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Characterising Draught in Mediterranean Multifamily Housing

Author

Listed:
  • Jesica Fernández-Agüera

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Miguel Ángel Campano

    (Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain)

Abstract

Social housing dating from the postwar years through the end of the twentieth century is one of the major stores of European cities’ residential stock. As it is generally characterised by a poor thermal performance and an inefficient control of energy consumption, it constitutes one of the main targets for residential heritage renewal. This study aimed to locate and quantify air leaks across building envelopes in Mediterranean multifamily housing with a view to curbing the uncontrolled inflow of outdoor air that has a direct impact on occupant comfort and housing energy demand. Airtightness tests conducted in a series of protocols to quantify draught across envelope elements were supplemented with qualitative infrared thermographic and smoke tests to locate leakage pathways. Air was found to flow mainly across façade enclosures, primarily around openings, as well as through service penetrations in walls between flats and communal areas accommodating electrical and telecommunication wires and water supply, domestic hot water (DHW), and drainage pipes. The general absence of evidence of draught across structural floors or inter-flat partitions was consistent with the construction systems in place.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Miguel Ángel Campano, 2019. "Characterising Draught in Mediterranean Multifamily Housing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2433-:d:225579
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesca Romana D’Ambrosio Alfano & Marco Dell’Isola & Giorgio Ficco & Boris Igor Palella & Giuseppe Riccio, 2016. "Experimental Air-Tightness Analysis in Mediterranean Buildings after Windows Retrofit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-9, September.
    2. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Juan José Sendra & Susan Roaf, 2018. "Rethinking User Behaviour Comfort Patterns in the South of Spain—What Users Really Do," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Alberto Meiss & Miguel A. Padilla-Marcos & Jesús Feijó-Muñoz, 2017. "Methodology Applied to the Evaluation of Natural Ventilation in Residential Building Retrofits: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Joanna Ferdyn-Grygierek & Dorota Bartosz & Aleksandra Specjał & Krzysztof Grygierek, 2018. "Analysis of Accuracy Determination of the Seasonal Heat Demand in Buildings Based on Short Measurement Periods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Jesús Feijó-Muñoz & Irene Poza-Casado & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano & Cristina Pardal & Víctor Echarri & Rafael Assiego De Larriva & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & María Jesús Dios-Viéitez & Víctor Jos, 2018. "Methodology for the Study of the Envelope Airtightness of Residential Buildings in Spain: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
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