Document Type : Research Note

Author

Department of Civil Engineering, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran.

10.30501/jree.2024.425845.1739

Abstract

Building insulation stands out as one of the most widely employed strategies to enhance energy efficiency in the building sector. Increasing the thickness of thermal insulation is a conventional approach to meet the design requirements of these structures. In this study, a novel approach to augment the thermal resistance of external building walls is explored by simultaneously employing multiple thermal insulation materials, comparing this with a single-layer insulation setup. Three typical insulation materials with varying thicknesses are utilized to create a three-layer insulation system, which is applied to a case study involving a house-like cubicle situated in the 3B climate zone per ASHRAE 169-2006. The findings indicate that merely increasing the thickness of a single-layer insulation does not invariably yield optimal solutions. The results emphasize that the consideration of multi-layer insulation systems can establish a continuous decision-making space, enabling the identification of at least one insulation scenario aligned with design requirements. To facilitate designers in the initial stages of thermal insulation design, a rapid and simplified design model has been developed based on the results. The methodology proposed in this study is generalizable and can be applied to all climate zones, offering a comprehensive design tool without the need for intricate calculations.

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Main Subjects

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