Abstract Directory

Helpful Links
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PASSYS description http://www-liten.cea.fr/uk/activites_rd/batiment_04.htm
IES Research
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Scan IES Ergon http://www.iesve.com/software/cloud-solutions/ergon
ERGON is an IES Cloud service that allows you to import, manage and
interrogate real building profile or schedule data for use within your VE
simulations. You can utilise measured data from the actual building youre
investigating to create profiles that enhance model calibration. Or use
normalised benchmark data from other buildings of the same type.
As ERGON is based on the cloud it enables you to manipulate vast amounts of
data and create profiles that go down as low as 1 minute time steps. Therefore
you can not only deal with 8760 profiles, but also 525600 profiles!
Such profiles can be used to:

Investigate the impact of retrofit options using real building data

Undertake Post Occupancy Evaluations
Improve operational models for performance contracting
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Help close the performance gap by simulating designs closer to reality

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Test Facilities
Available at http://dynastee.info/publications/books/
Workshop Brochure

EBC Annual Report 2014

Available at http://www.iea-
ebc.org/fileadmin/user_upload/docs/AR/EBC_Annual_Report_2014.pdf

Annex 58 Factsheet
Available at http://www.ecbcs.org/docs/Annex_58_Factsheet.pdf
Test facility for hygrothermal performance of building materials
August 2014
Available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/34
4697/Call_for_proposal_DECC_Hygrothermal_wall_v3_20140814.pdf

The Empirical Validation of House Energy Rating (HER)

Software for Lightweight Housing in Cool Temperate
Climates
Mark Andrew Dewsbury
Available at Bath University Library
Section on previous validation research
The Hive, Bath University Research
http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/centres/brp/hive/index.html
The HIVE is a 1 million ground-breaking building project designed to support
research into construction materials and is the first building project being
developed at the Building Research Park.
Facilities
The HIVE is made up of test cells that support research in areas such as
hygrothermal performance, flood and construction load research.
Hygrothermal cells
The term 'hygrothermal' refers to the transmission of heat and moisture through
buildings. The HIVE offers the facility to test out faades to prove the
construction efficiency of materials under real weather scenarios. Not only can
energy efficiencies of materials be tested, but also air tightness and acoustic
efficiency can be investigated.
Double-storey cell
At the HIVE there is the ability to look at the multi-level aspect of faade
efficiency with the ability to create different internal scenarios such as internal
walls and floors. The double-storey cell also offers a strong roof capable of load
testing large panels and floors.
Bladder cell
For small panels, Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL) testing can be achieved,
testing the impacts of windloading and retainment scenarios.
Flood cell
The HIVE offers a flood tank that can be used to flood test faades and
construction materials with water up to a metre in height. This can help to
analyse the performance of the construction before, during and after flooding,
providing vital information on construction materials in the flood plain.
British Research Park, http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/centres/brp/index.html
Part of the BRE CICM centre, our research aims to study properties of low
carbon, low impact construction materials that will make a real difference to the
future of construction, both in the UK and worldwide.
Research http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/centres/brp/research/index.html
Research Projects
HEMPSEC - The EU-funded HEMPSEC project (Grant No. 332972) is aimed at
expanding the market for pre-fabricated, pre-dried, panelised system of hemp-
lime construction. The 36-month-long work programme, which began in 2013,
will refine product and manufacturing protocols, produce data for certification
and marketing, warranty, insurance cover and availability of finance. The
research programme will construct, instrument, monitor and analyse the
environmental performance of a number of small experimental buildings located
at the Building Research Park.
ECO-SEE - The EU-funded ECO-SEE project (Grant No. 609234) studies the use of
innovative eco-building materials that will address poor air quality, while also
radically improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Through the project, the
research group, coming from six EU countries, will develop highly-insulated wall
panels treated using novel chemical processes to enhance the capacity of
building materials to capture VOCs.
PASLINK and dynamic outdoor testing of building component
P.H. Baker, H. A. L van Dijk
Available from ScienceDirect.com
NOTES: PASLINK, TEST CELLS, DYNAMIC TEST REPLACING STEADY STATE,
EUROPEAN CLIMATES

