Building Partitions Research Articles

Влияние теплоизоляции из полимерного пенокомпозита Penocom на огнестойкость ограждающих деревянных каркасных конструкций

Sing a small-scale fire tests three separating construction assemblies modeling fragments of walls and partitions in timber buildings of light frame type have been studied. As a thermal insulation layer have used a commercial polymer foam composite "Penocom" with different density between 43.7-140 kg/m 3 . It was established that the actual limit of fire resistance of separating constructions for the integrity and insulating capacity (EI) was 95-110.3 min. It was found that there is a tendency: increasing the fire resistance of four-layers structures corresponds decreasing the density foam composites "Penocom" from 83 to 43.7 kg/m 3 . The average values of the heat flow in the small-scale fire oven at the standard mode of fire at different periods of fire actions have been measured as well. These values correspond the relationship found at standard large-scale apparatus. Thermal conductivity of polymer foam composite was calculated.

Seeming Air Tightness of Construction Partitions

The aim of the paper is to highlight the problem of the seeming air tightness of construction partitions in buildings. In many cases, construction partitions meet the criteria for required air tightness. There are no cross air channel flows through a building envelope, and the Blower Door test is positive, which points to an airtight construction, but the building demands more heat than that due to calculations. The reason for this problem is in wind washing the porous and fibrous materials embedded in the building envelope. Seeming air tightness may be one of the most important reasons why, in construction partitions with the required thickness of thermal insulation, the heat transfer coefficient exceeds the limit value.

Is Thermal Resistance Correlated With Sound Insulation?

An implementation of the sustainable development idea in the building sector stimulates search for materials and structures providing better heat insulation. Because the acoustical expectations and requirements also rise, a need for harmonization of both parameters increases. The article demonstrates differences between thermal and acoustical behavior of various building elements. The analysis of measurement results obtained for different structures demonstrates that finding a simple relationship between acoustical and thermal insulations is quite difficult. Tendencies observed in each case are rather opposite than parallel and materials or technical solutions that improve thermal resistance of a building partition often deteriorate its acoustic performance.

Seismic fragility of plasterboard partitions via in‐plane quasi‐static tests

SummaryThe seismic damage of internal partitions may cause significant earthquake loss; this phenomenon is caused by (a) their tendency to exhibit damage for low demand levels and (b) the consequent loss of inventory and breakdown that their collapse can cause.Quasi‐static tests are performed on six 5‐m‐high plasterboard internal partitions, which represent typical partitions in industrial and commercial buildings in the European area. A steel test setup is designed to transfer the load, which is provided by the actuator, to the partition. The testing protocol provided by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 461 is adopted for the quasi‐static tests.The typical failure mode of the specimens is the buckling of a steel stud, which involves the boards that are attached to the buckled stud. The buckling failure usually concentrates across the plasterboard horizontal joints. A frictional behavior is exhibited for low demand levels, whereas a pinched behavior is shown for moderate‐to‐high demand levels.The interstory drift ratios required to reach a given damage limit state are evaluated using a predefined damage scheme. Based on the experimental data, the fragility curves for three different damage states (DS1, DS2, and DS3) are estimated. The fragility curve yields median interstory drift ratio values of 0.28%, 0.81%, and 2.05% and logarithmic standard deviations of 0.39, 0.42, and 0.46 for DS1, DS2, and DS3, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental Thermal Performance Analysis of Building Components Containing Phase Change Material (PCM)

The article presents the results of experimental studies of partitions containing phase change materials. The main objective of the measurements was to determine the actual effectiveness of the used materials and their impact on energy storage capabilities through building partitions. The light partition component containing a finishing layer of organic material undergoing a phase change was the subject of research. The heat flux and temperature distribution on individual component layers were recorded while changing the temperature conditions of the surrounding air. The cycle of temperature changes has been chosen to model the probable conditions inside buildings located on Polish territory. The results made it possible to determine the actual effect of PCM applications in partitions on heat accumulation capacity increase and thermal conditions of the component. The article also addresses the issue of determining the parameters of material for which a very strong dependence of the specific heat and temperature exist. When used in construction materials, phase-variable thermal properties of the materials used must be accurately known, since the system efficiency depends on the thermal properties of materials. The article presents an attempt to determine the properties of the PCM as a function of temperature using the equipment consisting of heat meter, electronic sensors and thermocouples temperature.

