PurposeThis study examined data from 13 international tall residential timber building case studies to increase our understanding of the emerging global trends.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through literature surveys and case studies to examine the architectural, structural and constructional points of view to contribute to knowledge about the increasing high-rise timber constructions globally.FindingsThe main findings of this study indicated that: (1) central cores were the most preferred type 10 of core arrangements; (2) frequent use of prismatic forms with rectilinear plans and regular extrusions were identified; (3) the floor-to-floor heights range between 2.81 and 3.30 m with an average of 3 m; (4) the dominance of massive timber use over hybrid construction was observed; (5) the most used structural system was the shear wall system; (6) generally, fire resistance in primary and secondary structural elements exceeded the minimum values specified in the building codes; (7) the reference sound insulation values used for airborne and impact sounds had an average of 50 and 56 dB, respectively.Originality/valueThere is no study in the literature that comprehensively examines the main architectural and structural design considerations of contemporary tall residential timber buildings.
Reducing space heating energy demand supports the UK's legislated carbon emission reduction targets and requires the effective characterisation of the UK's existing housing stock to facilitate retrofitting decisionmaking. Approximately 6.6 million UK dwellings pre-date 1919 and are predominantly of suspended timber ground floor construction, the thermal performance of which has not been extensively investigated. This paper examines suspended timber ground floor heat-flow by presenting high resolution in-situ heat-flux measurements undertaken in a case study house at 15 point locations on the floor. The results highlight significant variability in observed heat-flow: point U-values range from 0.56 ±0.05 to 1.18 ±0.11 Wm -2 K -1 .This highlights that observing only a few measurements is unlikely to be representative of the whole floor heat-flow and the extrapolation from such point values to whole floor U-value estimates could lead to its over-or under-estimation. Floor U-value models appear to underestimate the actual measured floor U-value in this case study. This paper highlights the care with which in-situ heat-flux measuring must be undertaken to enable comparison with models, literature and between studies and the findings support the unique, highresolution in-situ monitoring methodology used in this study for further research in this area.
There are approximately 6.6 million dwellings in the UK built before 1919, predominantly constructed with suspended timber ground floors whose thermal performance has not been extensively investigated. The results are presented from an in-situ heat-flow measuring campaign conducted at 27 locations on a suspended timber ground floor, and the estimated whole-floor U-value compared with modelled results. Findings highlight a significant variability in heat flow, with increased heat loss near the external perimeter. In-situ measured-point U-values ranged from 0.54 ± 0.09 Wm −2 K −1 , when away from the external wall perimeter, to nearly four times as high (2.04 ± 0.21 Wm −2 K −1 ) when near the perimeter. The results highlight the fact that observing only a few measurements is likely to bias any attempts to derive a whole-floor Uvalue, which was estimated to be 1.04 ± 0.12 Wm −2 K −1 and nearly twice that derived from current models. This raises questions about the validity of using such models in housing stock models to inform retrofit decision-making and space-heating-reduction interventions. If this disparity between models and measurements exists in the wider stock, a reappraisal of the performance of suspended timber ground floors and heat-loss-reduction potential through this element will be required to support the UK's carbon-emission-reduction targets.
PurposeThe paper aims to understand Finnish architects' attitudes towards the use of timber as a structural material in multi-storey (over two--storeys high) residential construction.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted through a literature survey mainly including international peer-reviewed journals and similar research projects. Furthermore, the literature survey informed the generation of the web-based survey questionnaire design to gather information on architects' perceptions, attitudes and interest in the use of wood in multi-storey (over two-storeys high) residential buildings.FindingsThe paper's findings are as follows: (1) respondents perceived the most important advantages of wood as a lightweight, local and ecological material; (2) wood construction (compared to concrete) included perceived concerns about it being more costly and needing more complex engineering and (3) respondents had a favourable overall attitude towards the use of wood particularly in low-rise residential construction, whilst their perception of tall housing, including timber ones, was mostly negative.Originality/valueNo studies have evaluated the use of wood in tall residential buildings and architects' perceptions in Finland.
In the drive to reduce space heating demand and associated CO 2 emissions as well as tackle fuel poverty, dwelling overheating and summer time occupant thermal discomfort might be the unintended consequences of low energy building retrofits. This paper presents the findings of a steady state modelled low energy retrofit dwelling in northern England and its potential current and future climate overheating risks using UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09) scenarios (2050 and 2080 High Emission Scenarios). Predictive findings highlight that retrofitting to low energy standards increases overheating risk over time, unless passive prevention measures are included in the retrofit design. In addition, the steady state nature of the model might not fully capture the occupants' exposure to actual future overheating risks. Among the most effective individual passive overheating mitigation strategies are temporary internal shading, permanent external shading, and night time ventilation. Most effective is a combination of these adaptation measures, so that predictive overheating is minimised in a future changing climate, reducing the uptake of active cooling in retrofitted dwellings. Practical applications:Much research focuses on building overheating risks in the warmer South east of England. However, this paper highlights how dwelling retrofit in north England (Sheffield) also can lead to increased dwelling overheating risk, unless passive design measures are included in the retrofit design. Among the most effective individual passive overheating mitigation strategies are solar shading devices and increased night time ventilation, though ideally different measures are combined.Using future climate scenarios highlights that retrofits designed today might not be able to provide occupant thermal comfort in a future warming world. Keywords Low energy housing, overheating risks, overheating mitigation strategies, retrofit IntroductionThe residential sector is responsible for around 27% of the UK's CO 2 emissions.1 In addition, roughly 11 % of people in England live in fuel poverty, with especially older, uninsulated dwellings being harder to heat. 2 Hence retrofitting the existing stock is one of the key strategies towards significant carbon emission reductions in the residential sector 3 and to reduce fuel poverty. 2 As a result, in the UK and in Europe there is a drive towards the implementation of fabric energy efficiency improvements in building retrofit and in the construction of new buildings to more stringent standards.The Passivhaus standard is such a standard for achieving high building energy performance and exceeds most countries' building regulation standards. The standard is increasingly adopted in Europe, including in the UK. 4 However, based on growing evidence of uncomfortable indoor environments of low energy new built dwellings, 5 and retrofits, 6 a more energy efficient fabric might Passivhaus standard. In addition to evaluating predicted overheating risks in the current and a future predicted climate...
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