Multi-storey Apartment Research Articles

Energy renovation of multi apartment buildings: Contributions to economy and climate changes

The aim of this paper is to gain new knowledge on contributions of energy renovation of multi apartment buildings to economy and climate changes. The research methodology is based on applying the input–output model, which enables the analysis of direct, indirect and induced effects. The analysis was conducted on the sample of the Republic of Croatia. The reference research period is from 2017 to 2020. The results obtained confirm the existence of indirect socioeconomic effects of energy recovery projects which were justified by being co-funded from national budgets or EU structural funds. The growth induced by gross value added and employment positively effects the revenue from taxes and contributions, and by co-financing energy renovations they do not disturb the stability of public finances. The energy renovation of multi apartment buildings increases the energy sufficiency of the domestic economy due to the fact that the need for imported energy decreases throughout the entire life of the investment. A decrease in import dependency decreases the sensitivity of the economy from possible negative effects of the disorder on the world market of energy products. The obtained results show positive effects of energy renovation of multi apartment buildings on climate changes, primarily through the decrease of the amount of energy consumption in an energy renovated area and the decrease of harmful particle emission (CO2).

Low-frequency impact sound of timber floors: A finite element–based study of conceptual designs

Traditionally, product development concerning acoustics in the building industry is measurement oriented. For lightweight floors, frequencies that are lower than the frequency range for heavy concrete floors are an issue. The frequency range of from 50 Hz down to 20 Hz influences the human perception of impact sound in multi-story apartment buildings with lightweight floor constructions, such as timber floors, for example. It is well known that a lower frequency range of interest makes finite element simulations more feasible. Strategies for reducing impact sound tend to be less straightforward for timber floors because they have a larger variation of designs when compared to concrete floors. This implies that reliable finite element simulations of impact sound can save time and money for the building industry. This study researches the impact sound transmission of lightweight timber floors. Frequency response functions, from forces on excitation points to sound pressure in the receiving cavity below, are calculated. By using fluid elements connected to reflection-free boundary elements under the floors in the models, the transmission and insulation can be studied without involving reverberation. A floor model with a hard screed surface will have a larger impact force than a softer floor, although this issue seems less pronounced at the lowest frequencies. To characterize floor surfaces, the point mobilities of the impact points are also calculated and presented. The vibration and sound transmission levels are dependent on the selection of the excitation points.

Methodology for Evaluation and Development of Refurbishment Scenarios for Multi-Story Apartment Buildings, Applied to Two Buildings in Denmark and Switzerland

Renovation of existing buildings is an indispensable part of achieving European efficiency and environmental targets. This paper applies different assessment methodologies to find optimal renovation, given different evaluation criteria. The performed literature study identifies the cost-optimal methodology employing Life Cycle Cost (LCC) calculation as one of the most common assessment methods. This paper proposes a new renovation assessment method targeted to the early design phases of specific building projects. The method has a simple structure, and can be used as a roadmap of necessary activities for obtaining solid building knowledge and required energy and cost calculations. The methodology is based on linking economic and energy efficiency parameters into defined cost-effective value, calculated for all investigated renovation actions. The cost-effectiveness value is used for ranking and selecting the most appropriate single renovation actions to form renovation packages, which can be further examined in detail (for example, with LCC). To demonstrate the method, evaluate the strengths, and identify the weaknesses, it is applied to case study buildings in Denmark and Switzerland. The results show that, in the initial stage, the proposed cost-effectiveness representation can be used successfully to compare and evaluate different envelope elements and systems. Cost-effectiveness also provides rational results on a package level. Further work is still required in the area of evaluation of energy supply and renewable energy production systems.

Electrochemical Disinfection of Biologically Treated Waste for Onsite Toilet Wastewater Treatment and Recycling: A Long Term Field Study

The Closed Loop Advanced Sanitation System (CLASS) was designed to treat, disinfect, and recycle toilet blackwater from existing flush toilets in a multi-story apartment building. CLASS used a combination of biological pretreatment and electrochemical oxidation processes. Two systems were tested in two unique sites in Coimbatore, India for over 7,500 treatment hours (combined) resulting in more than 180 m3 of blackwater treated to stringent quality requirements based on ISO 30500.1 Nutrients and organic load from the toilet blackwater were predominantly reduced aerobically and anaerobically using either a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR, Unit A) or an anaerobic-aerobic biodigester (Ecosan, Unit B). The electrochemical treatment provided for the disinfection of pathogens in the blackwater as well as further removal of remnant organic load and nitrogen (image attached). The water produced by the system nearly met ISO 30500 effluent standards and was reused for flushing by the residents of the apartment building for 89 days.

