Facade Parameters Research Articles

Determining the influence of façade parameters and the width of a fire-proof eaves on preventing the spread of fire through external vertical structures of buildings

The object of this study is the process of fire propagation through the surface of external wall structures with facade thermal insulation. The paper examines the influence of facade parameters and the width of a fire-proof eaves on preventing the spread of fire by external vertical structures using the example of a residential building. With the use of FDS modeling, the relationships between the parameters of external enclosing structures and the fire-proof eaves on the processes of limiting the spread of fire were investigated. The influence of the minimum parameters of the height of the inter-floor windowsill in the absence of a fire-proof eaves on the spread of fire was determined. The dependence of temperature change near the surface of the facade on the width of the fire-proof eaves and the height of the window between floors was established. Based on a series of simulated experiments, it was established that with a height of 1.0 m between floors and the absence of a fire-proof eaves, the critical temperature value is 250 °C. This value corresponds to the destruction temperature of a standard metal-plastic window structure. For the case when the wall height is 1.0 m, and the width of the fire-proof eaves is 0.75 m, the temperature value is 180 °C. That is, the safety condition of 250 °C is met. Based on the research, a dependence was found on the criterion of not exceeding the critical temperature of 250 °C at the level of 1.4 m of the facade of the building floor located above the fire floor. The criterion holds when the width of a fire-proof eaves is at least 0.4 m and the height of the window partition is 1.0 m, as well as when the width of the eaves is 0.5 m, and the height of the window partition is 0.6 m. It was established that the height of a window interfloor partition has a smaller effect than the width of the fire-proof eaves that separates the floors that are located above

Identifying relative importance of solar design determinants on office building façade for cooling loads and thermal comfort in hot-humid climates

Solar radiation makes great influence on cooling load and occupants’ well-being in hot and humid climate zone. Particularly, occupants suffered different extent of solar radiation owing to their positions; thus, assessing the spatial and temporal thermal comfort is essential. It is worthwhile to identify the relative importance of passive solar design parameters for building envelope that these parameters directly affect thermal comfort and energy use. This study confirmed the distribution frequency of cooling loads and temporal thermal comfort usability of the simulation cases in selected cities based on the MRT algorithm that considered the impact of solar radiation. Based on the results, sensitivity analysis was used to analyze the relative importance of passive solar design parameters to clarify the priority when drawing up the façade design strategies. Eventually, correlation among facade parameters, energy use, thermal comfort, and geographic location is revealed. Furthermore, the improvement potential for energy-saving and thermal comfort by adjusting the variables in specific ranges is also demonstrated. The results indicated that within all selected cities, adjusting glazing type makes greatest influence on improvement potential that ranges from 22.8% to 39.5% in annual cooling load and 58.6%–87.5% in temporal thermal comfort usability, whereas the improvement potential for orientation is weaker than other parameters. Moreover, the absolute effect of solar design determinants is also disclosed respectively to discuss the importance of each parameter. Comprehensively, the proposed findings are expected to act as instruction when formulating the passive building envelope design related to solar radiation.

Creating glazed facades performance map based on energy and thermal comfort perspective for office building design strategies in Asian hot-humid climate zone

Glazed facades are broadly applied in modern architecture especially office buildings. However, glass enables massive heat transmitted into buildings that leads to thermal discomfort and energy profligacy particularly in hot-humid climate zone. Considering the strategies of energy use and thermal comfort at initial design process is beneficial for building performance, while there is shortage of approachable method to easily involve in building energy modeling or thermal comfort assessment. To enhance the connection of architecture design and building environment, this study proposed a guide map to provide visualized information from the aspects of energy use and thermal comfort through simulating the performance of different composition of glazed facade parameters. Specifically, cases with various facade configurations located in Southeast Asia cities are set to demonstrate the cooling load and long-term thermal comfort evaluation, including Environmental Quality Index (EQI), Spatial Thermal Comfort Availability (sTCA), and Temporal Thermal Comfort Usability (tTCU). Furthermore, a comprehensive thermal parameter called facade solar aperture is suggested to describe the performance of solar gains from facade; eventually, correlation among facade parameters, energy use, thermal comfort, and geographic location is disclosed. The results also indicated that to eliminate the discomfort for maintaining the condition of PMV = 0.5, the setting temperature of air-conditioning needs to be decreased by 2 °C ∼ 3 °C which corresponding to the increasing cooling load of 142.5 MJ/m2 to 215.0 MJ/m2. Comprehensively, through the proposed method, architects can obtain optimal schemes of different parameters, then balance the energy conservation and thermal comfort through better glazed facade design strategies.

