Abstract
In recent years there has been a greater interest in developing new more sustainable solutions in the construction of buildings and in particular of large commercial and industrial buildings. This study analyses the feasibility and degree of sustainability of using cross laminated timber (CLT) as building material in industrial buildings in Nordic climate. An industrial building located in Eastern Norway, MAXBO Bjertnestangen, has been used as case study for the analysis. Two scenarios have been studied: i) the first analyses the existing industrial building (Scenario 1) built in steel, and ii) the second implies that the building components are replaced with CLT-elements (Scenario 2). For the structural analysis a commercial finite element method (FEM) code has been used and the results confirm that the CLT building achieves approximately equal mechanical and structural properties. For studying building physics in the two buildings, a commercial numerical simulation tool that couples hygrothermal with energy performance and uses the finite volume method (FVM) has been employed. The results show that it is possible to achieve a total energy saving of 3.3%, for the industrial building consisting of CLT-elements compared to the existing building. Furthermore, the life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that the total emission of CO2-eq is 16.7% lower in the CLT building, however the building’s construction costs are higher 13% compared to the existing industrial building. Finally, an optimized solution has been proposed in which sandwich panels in the roof are combined with CLT in rest of the building. In this case, the difference associated with costs is narrowed to 3.3%, while the difference in the total emission of CO2-eq stays still significant, i.e. 13.6%.
Highlights
Norway and other countries with large economies are facing major challenges in relation to greenhouse gas emissions which contributes to global warming of the earth, and to increased risk for major environmental impacts
The results show that it is possible to achieve a total energy saving of 3.3%, for the industrial building consisting of cross laminated timber (CLT)-elements compared to the existing building
The life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that the total emission of CO2-eq is 16.7% lower in the CLT building, the building’s construction costs are higher 13% compared to the existing industrial building
Summary
Norway and other countries with large economies are facing major challenges in relation to greenhouse gas emissions which contributes to global warming of the earth, and to increased risk for major environmental impacts. The construction and operation of buildings today account for about 40% of the total energy consumption in the world, and 39% of energy-related emissions of CO2-eq [4] This means that there are considerable opportunities for contributing to a more sustainable development in this particular. When the water vapor condenses in the hygroscopic structures of the material, a latent heat exchange will take place [8], [9], [10] This can lead to lower temperature variations in the room, and a reduction in the building's total energy consumption [11], [12]. Research shows that the use of wood products in buildings generally results in higher investment cost than steel and concrete This is partly due to the lack of expertise and experience of larger building consisting of CLT-elements [14]. The analysis has been carried out as a case-study of the MAXBO Bjertnestangen industrial building, and relevant simulations have been carried out, i.e. structural, hygrothermal and energy analyses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