Abstract
The PASLINK test facilities and analysis procedures aim to obtain the thermal and
solar characteristics of building components under real dynamic outdoor
conditions. Both the analysis and the test methodology have evolved since the
start of the PASSYS Project in 1985. A programme of upgrading the original
PASSYS test cells has improved measurement accuracy. The emphasis has
moved from steady state to dynamic methods with shorter test durations
yielding improved information and more accurate results. Dynamic test
procedures aim to de-couple the different thermal processes within the test cell
in order to obtain separation between the thermal transmission and the solar
aperture of a component. In parallel with improvements in test methodology,
software tools have been developed to enable the identification of the
component characteristics and provide statistical information on their accuracies
from the dynamic test data. The PASLINK Network has implemented quality
procedures and promoted the development of participants expertise in the
design, preparation and execution of tests and the analysis of test data.

Intro
This paper describes the developments that have taken place in dynamic testing
driven by the research activities of the PASLINK Network and reviews the
historical development of the test and analysis procedures currently in use.

Conclusion
The PASLINK Network of outdoor test facilities is able to accurately determine the
thermal and solar characteristics of building components over the range of
European climates by applying appropriate dynamic test procedures and
parameter identification techniques, supported by common quality procedures
and training.
Dynamic test methods enable shorter test durations to be implemented, and can
be designed to provide comprehensive thermal performance information on the
component or system. The PASLINK test cell facility allows detailed dynamic
behaviour of a building component to be estimated under real outdoor
conditions. Characterisation of performance by parameter identification gives
more confidence in the results compared to steady state test methods and
analysis.
Difference between steady state and dynamic testing!
Thermal transmission and solar aperture
The role of the PASLINK test cell in the modelling and integrated
simulation of an innovative window
V. Leal, E. Maldonado Available from ScienceDirect.com
NOTES: PASLINK, TEST CELLS AND NEW COMPONENT DESIGN
Abstract
The SOLVENT window is an innovative glazing system concept that involves the
use of a rotating frame, an absorptive glazing and a naturally ventilated vertical
channel, in order to improve the balance between the visual comfort and the
energy efficiency of windows.
The tools available for simulating the behaviour of the window in terms of visual
comfort and of thermal and energetic behaviour are complex and potentially
dependent on many calibration parameters, such as the heat convection
coefficients and the number of nodes in an air-flow network. Different modelling
approaches can lead to large variability in the results obtained. It is thus
essential that the models are supported by measurements that may, on one
hand, help to optimise the component modelling and, on the other hand, ensure
that the global results provided by the model are realistic.
In the case of the SOLVENT window, a prototype mounted on a PASLINK test cell
in Porto (Portugal) played a fundamental role in this process. The monitoring
results were used to: (a) assess the quality of the results obtained with a base
case model, (b) develop improved models for the air flow and for the heat
convection in the vertical air channel, (c) validate the results for the global
heating and cooling loads obtained with the optimised model, and (d) calibrate
the parameters needed for accurate daylighting simulation with Radiance.
Once the component model was optimised and validated, it was then applied in
realistic global building models for detailed performance studies. An example is
provided in this paper for the virtual application of the SOLVENT window to an
office in Porto, Portugal.
Conclusion
Integrating innovative building components into thermal and energetic
simulation of buildings can often be difficult. Even when the component can be
somehow modelled in the simulation software, it is important to have
experimental data that may help to calibrate those models or, if necessary, to
develop improved models for the simulation of the component and its integration
in the global simulation of the building.
In this study, a prototype of the SOLVENT window installed in the PASLINK test
cell was used to achieve these objectives. The experimental data allowed the
evaluation of a base-case simulation model, which was found to be reasonable
but improvable. More specific models for air flow and heat convection were
developed and validated, then integrated in the code of the simulation software.
Even when there is no need to intervene at the level of the source code,
experimental data can be used for training and adjusting the modelling approach
and parameters.
After the development of the component models was concluded, using the
PASLINK test cell as a small-scale building, its application to realistic buildings
can be performed with increased confidence in the results. In the present case, it
was possible to estimate that the application of the SOLVENT window to an office
in Porto, when compared with a double clear glazing window, would allow a
reduction of 27% in the primary energy consumption for heating, cooling and
lighting. The improvement becomes 8% when comparing with a double glazed
solar control window.
Methods to determine whole building hygrothermal performance of
hemplime buildings
M.Barclay, Neal Holcroft, Andrew D Shea
Available from researchgate.net. Article in BUILDING AND
ENVIRONMENT 80:204-212 OCTOBER 2014
NOTES: BESTEST, TEST CELLS AND NEW COMPONENT DESIGN (HEMP LINE),
ENERGY PLUS HAMT MODEL, HYGRIC SIMULATION
Abstract
Hemplime is a potentially useful building material with relatively low embodied
energy and moderate-to-good thermal performance, coupled with good moisture
buffering capacity. However, some uncertainty remains with regards to its in-situ
thermal performance and the capability of building energy simulation tools to
accurately predict envelope performance and subsequent energy demand of
buildings constructed of such vapour-active materials. In this paper we
investigate the hygrothermal performance of buildings with walls constructed
from hemplime. Component-level moisture buffering simulation employing the
EnergyPlus simulation tool is found to be within 18% of Wufi Pro analysis and
laboratory measurements. The coarseness of component discretization is shown
to effect moisture buffering leading to the observation that finer discretization
should be employed to improve EnergyPlus HAMT model accuracy. Whole
building simulation of the BESTEST building with hemplime components
indicates that moisture transport inclusion has a large influence on zone relative
humidity but little influence on overall heating and cooling demand. A simple
effective-capacitance model is able to represent humidity buffering but is less
good at representing the response to sudden moisture loading. An additional
resistance parameter is added to the model and an IES-ve simulation using this
approach is shown to give a close match to the full hygric simulation.