Experimental study of sound insulation in multilayer building partitions

This paper presents the results of a research project devoted to the sound insulation properties of framed partitions and frameless sandwich panels intended for use in civil engineering and industrial construction. Methods for improving sound insulation with these types of structures on exposure to airborne noise are considered.

Sound Radiation by Vibrating Building Partitions in Terms of Acceptable Vibration Values

in Terms of Acceptable Vibration Values A. Szelig, K. Stypuaa and T. Kamisi«skia,∗ AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland Tadeusz Ko±ciuszko Cracow University of Technology, Civil Engineering Faculty, Institute of Structural Mechanics ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland

Objects for storing fruits, vegetables or potatoes

Properly designed and implemented specialized storage objects guarantee specialist storing of the discussed group of agricultural products. They make independent the whole process of storage, improving and the trade of goods from conditions of the outside climate. Storage spaces and cold stores are currently a highly specialized group of objects of the food industry infrastructure. The program of the designed object constitutes the basis for the forming of its functional arrangement and the form of the object. In the storage building it is subordinate to the technology and the functional and spatial arrangement of the building follows the arrangement of the technological thrust. The object being a casing of the technological process of storing should form a possibly closed and tight microclimatic space and the building partition system along with an air-conditioning units should enable to keep adequate parameters of the interior microclimate on a particular level. The factors of the microclimate influencing the storage conditions are: temperature, relative humidity of air, gas composition of the atmosphere surrounding agricultural products and the air movement in the storage space.

Determining sound transmission through damped partitions: Challenges in theoretical prediction and laboratory testing

The sound transmission loss through traditional wall and ceiling building partitions can currently be predicted using software programs and/or laboratory test data. There is, however, a great divide that separates the theoretical prediction of sound transmission loss from the laboratory-measured values. Some of the most common prediction software packages do not account for dynamic (frequency- and temperature-dependent) material properties and are, therefore, incapable of predicting sound transmission accurately for some common solutions. The most accurate and precise software prediction tools available become impractical because the cross-correlation between laboratory testing facilities is so poor that it is not possible to replicate predicted performance dynamics in a laboratory setting. Using the structural properties of damping materials as an example, the divide between theoretical prediction and laboratory testing will be illustrated and possible solutions for closing such a divide will be presented.

The issue of the use of exotic wood in external building partitions

Exotic wood species are more often used in windows, doors, facades and shutters. A multitude of species and unique properties make its use is difficult. The use of exotic wood in outside partitions, exposed to the different climatic conditions, should be preceded by verification of its properties, sometimes specific (glueability, susceptibility to impregnation or finish paint coatings), which determining the reliability and durability of the final product.

Fire Resistance of Biomass Ash Panels used for Internal Partitions in Buildings

Abstract This study was to develop fire-resistant panels with a high biomass ash ratio from the combustion of EFB at an industrial scale to be used in different fire-resistant internal partitions in buildings and industrial constructions. This study develop new products made of by biomass ash from industry waste for the internal partitions panel. Modifying the internal partition panel of wall with addition of biomass ash (EFB) and clay soils in producing new products that can resist and retain durability and resilience of the panel products to the fire. ASTM C1396 Standard Specification for Gypsum Board defines Gypsum wallboard as designed wallboard use for on walls, ceilings, or partitions and that affords a surface suitable to receive decoration tested in accordance with ASTM E1 19 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials. For this study, fire resistance, thermal and mechanical parameters were measured. The panels which are 100 mm × 100 mm by 15 mm thick were prepared following ASTM standard. The product here studied in the form of low-density panels (800 kg/m) has a great potential for an industrial use, showing similar properties to those found in commercial gypsum plasterboard, a material of generalized use for this type of application. Consequently, from the test, biomass ash (EFB) panel board can retain more than 2 hours fire resistance in standard conditions of room temperature by fire laboratory and panels showing a compressive strength of 3.535 MPa.