Вопросы управления, сохранения и модернизации многоквартирного жилищного фонда

The article gives the essence of reforming the sphere of housing and communal services and legal documents in Uzbekistan, as well as suggestions and recommendations on some issues related to the management, maintenance and modernization of multi–apartment housing.

Solar energy as a tool of renovating soviet-type multi apartment buildings

The paper analyses the energy and technical possibilities of installing systems that use renewable energy sources (solar energy) to renovate soviet type apartment buildings. The aim of the analysis is to study the possibilities of using solar energy systems to renovate apartment buildings (five-storey, nine-storey and sixteen-storey), which are built in Lithuania, provide detailed conclusions about the energy and engineering aspects of such systems. The authors also intend to determine the optimal technological combinations and solutions that would allow achieving maximum energy benefits (solar collectors for domestic hot water preparation and photovoltaic panels for electricity use). For the research computer simulation tools EnergyPRO and PV*SOL Premium were selected. Actual collected heat and electricity consumption data is also used for the analysis.

Heat-mass exchange processes dynamics forecasting in fires in typical multistorey apartment buildings

Heat-mass exchange dynamics forecasting in fires in typical multistorey buildings allows to prove the need and determine organizational and technical solutions parameters aimed to increasing such buildings residents safe evacuation probability, which is an urgent problem according to statistics on the deceased persons number of this population category as a result of fires. On the numerical studies results basis, the characteristic time changes regularities of critically dangerous fire factors for humans are established; the most dangerous factor according to the people safe evacuation possibility from these buildings is the optical smoke concentration level. A method for determining the critical smoke time for safe evacuation has been proposed. It is proposed to equip mass construction 5–9 storey apartment buildings with early fire detection and warning systems.

Copyright to the architectural design of built multistorey apartment house

Copyright to the architectural design of built multistorey apartment house

Thermal Surface Analysis of Multi-storey Apartment Buildings in Penang, Malaysia

Thermal Surface Analysis of Multi-storey Apartment Buildings in Penang, Malaysia

Human thermal comfort for residential buildings in hot summer and cold winter region, a user based approach

Improving the overall performance of residential buildings means exploring and understanding users’ needs, expectations and aspirations, as these greatly affect human comfort, health and well-being. This paper investigates thermal comfort conditions, based on quantitative measurements of typical residential multi-story apartment buildings in Palestine, and a qualitative survey of inhabitants’ satisfaction with the indoor environment of their apartments. From these data, average perceived comfort indices (APCI) were calculated. The survey shows that inhabitants of each building have different comfort conditions, especially in summer, according to the orientation of the space. Sunshine, air exchange and temperature are perceived as the most influential parameters for apartment comfort. Although the APCI shows a good level of comfort globally, most inhabitants very often feel hot in summer, mainly during the day, and cold in winter, mainly at night. Measurements confirm that inside air temperature always remains below 16°C in winter, below the comfort level. In summer, it remains between 25 and 32°C, outside the comfort zone. The perceived comfort level seems more related to the inhabitants’ feeling of powerlessness than to real thermal conditions.

‘뉴 프랑크푸르트’ 프로젝트에서 실현된 주거블록 해체의 두 사례 비교 연구

The purpose of this study is to figure out the transitional characteristics of new housing model immediately after the emerging the modern architecture and to discuss its influence on the later spread of internationalism and functionalism in housing architecture. For this purpose the Römerstadt and Westhausen housing estates, which were built by Ernst May’s ‘The New Frankfurt (Das Neue Frankfurt)’ project, were examined. In this study, first, the historical changes of urban structure were explored and the typology of ‘Reihe’ and ‘Zeile’ types were defined. Next, the urban tissue, spatial allocation of public and private areas, layout of open space and floor plan typology of this two cases were comparative analyzed. The Römerstadt estate with the feature of Reihe revealed the symmetrical distribution of building and open space, which showed the clear division of public and private territories. The Westhausen estate with the feature of Zeile showed homogeneous urban structure and uniformity in its orthogonal grid pattern street system and regular plot allocation. The Westhausen residential complex represents the principle of international style and can be seen as a sign of the proliferation of flat-type multi-story apartment complexes full filled with rigid straight buildings.

