Danish Building Research Institute Research Articles

Spatial (E)quality from a User Perspective.

Universal Design (UD) has gained global significance and is in the process of being interpreted and institutionalised in the Nordic Region. Hence a broader understanding of the theoretical basis and practical architectural applicability of UD is advancing. This paper builds a framework for understanding two current notions of UD and accessibility in Denmark. Implications are that understandings and motivations of UD and accessibility from architects' and users' perspective are asymmetrical. In collaborative relationships, UD and accessibility are seen from an architectural design perspective and a human rights perspective respectively. This influences the dialogue and cooperation of the two parties. Reflecting the possibility to further a comprehensive understanding of spatial implication of UD, this paper aims to contribute with a clarification and a discussion of the two perspectives. Within the architectural field, Disabled People's Organisations Denmark (DPOD) is one of the key actors in user participatory processes related to UD and accessibility, and the organisations play an important role in a Danish discourse. Through observations and interviews with DPOD user representation and practicing architects, the paper sheds light on the central notions of UD and accessibility - a spatial quality perception and a spatial equality perception. Along with qualitative research conducted at the Danish Building Research Institute, the on-going PhD research project "Generating Inclusive Built Environments through User Driven Dialogue in the Architectural Design Process" frames current thinking and discusses the process of advancing the dialogue, in direction of furthering both Spatial Quality and Spatial Equality.

Categorizing Building Certification Systems According to the Definition of Sustainable Building

The availability of sustainable (or green) building certifications schemes is constantly increasing and it is not always easy to understand how the schemes on the market differentiate from each other. The purpose of this study is to create a better dialog between client and consultant in relation to building certification systems. Here it is relevant to give an overview and understanding of selected certification systems, and how they fulfil the definition of sustainable buildings. There is a great variation of how certification systems are structured and evaluated. Furthermore, “sustainability” is a word with many meanings and definitions, which is why sustainable certifications will also vary. In this study, certification schemes are categorized using a definition of sustainable buildings. This definition consists of a social, environmental and economic dimension of sustainability and in total 13 subcategories. The subcategories are based on recent years’ publications concerning sustainable buildings from the Danish Building Research Institute and the Danish Transport and Construction Agency, which leans on the European CEN TC/350 standards for sustainable buildings. The certification schemes analysed are both of international, regional and local scale (Active House, BREEAM, DGNB, Green Star, HQE, LEED, Living Building Challenge, Miljöbyggnad, Nordic Ecolabel and WELL). The results show a large variation of the weight on the dimensions of social, environmental and economic sustainability within the 10 certification schemes included in the analysis. To be defined as a sustainable building certification, the three dimensions should be given equal weight according to the definition of sustainability. However, this is only the case for the DGNB certification scheme. A majority of the building certifications have the largest focus on criteria within the environmental dimension. Across the selected certifications this dimension account for an average of 51%. This indicates that certifications have “green” buildings as their main focus point. However, a certification such as WELL almost completely focuses on social sustainability (93%) due to its attention to the wellbeing of the user inside the building. The social dimension on average account for 43% with a large focus on the indoor environment. Overall, economy is only represented in the certifications to a very low degree (average of 5.6%), except within DGNB. There are aspects, which this categorisation method does not consider such as the ambition within the criteria. In addition, the values in the environmental and social dimensions potentially have an impact on the economic value of the building and thus the economic dimension indirectly becomes a focus, which is not visible through this method. However, the categorisation makes it easy to get an overview of the thematic content within the certification and thereby highlight the value of the certification. Furthermore, it could be of especially good use for non-technical clients.

Qualitative Description of Spatial Quality in Inclusive Architecture.

Universal design (UD) has gained global significance and is in the process of institutionalisation in the Nordic Region. This is despite an urgent necessity for developing the theoretical basis and practical applicability of UD. Reflecting this need for furthering the comprehensive understanding of spatial implication of UD, this paper aims to contribute for articulating a means to assess the quality of UD in architecture. Drawing upon numerous cases from research conducted at the Danish Building Research Institute, the paper focuses on sensory aspects of spatial quality, and discusses as well as reflects an applied method for producing the qualitative description of selected buildings that embody UD through creative solutions. The qualitative description of collected examples appears to be effective in delineating sensory aspects of spatial experience; however the systematic development of assessment criteria is essential in order to support students and designers to make responsible decisions in shaping built environments that are accessible and inclusive but also enjoyable.

Dynamic Facades, the Smart Way of Meeting the Energy Requirements

The paper describes an innovative dynamic façade system, developed in cooperation between two industrial companies, the Danish Building Research Institute and Aalborg University, Denmark. The system, named Energy Frames, is a newly developed industrially produced façade system based on the experiences of a number of specially designed solutions for significant individual buildings all over the world. Energy Frames is a modular framework-based façade system that snaps on the outside of the window frames. The frames can be moved horizontally or vertically in front of the window and is suitable for both new and existing buildings, solving the fundamental functions of the façade: solar shading, daylighting control, dynamic façade U-value, natural ventilation, and noise reduction.Through the use of thermal building simulation tools as well as full scale measurement of the façade system, the energy saving potential is investigated showing the benefits and the challenges of working with dynamic façades in research and practice.