Flexural Properties of Bio-Composite Made from Hydrothermally Treated Kenaf (<i>Hibiscus cannabinus</i>) Fibres

This study evaluated the effect on bending strength of hydrothermal treatment on kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) fibres of high density fibreboards (HDF) at elevated temperatures. HDF were manufactured from untreated and treated kenaf fibres at three different temperatures that were 100, 130 and 150 °C for 30 minutes in a laboratory autoclave. The bending strength of panel referred to MOE and MOR of sample were analyzed. Bending strength of panel was increased with the increased of temperature. HDF panels made from hydrothermally treated kenaf fibres at 150°C has the higher MOE value and can be used as the building partition or application that needed high elasticity materials.

Use of damped drywall in architectural acoustics

Damped drywall, specifically QuietRock, has been tested both by various NVLAP-accredited laboratories and in situ in a variety of assemblies as an acoustic treatment for the transmission of airborne sound through building partitions. The application of damped drywall and its use for noise control through building partitions continue to expand as the body of test data grows and analytic models are developed to support this class of materials. However, the manufacturer of QuietRock has conducted several research studies that illustrate how damped drywall can be used to improve the transmission loss over a broad range of frequencies and in various assemblies. This presentation is a summary of these research studies and serves as a guide for the application of damped drywall in building construction.

Properties of Coconut Fiber/Rubber Cement Board for Building Partitions

Due to recycling of scrapped tire rubbers and coconut fibers, a new building material composited of rubber particles, coconut fibers and cement is applied to building partitions. A lightweight coconut fiber/rubber cement board (LCRCB) consists of rubber/cement board as a sandwich layer and coconut fiber/cement as the matrix, where the sandwich layer containing three fractions of the rubber from 30% to 50%, and the matrix with a constant ratio of 15% coconut fibers in volume. Results show that the measured properties of LCRCB are found with water absorption between 13.8% and 15.4%, unit weight of 1400-1480 kgf/m3, bending strength of 1.97 MPa and coefficients of thermal conductivity in 0.261~0.286 kcal/m•oC•hr,. After the impact test, LCRCBs show no cracks, detachment, pinholes and the split on the impacted surface. Besides, LCRCB satisfies the 2nd degree requirements of incombustibility based on national standards. To be a building partition, LCRCB also shows no smoke toxicity in burning.

Application of constrained‐layer damping to improve speech privacy in healthcare facilities.

Contemporary wall assemblies for demising partitions in commercial buildings, such as hospitals, are commonly designed using heavy‐gauge (versus light‐gauge) steel framing components and gypsum drywall. Recent studies indicate that these types of partitions do not provide adequate speech privacy between rooms [A. Betit, Sound & Vibration, 14–16 (2010)]. Former testing has proven that constrained‐layer damping technology may be used to achieve much higher transmission loss values in the speech range than gypsum drywall. Measurements were made to explore the use of constrained‐layer damping technology as a single‐layer solution on heavy‐gauge steel framing versus multiple layers of gypsum drywall, specifically for speech privacy. Theoretical results are also presented and discussed.

Indoor environmental quality differences between office types in LEED-certified buildings in the US

The study compared IAQ, thermal quality, and lighting quality between 5 different office types in LEED-certified buildings in relation to employees' environmental satisfaction and their job performance. This was to provide workplaces where workers in each specific office environment could be provided with appropriate office settings regarding these IEQ criteria when organizations comply with LEED standards. The five types of office included private enclosed, private shared, open-plan with high cubicle over 5′, open-plan with low cubicle lower than 5′, and open-plan with no partitions (bullpen) offices. The study found IAQ enhanced workers' job performance in enclosed private offices more than both high cubicles and low cubicles. All four office types had higher satisfaction with the amount of light and visual comfort of light as well as more enhancement with job performance due to lighting quality than high cubicles. There was no difference in thermal quality between the five office types. IAQ and lighting quality were not different between enclosed private, enclosed shared, and bullpen office types, either. The study findings suggest a careful workplace design considering the height of partitions in LEED-certified buildings to improve employee's environmental satisfaction and job performance.