Massive or lightweight? Sound insulation of Austrian multistory apartment buildings since 2000

During the past centuries, Austria was a country of massive multistory apartment houses. Since the last decade of the last century, technical and legal developments led to experimental multistory buildings with lightweight construction as timber frame or cross laminated timber construction. During the following years, the proportion of lightweight constructions increased slightly. In Styria, a federal land in the south of Austria, it is usual to perform sample performance measurements also of the quality of subsidized apartment buildings upon competition. This paper shows some results of such quality measurements of airborne and impact sound insulation during the past two decades and discusses the performance of different constructions. Moreover, some results of “mikrozensus” surveys about noise pollution of the federal institution “Statistik Austria” are presented. The question arises, if the used descriptors as, e.g., the weighted sound reduction index Rw are still sufficient meaningful in every case or if there should be some additional information to avoid specific problematic construction solutions. Another way would be to provide rules for robust in detail. Some special cases and construction influences are shown exemplarily. For future development, it would be of interest to provide more information about sensitivity of construction measures in order to enhance the future sound insulation performance not only as a number but in reality.During the past centuries, Austria was a country of massive multistory apartment houses. Since the last decade of the last century, technical and legal developments led to experimental multistory buildings with lightweight construction as timber frame or cross laminated timber construction. During the following years, the proportion of lightweight constructions increased slightly. In Styria, a federal land in the south of Austria, it is usual to perform sample performance measurements also of the quality of subsidized apartment buildings upon competition. This paper shows some results of such quality measurements of airborne and impact sound insulation during the past two decades and discusses the performance of different constructions. Moreover, some results of “mikrozensus” surveys about noise pollution of the federal institution “Statistik Austria” are presented. The question arises, if the used descriptors as, e.g., the weighted sound reduction index Rw are still sufficient meaningful in every case or...

Use of Prefabrication in Staircase Solutions in Multi-storey Apartment Blocks Based on Wooden Structures

Structural design of the staircase is a separate issue in the design and realization of residential buildings. The design needs to be addressed in terms of static, fire safety, layout requirements and in the case of wood-based apartment buildings, also in terms of acoustics. The paper deals with the design of the staircase in terms of all the above mentioned factors. In addressing this issue, emphasis is placed not only on the design of the staircase, but also on the construction itself. The author of the solution focused precisely on the area of the prefabrication in the construction solution. The staircase is designed as a separate space cell, which is produced as part of the pre-production preparation of the building, and is then installed as a finished product. This issue is addressed within the MPO TRIO FV10075 “New technology multi-storey energy efficient buildings made of glued sandwich panels with the possibility of foundation based ground screws using the technology of prefabricated housing units” project and the staircase solution is an integral part of this project.

The Impact of Air Pressure Conditions on the Performance of Single Room Ventilation Units in Multi-Story Buildings

Single room ventilation units with heat recovery is one of the ventilation solutions that have been used in renovated residential buildings in Estonia. In multi-story buildings, especially in a cold climate, the performance of units is affected by the stack effect and wind-induced pressure differences between the indoor and the outdoor air. Renovation of the building envelope improves air tightness and the impact of the pressure conditions is amplified. The aim of this study was to predict the air pressure conditions in typical renovated multi-story apartment buildings and to analyze the performance of room-based ventilation units. The field measurements of air pressure differences in a renovated 5-story apartment building during the winter season were conducted and the results were used to simulate whole-year pressure conditions with IDA-ICE software. Performance of two types of single room ventilation units were measured in the laboratory and their suitability as ventilation renovation solutions was assessed with simulations. The results show that one unit stopped its operation as a heat recovery ventilator. In order to ensure satisfactory indoor climate and heat recovery using wall mounted units the pressure difference values were determined and proposed for correct design.

Could house-like apartments improve the residential quality of a city? The case of Niš, Serbia

The concept of a peaceful, individual home surrounded by greenery, built in a multistorey apartment building—a synthesis of a villa from the suburbs and an apartment in the city—is a theme very rich in possibilities for future urban development. By recognizing the positive characteristics of family houses and their application in apartment buildings, usual housing in apartment buildings gains an alternative. The first part of the paper is an analysis of the characteristics of house-like apartments: access to the apartment, private open space, three-dimensional spatial organization and visual identity. It continues with a questionnaire survey carried out among occupants living in apartment buildings in Nis, Serbia, regarding which characteristics of house-like apartments they recognize in their own apartments, if any, and how important they consider them to be for the general residential quality. It is interesting that occupants assess as significant only some basic forms of this type of apartment, while other, less obvious forms are considered to be irrelevant for the quality of housing. The results of this study include design recommendations and recommendations for the redefinition of standards that regulate the field of designing apartment buildings, in order to improve the quality of housing in the city.

How well are energy performance objectives being achieved in renovated apartment buildings in Estonia?