Conclusions
In this paper a complete set of hygro thermal material properties have been
presented for hempe lime. These material data are then used for simulation. The
Wufi Pro results showed a very close fit in terms of peak moisture buffer value
but for the EnergyPlus HAMT model a relatively large difference of 18% was
observed. The underlying calculation methodologies of both these software tools
are based on the same fundamentals [7].Accordingly, the resolution of the
discretization was investigated and shown to be a possible reason for the 18%
difference as increasing the coarseness of the Wufi Pro discretization also
increased the peak result. It is recommended that increasing resolution should
be part of attempts to improve EnergyPlus HAMT model accuracy.
EnergyPlus was used for whole building performance and modelling identified
that internal relative humidity was highly sensitive to the application of hygric
simulation. The use of full hygrothermal simulation was shown to have relatively
little influence on the peak loads and yearly energy demand of the BESTEST
building. Overheating for the free-running simulation was shown to reduce by
0.6% with the use of full hygric simulation. For the BESTEST case investigated
internal relative humidity was the most sensitive parameter to hygric materials
and so effective capacitance methods were investigated which could reduce
computational resources and material testing requirements. Capacitance models
do not calculate moisture distributions in the construction materials so full
hygrothermal simulations will still be required where such information is desired.
The effective capacitance model was explored as a simplified method for
determining the internal relative humidity buffering of hemp e lime. A
capacitance multiplier of 5 was found to give a good approximation of peak
humidity buffering for the hemp e lime BESTEST building. However, without
resistance to accessing this buffering capacity, the performance did not follow
the same dynamic response to bursts of humidity. Implementing a capacitance
resistance model in IES Apache-HVAC produced second order relative humidity
buffering behaviour, which produced a better fit to the full hygric simulation. It is
suggested that adopting a moisture admittance approach could be useful to
determine the resistance and capacitance parameters from moisture buffering
component level testing. Such an approach could reduce the requirements for
materials testing to calculate whole building moisture buffering.
Creation of a sustainable networking environment for research
actions on the eco performance of buildings
E.Lazari, G. Sutherland, L. Vandaele, J.J. Bloem, P.H. Baker, D.
Blumberga

