency of measurements was every 15 min; averaging data per hour was obtained. The results showed significant differences between internal and external environmental conditions and that environmental conditions are without the range of thermal comfort for the inhabitants of Mexicali, as well as lower demand for air conditioning. Therefore, the use of walls and roofs based on autoclaved aerated concrete was a viable thermal and energetic option for the construction of housing in series in areas of hot-dry climate.