Renovation Approaches Research Articles

In‐Pipe Maintenance Robot Using Spray‐In‐Place Pipe Technique for Long‐Distance and Complex Pipe Environment

ABSTRACTConventional pipe rehabilitation technologies are not the most sustainable solution for the utility industry because of various drawbacks, such as time consumption, disturbance to operations, society, and traffic, and the production of waste material. However, aged underground metal pipes are affected by natural forces. Trenchless rehabilitation technologies have been introduced for the treatment and renovation of aged pipes to ensure that utilities are safe and durable from an economic perspective. This paper proposes a portable and automatic robotic solution for a trenchless spray‐in‐place pipe approach for small underground pipelines. This approach shortens the duration of the rehabilitation operation from approximately a week to < 5 h. The robot delivered and monitored a protective well‐mixed urethane coating with plural components accurately using rotary mixing and spraying with a low‐pressure and safer configuration (< 0.8 MPa). The robot exhibited superior capacities in complicated pipe environments for turning into 90° elbows and 6‐in. (150 mm), 8‐in. (200 mm), and 10‐in. (250 mm) pipelines. An automated robot was deployed and rehabilitated at various underground and on‐ground pipe sites. The spray performance was validated using tensile tests. This robot can be applied to any pipeline system and can be developed for other in‐pipe robotic construction and renovation approaches.

Numerical Analysis of Roof Wind Pressure Distribution in Renovated Historical Buildings: Preventive Protection Measures to Mitigate Typhoon Damage

Strong winds or typhoon disasters pose significant risks to historical buildings in many countries and regions. Although numerous researchers have discussed the damage caused by natural wind disasters, little attention has been paid to the potential impact of renovation and adaptive reuse strategies on the wind resistance performance of historical buildings—an avoidable human-induced factor. This study selected the representative ancestral hall building in Guangzhou, namely Lujiang Academy, for on-site investigation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation analysis. It examined two renovation approaches: installing glass curtain walls around the courtyard and enclosing the top of the courtyard with a glass canopy. This study also assessed the roof wind pressure distribution in its unaltered state to evaluate the impact of different renovation strategies on roof wind load distribution. The results showed that installing glass curtain walls can effectively reduce the upward suction effect on the main hall roof, thereby improving its wind resistance performance. Conversely, enclosing the courtyard with a glass canopy may increase negative pressure on areas such as the eaves and corridor roofs, raising the risk of roof damage. This study systematically evaluated the renovation strategies for historical buildings, detailing the specific impacts of different retrofit measures on the wind resistance performance of building roofs. The methods and findings are significant not only for the renovation of ancestral hall heritage buildings in Guangzhou but also for providing practical scientific methods and technical strategies for the conservation and renovation of similar historical structures. This research demonstrates an effective approach to enhancing wind resistance and preventive protection for historical buildings.

Problems, solutions, and institutional logics: Insights from Dutch domestic energy-efficiency retrofits

This paper analyzes the logics that underlie two distinct approaches to energy-efficiency retrofits in the Netherlands. It is explained how these logics lead to differing viewpoints on problems and solutions on the road to scale-up of such retrofits. For this, the paper makes use of the institutional logics approach. The institutional logics approach can be used to understand the reasoning that lies behind material practices and is here applied to two renovation approaches. Institutional logics theory can also explain why actors focus their attention on certain problems and solutions, namely, they focus on the ones consistent with the institutional logics that guide them. The thorough understanding of the empirical domain hereby achieved facilitates the policy formulation process and helps to set suitable system boundaries within frameworks for analyzing technological change processes.