NOTES: NETWORKING, ENERGY PERFORMANCE , ECO PERFORMANCE , BUILDINGS,

BUILDING COMPONENTS

Abstract
The European Research Area (ERA) in the field of energy in buildings continues to
develop dynamically in response to both the market needs and to the ongoing
technological and legislative developments. Various networking mechanisms can
be applied by key actors in the field to enhance access to research activities and
increase the coherence of the scientific community: one such mechanism was
formulated in the early 90s by the grouping of research actors from the PASSYS
and PASSYS II research and technical development projects funded in part by the
European Commission. This grouping, the PASLINK EEIG (European Economic
Interest Grouping of Outdoor Test Centres), focussed on the maintenance of a
highly specialised research infrastructure of outdoor test facilities for evaluation
of the thermal and solar performance of building components. The market of the
PASLINK EEIG, fundamentally the research market for methods and
methodologies in this field, but also the industrial market for development of
specific innovative construction components, is changing in line with the ERA.
Hence, the grouping must change as a result. A number of options exist for
networking, but the transformation of the PASLINK EEIG into a more informal
network, as originally considered, would not necessarily guarantee the
sustainability of the grouping, despite the fact that its presence as an actor on a
European level -providing an essential link between research and application- is
justified. Given the changes in the market and the generally adopted concept of
incorporating the energy performance of buildings and building components
within a more holistic approach, it appears that the scope of the activities of the
grouping could be extended. The wider scope of activities could cover more
comprehensively the environmental, indeed ecological, performance assessment
of buildings, whilst fully incorporating the current activities. A new grouping,
ECOPAS EEIG (Eco-Performance Assessment of Buildings) is proposed, in order to
fall into line with the widely accepted approach. Given the market requirement
for the provision of sustainable network mechanisms which link all the fields of
research in the eco performance of buildings, it is proposed that the ECOPAS
EEIG should operate as an umbrella organisation for a cluster of more informal
networks, covering, for example, current activities (measurement, testing,
analysis and simulation) as well as new directions in the field of environmental
and ecological impact arising from energy consumption of the construction
sector and the built environment.
Conclusions
The PASLINK EEIG has proven to be a sustainable mechanism for networking in
the field related to outdoor testing and also beyond. The scientific community
around PASLINK EEIG has maintained close contact and collaboration over a
period of twenty years. During this time, founding members have developed new
directions and new priorities and have left the grouping, whilst other members
not previously associated with the grouping have joined. The EEIG structure
remains somewhat inflexible in terms of the requirements of the market and yet
it has proven to be a sustainable vehicle for collaboration [6]. The PASLINK EEIG
therefore needs to evolve in terms of both mission and operation. The new
mission should incorporate the changes in the market of energy in buildings,
whereby a holistic approach to energy and the environment is the now accepted
approach. Acting as a provider of networking mechanisms for more informal
networks - operating in the field of agreement - the new grouping, ECOPAS EEIG,
could provide a service which is at present missing from the market by creating a
sustainable link between research and application at European level.
Evaluation of round-robin testing using the PASLINK test
facilities
P.H. Baker