In Estonia, the majority of multi-storey apartment buildings were built during the period between 1960 and 1990. Systematic refurbishment of residential buildings on an energy-efficiency basis began in the 2000s, when the energy performance regulation came into force, although the main reason was to save on energy costs.From 2010, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication fund, KredEx, started supporting the renovation of apartment buildings. A grant scheme which was established in 2015 is related to targeted energy performance certificate classes.In this study, we analyse how well the energy performance targets are being reached following major energy efficiency-related refurbishment work on buildings and how big the performance gap is between measured and calculated energy consumption levels, along with an analysis of the reasons for any differences. The analysis is based on collected energy consumption levels and indoor measurements. In order to analyse heating energy consumption levels, we have constructed simulations of indoor climate and energy use in fifteen renovated apartment buildings.We found that in most cases, the calculated heating energy consumption levels in the design phase were much lower than the measured values have shown. In addition, we discovered that re-simulated values with the same thermal transmittance values are, in most cases, up to 50% larger than heating-related energy consumption levels in the design stage. From this knowledge, we can say that predictions for energy performance levels following refurbishment are too optimistic. For the future, we recommend calculating heating energy consumption levels with the use of a multi-zone simulation tool or by developing a better simplified calculation tool for renovated apartment buildings. In addition, we found out that the reason for heating energy consumption levels being higher following refurbishment work is due to higher indoor temperatures.

Optimizing Evaluation Methods for the Embodied Energy and Carbon Management of Existing Buildings in Egypt

There is an increasing demand for the decarbonization of existing buildings. The development of standardized calculation methods has simplified calculation processes and enabled wider engagement with the topic. As the industry advances, optimization and accounting for regional differences will increase in importance. This paper reviews the key drivers in the field, both locally and internationally, and proposes a performance-based evaluation method specific to local construction in Egypt. The aim of the method is to assist in the renovation of existing buildings by guiding the decision-making process through the proposed evaluation framework. A local case study of an existing multi-story apartment building was used to create a baseline for typical local multi-story residential buildings and demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed evaluation method. This framework provides the owners of buildings with a decision-making process by which carbon impacts associated with future renovations and operations of existing buildings can be minimized.

On the question of reducing deformability of subsiding soils in construction of multi-storey apartment buildings

The article deals with the method of reducing the compressibility of the subsidence soil under the bottom of a slab foundation of a multi-storey apartment building by reinforcing the soil with rigid elements, which are concrete piles in rolled wells. This method is effective because it eliminates the subsidence properties of the soil and significantly increases the deformation modulus, which causes a decrease in the amount of precipitation of the foundations of the designed object. An example of the use of this method for a multi-storey apartment building and the results of field plate load tests of artificially improved soil are given.

Thin-walled shell foundations

The article presents a study of the interaction of strip foundations of multistorey apartment houses united by flat cylindrical shells with a ground base. The foundation of a 17-storey residential building has been taken as an example. The ground base consists of strong upper and highly compressible underlying layers. The use of traditional foundations under the specified conditions is hardly possible. The calculation scheme of the building and the stages of the ground foundation work are represented. Also, the researchers share the results of geotechnical monitoring in the construction process including observations of settlings at 25 points with an accuracy of 0.1 mm and measurement of layer-by-layer deformations of the ground base under the building to a depth of 10 meters from the surface. The diagrams demonstrate the actual settlement of the building with increasing load and layer-by-layer deformations of the ground base in depth are presented.

Refurbishing blocks of flats to very low or nearly zero energy level–technical and financial results plus co-benefits

In 2011, the Danish government published an energy strategy for Denmark where one of the main targets are that Denmark should be a fossil-free society by 2050. Calculations show, that in order to reach this goal it is necessary to reduce the energy consumption of the existing building stock by 50% on average. Since a 50% reduction is obviously not possible for all buildings, those that can should aim for a so-called “deep energy renovation”, i.e. reducing the energy consumption to a level corresponding to that of new buildings or even more. This paper describes two case studies where multi-story apartment buildings have undergone deep energy renovation. “Traneparken” where the expected energy use after renovation aimed at a level corresponding to that of a new building according to the Danish Building Regulations from 2015. “Sems Have” where the aim was to go even further and meet the requirements expected for new buildings in 2020, i.e. corresponding to the Danish “nearly zero energy”-definition according to the EPBD. The paper reports on calculations and measurements of energy savings, the economy of the projects and looks at the added benefits or co-benefits that residents, housing association and society in general have achieved in addition to significant energy savings.