Literature Review on Building Envelope, Heating and ... - Beeshive.org

Coastal northern regions: For the high-moisture climate in coastal northern regions, key
criteria for building envelope assemblies include the ability to handle as well as withstand
wetting spells with little impact on the assembly durability. Examples include thermally
upgraded rain screen systems consisting of a 38 x 139 mm (2 x 6) stud wall with blownin
insulation in the stud spaces, exterior breathable insulating sheathing board, a vented
air space, and cladding.
Concepts to consider from:
• The advanced wood framing technology: To conserve timber materials, use 38 x 89
mm (2 x 4) lumber for cripples and jack studs, 38 x 89 mm (2 x 4) lumber for the
bottom and top plates, and drywall clips at the corners to eliminate three-stud corners.
• Indigenous adaptation principles:
o Wind-shedding characteristics of the dome architectural form of the igloo reduce
erosion of envelope surfaces, accumulation of snowdrifts, and heat loss.
o Damp maritime climate conditions: Use masonry walls or stucco over earthen
or adobe walls. For wood, apply protective paint. In northern coastal areas, use
large windows to harvest daylight to compensate for overcast skies. Incorporate
windows in all directions to provide daylight and summer ventilation. Use
window shutters or storm windows to protect against storms and winter cold.
o Integrate heating and cooling comfort appliances with building design.
• Passive house standards:
o Determine the wall insulation level, hence the wall thickness, based on an energy
optimization analysis for a target energy budget. As a guide, the European
passivhaus construction guidelines specify heating energy budgets in the range 10
to 20 kWh/m² for Central Europe.
Comparison of RSI (R) for Super-Insulated Building Envelopes and Current
Practice in Northern Canada
Super-Insulated Envelopes Northern Canada Current Practice
Walls 7.0 to 10.6 (40 to 60) 5.0 (28)
Roof 10.6 to 14.1 (60 to 80) 7.0 to 7.7 (40 to 44)
Floor 5.3 to 10.6 (30 to 60) 5.4 to 9 (31 to 51)
o Use a two-layer insulation approach to reduce thermal bridging.
o Use two layers of drywall in the interior face of walls for storing heat.
o Avoid penetrating the building envelope to reduce energy losses as well as not to
weaken moisture control barriers. Avoid installing electric boxes or wiring in the
exterior walls. For outdoor lights, use wireless battery-operated fixtures in shallow
surface-mounted boxes.
o Consider a south-facing single plane style for the roof.
PERD-079: Task 2 - <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>Review</strong>
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