Investigating cost-optimal energy renovation of a multifamily building in Sweden

A significant reduction in energy use in the building stock is a major challenge for the future, and doing this in a cost-effective manner is important. This study uses an optimization approach to identify life cycle cost (LCC) optimal energy efficiency measures (EEMs) to implement as part of a renovation of a multifamily building in Sweden. The studied building is a multifamily building with a lightweight concrete construction and an exhaust air ventilation system, built in 1961. The optimization tool OPERA-MILP is used. The energy renovation approaches are compared to both the performed energy renovation of the building and a validated dynamic energy simulation model in IDA ICE 4.8. The results show that under the given framework conditions and assumptions it is not cost-optimal to improve the thermal performance of the building envelope or to implement heat recovery ventilation measures to reduce the space heating demand in the building when considering a life cycle of 40 years. Balanced mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery is cost-effective when an energy saving target of 40% is introduced. The energy renovation of the building has a slightly higher LCC than the cost-optimal level, and it would have been more cost-effective to add more insulation to the façade instead of the attic to achieve the same level of energy saving. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to reveal the effect of the discount rate, energy price, cost of EEMs, thermal properties of the building envelope and windows’ solar heat gain factors on the LCC.

Defining a framework to apply retrofitting optimisation models for long-term and step-by-step renovation approaches

The recast of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018/844/EU introduced in the article 19a the possibility of building renovation passports which provide a long-term and step-by-step deep renovation roadmap for a specific building. Preliminary results showed that optimisation models for deep renovation of existing building almost exclusively optimise single stage retrofitting. Different from the single stage approach, in the step-by-step approach the retrofitting measures are not performed at the same time. In the present study, we aim to understand how the methodological approach of optimisation models for single stage retrofitting can be adapted to a step-by-step renovation concept. For this, first, the existing optimisation models were compared in terms of integration with external tools for energy demand calculation, definition of the renovation measures, objective function, and the question to which extent they consider long-term dynamic aspects of step-wise retrofitting optimisation over several years or even decades. Second, after identifying possible obstacles for adapting existing optimisation approaches towards step-by-step renovation, a framework for a step by step renovation optimisation model was outlined. The framework defines how the single stage retrofitting measures could be broken down in different renovation steps over a period of several years or even decades and which criteria should determine the time-wise prioritisation of the retrofitting measures. With this approach, we prepare the ground for the development of innovative tools, supporting the provision of individual renovation roadmaps. Next steps of the present study are testing and improving the outlined optimisation approach, as well as, extending the results to a building stock scale. By that, we aim to develop a method for analysing possible impacts of step-by-step renovation measures on achieving building stock’s decarbonisation targets.

Seismic and Energy Renovation: A Review of the Code Requirements and Solutions in Italy and Romania

Most European cities are characterized by very large areas, often formed by buildings of low quality, from a series of perspectives (architectural, technological, materials, technical systems, etc.). The possibility of renovating them is strategic to improve both the quality of life and to the possibility of economic recovery for building companies. In the last decades, the attention of the scientific community has been addressed to the energy renovation, thanks to the strong activities of the European Community in this field. However, since a relevant part of the EC territory is at risk of earthquake, the possibility to combine both energy and seismic renovation actions may be strategic for many countries. In particular, Italy and Romania are linked by a common social tradition that springs from the Roman Empire. Nowadays, this link is stronger, thanks to common interests in social, cultural and business fields. Therefore, the investigation of possible synergies for seismic and energy renovation strategies may be really interesting for both countries. In this paper, after an overview of regulations and common practices for buildings with reinforced concrete structures, in both states, some key combined renovation interventions will be described and discussed, as well as advantages and perspectives of integrated renovation approaches. The outcomes of this work are to show the way to transform existing energy-consuming and seismic-prone buildings into energy-efficient and seismic-resistant ones.

A hybrid Decision Support System for Generation of Holistic Renovation Scenarios—Cases of Energy Consumption, Investment Cost, and Thermal Indoor Comfort

Future building renovations must rely on a holistic perspective in relation to sustainability. This paper presents a Decision Support Systems (DSS) that can be used by architects and engineering consultants to generate and evaluate the sustainability of renovation scenarios in a holistic manner during the early design stage of renovation projects. Firstly, this paper discusses both the notion of a sustainable renovation, together with various renovation approaches, towards the appreciation of the developing DSS for the generation of holistic scenarios. Secondly, it provides details about the mechanism and types of Multiple Criteria Decision Making methods to be exploited in the main body of the DSS. As such, a hybrid approach including a search algorithm with the Genetic Algorithm is used to combine and develop countless optimal scenarios. The performance of the generated scenarios is simulated and evaluated in terms criteria for Energy Consumption, Investment Cost, and Thermal Indoor Comfort. The trade-off between the criteria is addressed using the Pareto-front approach, and subsequently, the optimal scenarios are determined and selected using MCDM-based rating methods. The outcome is verified discussing a case study about an actual [recently] renovated dwelling and the top ranked generated scenarios using the DSS in this paper.