Conceptual Designs of Kinetic Facade Systems

To make buildings more energy-efficient, reduce harmful atmospheric emissions, improve the quality of the indoor environment, researchers from several countries have designed (and in some cases, made) conceptual kinetic facades. These have different designs, materials, and control methods. Kinetic facades as an architectural solution are still at infancy in Russia for several reasons. This paper presents the concept of a building featuring kinetic facades for a city in the south of Russia. The appeal of such innovative shading systems comes from extreme exposure to sunlight during the hot seasons, which overheats the indoors, necessitates expensive air conditioning, and creates luminous discomfort. The paper presents the kinetic facade parameters calculated with adjustment for solar geometry and the orientation of the facade. Computer simulations of two facade designs prove both effective for shielding.

A Holistic Decision Support Tool for Facade Design

This paper presents a holistic decision support tool developed for use during the early stages of facade design. The tool is based on the interdependent relationships between facade performance, facade parameters, and conditions (environmental and spatial). It assumes that a decision maker has the ability to enhance the performance of a facade by making proper decisions on the design parameters in line with the conditions. However, since facade performance has various aspects (sometimes conflicting) to be considered at once, it is hard to predict the impacts of decisions on the overall performance. A single design decision may increase the performance in one aspect while decreasing it in other aspects. The tool aims to function as a guide to decision makers by indicating the impacts of design decisions on different functional aspects of facade performance from a holistic point of view. Functional requirements included within the tool are safety requirements such as structural stability and fire protection, health-related requirements such as weather protection (protection against water, air, and moisture), and requirements related to the well-being of the users such as thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Information provided in the tool is based upon an extensive literature review and structured as an Excel spreadsheet.

Sustainable High-rises

Sustainable High-rises

Sustainable High-rises

Sustainable High-rises

Global warming implications of facade parameters: A life cycle assessment of residential buildings in Bahrain

On a global scale, the Gulf Corporation Council Countries (GCCC), including Bahrain, are amongst the top countries in terms of carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Building authority in Bahrain has set a target of 40% reduction of electricity consumption and associated CO2 emissions to be achieved by using facade parameters. This work evaluates how the life cycle CO2 emissions of buildings are affected by facade parameters. The main focus is placed on direct and indirect CO2 emissions from three contributors, namely, chemical reactions during production processes (Pco2), embodied energy (Eco2) and operational energy (OPco2). By means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, it has been possible to show that the greatest environmental impact occurs during the operational phase (80–90%). However, embodied CO2 emissions are an important factor that needs to be brought into the systems used for appraisal of projects, and hence into the design decisions made in developing projects. The assessment shows that masonry blocks are responsible for 70–90% of the total CO2 emissions of facade construction, mainly due to their physical characteristics. The highest Pco2 emissions factors are those of window elements, particularly aluminium frames. However, their contribution of CO2 emissions depends largely on the number and size of windows. Each square metre of glazing is able to increase the total CO2 emissions by almost 30% when compared with the same areas of opaque walls. The use of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) walls reduces the total life cycle CO2 emissions by almost 5.2% when compared with ordinary walls, while the use of thermal insulation with concrete wall reduces CO2 emissions by 1.2%. The outcome of this work offers to the building industry a reliable indicator of the environmental impact of residential facade parameters.

Environmental impact analysis for typical office facades

The design of a building facade influences internal thermal and lighting conditions and energy use associated with the provision of these conditions. Key decisions about the building facade are usually taken during the concept design stage of a building, while decisions about the method of providing the environmental conditions are often made later in the design process. This dilemma is addressed by the development of a concept design tool that allows the design team to investigate the effect of facade design on the resulting internal environmental conditions, energy use and environmental impact. The concept design tool was developed by performing detailed thermal, lighting and environmental modelling for a number of generic office building facade designs and a range of parameters that affect directly the environmental performance of an office building. The results are presented in a user-friendly interface requiring a minimum number of inputs. Key parameter outputs (such as temperature, lighting levels, heating/cooling energy demand, embodied energy and eco-points) can then be viewed, while a more detailed analysis can also be created for specified facade designs. A parametric analysis of the summary result outputs for selected facade parameters indicates that natural ventilation and cooling can reduce the environmental impact of offices by up to 16%, although heating energy demand could increase significantly. Improving the construction standard of the facade and reducing the internal heat loads can reduce the environmental impact by up to 22%. Use of this tool at early design stages will benefit the design team through an improved understanding of the dynamics between facade design and building services and assist with a more integrated approach.