Pesticide drift deposition in hedgerows from multiple spray swaths

1 Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Vejlsovej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark 2 Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Frederiksborgsvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark 3 Aalborg University, Danish Building Research Institute, A.C. Meyers Vaenge 15, DK-2450 Copenhagen SV, Denmark 4 Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology & Food Science Unit-Agricultural Engineering, Belgium

Environmental qualities and patient well-being in hospital settings

Within the last decades the impacts of the physical environments of hospitals on healing and health-care outcomes have been subject to ample research. The amount of documentation linking the design of physical environments to patient and staff outcomes is increasing. A Danish research project undertaken by Architecture and Design and the Danish Building Research Institute (Aalborg University) set out in 2008 to review research on the impact of the environmental qualities of health-care facilities on patients and staff. The objective of the review team was to develop a tool that would allow an overview of this research, needed by construction clients and decision-makers in Denmark responsible for large investments in future hospitals and healthcare environments in the decade to come. The present paper offers an overview of the findings of the review team. Its point of departure is the categorisation developed during the study, which facilitated the sorting and communication of the findings. In this categorisation, research findings are grouped according to their focus on specific spatial qualities – such as light and acoustics – and not according to the different diagnoses, which may be linked to such spatial qualities, like stress and depression. In other words, the application of this categorisation foregrounds the importance and the convenience of looking at spatial qualities of the physical environment, when addressing issues related to patient or staff wellbeing.

Retrofitting Listed Buildings: Measures, Savings and Requirements

The paper presents a case study where the energy demand for a listed building constructed in 1900 is reduced. Many older buildings are listed and have restrictions that include the entire building or that include only its exterior. For the building presented, only its exterior facade is listed. The paper demonstrates measures for the improvement of the thermal insulation of the building with solid brick walls. Durable customised measures are shown. The customised measures are required not to change the overall exterior architecture as the building is considered to contribute to the uniqueness of the local urban environment and therefore listed. The reduced energy demand, related to individual measures, is estimated and building physics requirements are addressed together with the economic options for evaluating the profitability. Tightened requirements to the thermal insulation of new buildings and the resulting demand for a reduction of the energy consumption for heating and comfort, in order to re- duce CO2 emissions, mean that existing and especially older buildings are categorised as having a very low thermal stan- dard compared with today's requirements. Therefore, there is an increased interest in improving the thermal insulation standard of many existing and older buildings. However, many older buildings have restrictions that protect the entire building or that protect only its exterior. Therefore custom- ised solutions reducing the energy consumption are needed for these buildings. Moreover, close attention should focus on preventing degradation of the existing construction when the energy needed for heating and thermal comfort of a building decreases, as a result of measures to improve the thermal insulation. Besides lower heating costs and reduced CO2 emissions, the improvements of the standard of insula- tion could contribute to the elimination of other aspects of discomfort. The aim of the paper is to show solutions that improve the thermal insulation standard of a building with a listed exterior facade. The paper includes technical solutions for improving the thermal insulation standard by showing cus- tomised thermal insulation measures of the building enve- lope. It also addresses issues that must be considered in order to prevent moisture-related degradation of the original build- ing. Furthermore, a simple and accurate method for estimat- ing the decreased energy demand after improvements is ap- plied. Finally, the profitability of the measures is evaluated. The paper is based on guidelines on how to improve the thermal insulation of existing buildings and blocks of flats published by the Danish Building Research Institute (1).

The impact of information on perceived air quality ??organic? vs. ?synthetic? building materials

As indoor air quality complaints cannot be explained satisfactorily and building materials can be a major source of indoor air pollution, we hypothesized that emissions from building materials perceived as unfamiliar or annoying odors may contribute to such complaints. To test this hypothesis, emissions from indoor building materials containing linseed oil (organic) and comparable synthetic (synthetic) materials were evaluated by a naïve sensory panel for evaluation of odor intensity (OI) and odor acceptability (OA). The building materials were concealed in ventilated climate chambers of the CLIMPAQ type. When information was provided about the identity and type of building material during the evaluation, i.e. by labeling the materials in test chambers either as 'organic' or 'synthetic', the OI was significantly lower for all the 'organic' materials compared with evaluations without information. Similarly, OA was increased significantly for most 'organic' samples, but not the 'synthetic' ones. The major effect is probably that OA is increased when the panel is given information about the odor source. As providing information about the source of odors can increase their acceptability, complaints about indoor air quality may be decreased if occupants of buildings are well informed about odorous emissions from the new building materials or new activities in their indoor environment.

Pressures from flowing granular solids in silos

Large displacement flows in granular solids occur whenever silos are discharged. Measurements of pressures during flow, combined with visual observations of flow patterns and control tests on the e...