Prefabricated Timber Frame Façade with Integrated Active Components for Minimal Invasive Renovations

The objective of the EU-funded project iNSPiRe is to tackle the problem of high-energy consumption by producing systemic renovation packages that can be applied to residential and tertiary buildings. The renovation packages aim to reduce the primary energy consumption of a building to lower than 50 kWh/(m2 a) for ventilation, heating/cooling, domestic hot water and lighting. The packages need to be suitable for a various climates in Europe while ensuring optimum comfort for the building users. One major aspect of iNSPiRe is the development of multifunctional renovation kits that make use of innovative envelope technologies, energy generation (including RES integration) and energy distribution systems. The technologies and renovation approaches developed by the iNSPiRe project will be installed and tested in three demo buildings. In this work the development, testing and modelling of a timber frame façade with integrated mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and a micro- heat pump (μ-HP) is presented. Three functional models were built for testing in so-called PASSYS test cells for the assessment of the thermal performance and for testing in the acoustic test rig at UIBK. Experimental results are used to validate a physical heat pump and MVHR model. The μ-HP with MVHR is a cost-effective and compact solution for ventilation and heating/cooling for buildings with high standard such as PH or EnerPHit. The integration of active components such as the MVHR and μ-HP in a prefabricated façade enables minimized space use and reducing installation time and effort.

Neighbourhood Regeneration by Facade Redesign: A Visual Experiment on Energy Efficiency and Aesthetics

Energy efficiency and architectural value of post-war residential buildings in Europeis poor. To deal with energy efficiency, decay and livability problems, improvements of building facades seem to be indicated especially when combined with tenants’ preferences for architectural aesthetics. But a valid way to assess multiple characteristics of housing facades is lacking. To assess tenant’s preferences we used an online visual experiment. In particular, we developed a questionnaire and pilot it with the students of Architecture. All the tested characteristics, i.e. Surface Articulation, Coloring, Sustainable Character, Glazing, Shading and Rent significantly contributed to the valuation of facades. This indicated that such a visual experiment might be sensitive to further investigate tenant’s preferences in innovative facade directed renovation approaches as well.

Performance Evaluation through Field Testing of Century-Old Railroad Truss Bridge

Research has been carried out to evaluate the structural behavior and influence of aging on a century-old steel railroad truss bridge. The structure is located in Connecticut and services a large number of trains traveling into and out of New York City. The trusses are made of built-up members, with either multiple eyebars or laced channel sections. All panel point connections are joined with true pins and the interior panels are indeterminate. The bridge had experienced problems relating to the lateral shifting of some of the middepth pins. This study was carried out to evaluate the structural behavior and live load distribution throughout the bridge. A major component of the research involved extensive field monitoring. The results show that the actual live load distribution is significantly different than expected from conventional analytical approaches that were most likely used in the original design. The load distribution in multiple eyebar elements is far from uniform, and the distribution of shear through indeterminate panels is significantly different than expected from a normal truss analysis. Significant out-of-plane bending was found in the truss due to floorbeam end rotations, which is thought to be the major factor that is causing the pins to move. The study shows the necessity of using field monitoring to better understand the behavior of older bridges prior to the design of renovation approaches.

The rehabilitation of Old Cairo

While Islamic Cairo or Old Cairo can be disputed as being the equivalent of other North African medina cores, the approaches to its urban conservation and the related heritage problems certainly bear comparison. The rehabilitation approach has been advocated for Old Cairo with the built environment setting being deemed as important as the individual Islamic monuments. More piecemeal restoration and renovation approaches are challenged, in part because they use parallel conservation policies to those employed in the medinas of Tunis and Algiers. Despite the availability of the 1980 UNESCO Plan and the 1997 UNDP Plan for Old Cairo's rehabilitation, government policies remain insufficient and fragmentary with a tendency to favour tourist-orientated projects. The local population's attitudes and potential participation remain largely ignored.