Fire resistance of biomass ash panels used for internal partitions in buildings

Abstract The main purpose of this study has been to develop fire-resistant panels with a high biomass ash ratio (from the combustion of olive pomace) at an industrial scale to be used in different fire-resistant internal partitions in buildings and industrial constructions. To this end, fire resistance, thermal and mechanical parameters were measured. The panels (100×60 cm by 4 cm thick) were prepared following an easy manufacturing technique. The results of this study show that biomass ash panels can be fabricated at large scale easily to give products with thermal and mechanical properties reproducing those previously found in smaller test pieces. The product here studied in the form of low-density panels (800 kg/m3) has a great potential for an industrial use, showing similar properties to those found in commercial gypsum plasterboard, a material of generalised use for this type of application. Thus, among other panel characteristics, a thermal conductivity of 0.256 W/m K (25 °C) and a fire resistance of 78 min were measured in standard conditions by an accredited Spanish fire resistance laboratory for panels showing a compressive strength of 1.24 MPa, and a flexural strength of 1.78 MPa.

The N number, a speech privacy metric for rating walls, revisited

In 1962, Cavanaugh, et al., published the results of research which lead to a single number rating system for speech privacy of walls referred to as the N number [‘‘Speech Privacy in Buildings,’’ J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 34, 475–492 (1962)]. The N number is derived from measured one-third octave band transmission loss data weighted using factors signifying the relative contribution to the articulation index. When the N number is summed with factors for source room floor area, source room speech use, measured adjacent room background noise rating, and the privacy requirement, the N number correlated subjective reactions observed in case studies better than average wall transmission loss alone. Owens Corning, the sponsor of this research, published the N number along with sound transmission class (STC) for several years. With the emergence of regulation of speech privacy in health care facilities, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), it seemed reasonable to revisit the N number. This paper will review the N number methodology and compare some building partition STCs and N numbers, with special attention on the impact of cavity insulation.

Uncertainty of measured and calculated sound insulation in buildings - Results of a Round Robin Test

An inter-laboratory comparison has been made in situ with the participation of 8 laboratories. The operators measured airborne and impact sound insulation of 7 partitions according to the ISO 140 standards and some additional guidelines. Variations of sound insulation, and their components, have been analyzed. In addition, field measurements of sound insulation in 40 building cases were compared to calculations according to EN 12354 (-1, -2). Safety margins for predictions of 3 dB are recommended for calculation of heavy building partitions, with respect to an estimated risk of 5% being disapproved by a sample measurement in situ.

Analysis of practical sound transmission class (STC) measurements performed under a variety of field conditions

Sound transmission class (STC) measurements were made using a simplified version of the procedure presented in ASTM E336-96 and the results compared to STC values found in the literature. STC is used to provide a single number speech privacy rating for a building partition. It is calculated by measuring the transmission loss of a partition and applying a curve fitting procedure. While the standards provide a highly detailed data collection and processing procedure, they give limited insight into the type of response and deviation that might be expected from measurements made along a partition or when comparing results from similar partitions under different field conditions. Likewise, while there is discussion in the literature on STC, with some attempt to relate values to human perception and provide ratings for common partitions there is a generally limited discussion involving data collected under real conditions. The partitions in three different office rooms were tested and the results described. In particular, the effect of speaker type and location, source type, room geometry, microphone placement, the spatial variation and repeatability of measurements on a particular partition, and a comparison of results from similar partitions under different field conditions were analyzed and discussed in detail.