96/00883 The air quality laboratory at the Danish Building Research Institute

96/00883 The air quality laboratory at the Danish Building Research Institute

Urban architecture and identity‐a Danish approach

Interest in urban architecture is growing, not only in Denmark but in the rest of Europe as well. This interest now encompasses not only individual buildings, but also whole areas, such as a street or an entire district. Furthermore, it is not only buildings of special architectural or historical value that are of interest, but also what we might call the everyday architecture in the more anonymous parts of towns, which—although, perhaps containing not a single house of special value—have a totality and identity that are worth preserving. The research on urban architecture that has been going on at the Danish Building Research Institute (SBI) since 1988 has produced a working method that can lead to guidelines for new building and alteration which preserve the special character of such areas without obstructing the constant change and development that must be possible in living urban areas.

Durability of FRC-Materials

AbstractAsbestos cement was the first type of FRC-material that was ever made. It consisted of neat, hardened Portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibres (Vt - 7 vol-%). The most outstanding and valuable property of a high quality asbestos cement was the highly improved durability of this composite material in comparison to what would have been the case, if no fibres had been added or the fibre reinforcement of this extremely brittle matrix had been carried out incorrectly.This paper describes an analysis of the variation in time of the fracture energy, GF, of different types of FRC-material exposed to various climatic conditions.The following types of fibres were examined: steel fibre, ar-glass fibre, synthetic fibre (polypropylene) and natural fibre (sisal fibre and paper pulp cellulose).The climatic exposure conditions were natural out-door weathering or laboratory tests in a special weather-o-meter. Three test series were carried out at the Danish Building Research Institute. The results from these tests have been compared to results from five test series taken from the literature (ar-glass-, steel-, polypropylen-, sisal-fibres and neat concrete).It is concluded that natural and glass fibres are losing strength and ductility in a cementitious matrix. This results in a drastically reduced fracture energy of the composite material over the years. In the worst cases practically no fibre effect is left after some ten years of normal out-door exposure.For the best types of fibres examined (steel fibre, high tenacity, high bond polypropylene and combinations of these two types) the ductility and fracture energy of the composites are increasing significantly even after very long time of exposure.

Thin‐walled steel trussed rafters

The Danish Building Research Institute has helped to develop a trussed rafter from thin‐walled steel members with bolted joints, with particular application to the construction of simpler and cheaper glasshouses for commercial horticulture. The project concentrated on a rafter with a 20‐metre span able to carry installation loads, but extended also to the design of thin‐walled columns, purlins and rails. A patented joint enables a single bolt to connect two web members and the top or bottom chord.

Overcladding with brickwork

Denmark has found that overcladding existing high‐rise buildings in brickwork behind new insulation has practical advantages. It has led to the development of a special wall tie for the purpose and a recommended ‘staggered’ method of working, completing one storey height at a time; this gives better control and minimises mortar droppings fouling the insulation. The technique is described here by a member of the Danish Building Research Institute.

Modular kitchen component design

This article from the Danish Building Research Institute illustrates ways in which accurate modular kitchen units can be integrated into modular spaces built to less exacting tolerances. The article, specially prepared for the Journal, is based on a paper by Klaus Blach and Rebeca Poblete Geraghty on built‐in furniture, originally presented at a plenary meeting of CIB W24, The International Modular Group.

Energy-Saving by Flow Temperature Regulation

The article describes an investigation by the Indoor Climate Division of the Danish Building Research Institute (SBI) into the effects of one of the most common energy-saving measures, namely outdoor temperature-dependent flow temperature regulation with night and weekend temperature set-back. The investigation was carried out in 14 buildings with a total of 25 heating plants. The results showed that only a few of the buildings had the necessary operational background for achieving the energy savings calculated.

Denmark

We have invited the directors of national building research organisations to comment on their present policies and priorities, and explain the local circumstances which have influenced these developments. The series begins with this article by the Director of the Danish Building Research Institute, SBI.

Danish low‐rise housing

In other countries industrialized housing is dominated by multi‐storey buildings. In Denmark, however, the low‐rise housing has become predominant. During the past 20 years the development has changed from large, monotonous high‐rise housing estates to small, varying low‐rise housing units. The research on “low‐dense housing” performed by the Danish Building Research Institute (SBI) since 1970 has largely contributed to this development. And it has been of major importance to the penetration of this research that it has taken place in close cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and with the social housing corporations, the building industry and the practising architects and engineers. Research on low‐dense housing is interdisciplinary, and the successive members of the research team are not only architects and engineers, but also sociologists, psychologists and economists. Nor is this research confined to technical conditions alone; it also deals with the well‐being and comfort of the user and with cit...

Post-Insulating External Walls: Inside Or Outside?

A project is described in which the Danish Building Research Institute studied the performance of additional insulation applied to the external solid brick walls of old blocks of flats. In one old block the insulation was placed on the interior of walls: in two other blocks different forms of exterior insulation were tested. Both approaches halved the measured energy consumptions but the exterior insulation was found to be technically better, though consequential architectural treatment was entailed and the pay-back time was longer. In all cases, however, more development is thought to be needed in order to improve the economics.

Progress report from Denmark

Space heating is seen in Denmark as the area where there is greatest potential for saving in energy use; why and how is explained in this article from the Danish Building Research Institute. It summarises the new building code regulations for insulation, heating and ventilation as well as more recent rules for existing buildings. Further action planned for the future is also outlined and examples are given of the many R & D activities in the country.