NOTES: PASLINK TEST CELLS, ROUND -ROBIN TESTING, IDENTIFICATION METHODS

Abstract
The IQ-TEST Thematic Network has carried out round-robin tests at ten of the
PASLINK outdoor test cell facilities. A round-robin test generally produces a clear
picture of the overall quality of certain test procedures carried out by the
participating organisations. For practical considerations, each organisation
constructed its own components according to strict instructions regarding the
selection of materials, manufacture and instrumentation. Two components of
different levels of complexity were designed: (1) an opaque, homogeneous wall
with a removable central section, and (2) a window, which is used to replace the
central section of the first component. Using recommended dynamic test
procedures and appropriate identification methods, each participant determined
the thermal performance of the components. Good agreement between sites was
achieved for the U-value of the opaque wall. A range of U-values was obtained
for the window; however, the variation can be largely accounted for by variations
in the boundary conditions between sites, e.g. wind speed and ambient
temperature. For future components the test sequence and analysis methods
should account for such nonlinear behaviour, in order to estimate thermal and
solar performance characteristics for appropriate standardised boundary
conditions.
Conclusions
Two round robin test components have been designed and tested to assess the
inter-site quality of testing and the analytical abilities of the participating
organisations. The first component is an opaque, homogeneous wall with a
removable central section The second component is a window, which is used to
replace the central section of the first component.
Satisfactory agreement was achieved across the sites in identifying the 1-D U-
value of the opaque insulated panel. The window test results showed a range of
U-values between 2.00 and 2.94W/m2 K. However, the variation can be largely
accounted for by variations in the boundary conditions between sites,
particularly the wind speed (which affects the external heat transfer coefficient)
and ambient temperatures. The variation of the U-value with these parameters is
non-linear. Thus the simplified calculation methods which use fixed U-values for
glazing heat loss may have significant errors due to these factors.
For future components the test sequence and analysis methods should account
for non-linear behaviour, in order to estimate thermal and solar performance
characteristic for appropriate standardised boundary conditions.
Energy epidemiology: a new approach to end-use
energy demand research
Ian G.Hamilton, Alex J.Summerfi eld, Robert Lowe, Paul Ruyssevelt,
Cliord A.Elwell and Tadj Oreszczyn
NOTES: BUILDINGS, BUILT ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY DEMAND , EPIDEMIOLOGY ,
EVIDENCE BASE, INTERDISCIPLINARY , PUBLIC POLICY , RESEARCH

AVAILABLE AT
http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1390784/1/09613218%252E2013%252E798142.pdf

Abstract
The call for action to transform the built environment and address the threats of
climate change has been clearly made. However, to support the development,
implementation and on-going evaluation of energy demand policy, a strong
evidence base is needed to identify associations and establish underlying causes
behind outcomes and variations in end-use energy demand within the
population. A new approach to end-use energy demand research is presented
which is founded on the interdisciplinary health sciences research framework of
epidemiology, along with the establishment of a research centre. A case is made
that through an energy epidemiology approach a strong, population-level,
empirically based research foundation can be advanced. Energy epidemiology is
a whole-system approach that focuses on empirical research and provides a
methodological framework for building physicists, engineers, sociologists and
economists to engage in interdisciplinary work. The adaptation of the
epidemiological approach to end-use energy demand studies will provide the
means to observe and describe the trends and patterns of energy demand, to
undertake and contextualize interventional studies, and to establish strong
associations between factors that lead to an energy demand-related outcome or
event. Such an approach would strengthen the evidence base to inform policy
decisions and evaluate past intervention programmes or regulatory actions.
Conclusions
This paper has described the call for action to control and change end-use
energy demand related to the need to address a host of global and national
issues. Meeting the challenge to act requires an evidence base that can address
the complex nature of the interactions between people, energy and the built
environment. This evidence must be based on a strong theoretical foundation, be
representative of the population being assessed, account for differences, and be
undertaken at scale commensurate with the problem at hand. The evidence
should come from studies that are carried out with consistency, are properly
designed, conducted, interpreted and presented with the necessary details to
make findings transferable and able to withstand scrutiny. Doing so will provide
policymakers with greatly improved evidence for how policies and technologies
work or do not work in practice and why. Feedback on the real performance of
technologies will also support learning within the construction industry and
among suppliers of components, systems and services.
In support of developing this much needed evidence base, the RCUK CEE will
focus on large population based datasets, it will expand the analysis approach
used to study energy demand of individuals at a population level through an
interdisciplinary research approach. For end-use energy demand, the need to
control energy use for reasons of climate change abatement and socio-economic
issues of security and access is similar in nature to the need to prevent and
control the prevalence of adverse health outcomes. CEE will provide an
environment housing multiple disciplines working collaboratively on complex and
integrated problems of end-use energy demand; and work on the energy
epidemiology methodological framework to provide the common tools and
techniques needed to support collaboration and integration in end-use energy
demand research.
The authors propose that end-use energy demand research can reinterpret the
health sciences research structure of epidemiology in order to found a robust
research and analysis framework from which to address the pressing issues
surrounding end-use energy demand. Energy epidemiology aims to investigate
the causes and effects of key factors on energy demand within a population or
subpopulations at various scales (e.g. from individuals and buildings to
communities or building complexes). It should consider the complex interactions
between the physical and built environment, socio-economic features, and
individual interactions and practices and provide a methodological framework
within which to identify and describe the broader interacting factors acting on
the complex energy demand system.
Whilst every method of study has limitations, there is considerable evidence
from the successes and on-going challenges of public health over recent decades
that an epidemiological approach can address complex issues, deal with
entrenched interests and advance knowledge. Given that a major change in the
culture and practice is needed to meet the energy policy agendas epidemiology
offers a research framework that is attractive in terms of its emphasis on
methodological structure, use of definitions and well-structured reviews, the use
of evolving protocols and standards, in addition to the specific research designs
and analysis techniques. The main limitation of health epidemiology is that
observational studies usually identify evidence in terms of association or
increased risk, rather than causality. Nevertheless, the epidemiological
approach can provide evidence (such as doseresponse relationships for specific
interventions) to support policy development and targeting. It can also yield
crucial evidence of unexpected mechanisms at work, and thus of where and from
what perspectives, more detailed case-based and forensic studies should look for
explanations, new insights and new opportunities.
Adapting the epidemiological approach to end-use energy demand studies will
provide the means to describe the trends and patterns of energy demand and
begin establishing causal factors that lead to outcome events. It will also provide
the means to undertake and contextualize interventional studies.
In providing a suitably robust evidence base, the effective allocation of resources
and effort in reducing endues energy demand means that decisions regarding
implementing a policy or changing a practice would be better informed so as to
deliver the desired results and minimize risk of unintended outcomes. The
benefits of such an approach would be to strengthen the empirical foundation
from which evidence is drawn to inform policy decisions and evaluate past
intervention programmes or regulatory actions while also accounting for the
complexity of the system within which the studies occur.

IQ-TEST - IMPROVING QUALITY IN TESTING AND

EVALUATION OF SOLAR AND
THERMALCHARACTERISTICS OF BUILDING
COMPONENTS
Saved on onedrive

Abstract
IQ-Test is a Thematic Network supported by the European Community under the EESD
Programme.
The objective of IQ-TEST is to further develop common quality procedures for the
PASSYS/PASLINK test cell facilities that exist in 12 European countries. This should
consolidate the network, integrate the new test sites and strengthen its common approach
of support for new product developments in the field of innovative building components.
Round robin tests are underway to assess both the inter-site quality of testing and
analytical procedures of the participants. Two components were designed: (1) an opaque,
well insulated, homogeneous panel and (2) a window, which is used to replace the central
section of the first component.
Common test procedures have been designed and quality procedures have been
implemented at each test site. The data sets generated by each team will be made
available for cross-validation by another team. The results available so far on the first
component indicate good agreement between sites.
Variability in the window test results may be explained by site-to-site climatic variation.
A complete evaluation and synthesis of the test results and analysis will be presented at
the EPIC/AIVC Conference.