Pre-1919 suspended timber ground floors in the UK: estimating in-situ U-values and heat loss reduction potential of interventions
Sofie Pelsmakers, UCL
SYNOPSIS
Pelsmakers investigating in crawl-space floor during pilot study (2012)concrete ground floor slab (TSB, 2012a).
This PhD thesis focuses on testing floor heat-flow theory and testing and refining measuring methods, practices and analysis techniques for uninsulated and insulated floors. Additionally, this research adds original knowledge about uninsulated suspended timber ground floor heat-flow and what the impact of insulating such floors might be, leading to research outcomes that are relevant to industry practice, policy and academia. In particular it aims to answer the following research questions:
- How should in-situ suspended timber ground floor U-values be estimated?
- What is the estimated in-situ thermal transmittance of floors and how does it compare to models?
- How does the in-situ thermal performance of a case study floor change after intervention measures?
The purpose of this PhD research is to test and construct knowledge and understanding of suspended timber ground floor heat-flow and how to measure this heat-flow. The research objectives are three-fold:
- To test, refine and develop research design and analysis methods to estimate the in-situ measured U-value of floors.
- To quantify the in-situ thermal transmittance of some existing floor constructions.
- To quantify the in-situ heat loss reduction potential and thermal comfort implications of some floor interventions.
Project Team
Student(s)
Sofie Pelsmakers
Supervisor(s)
Ben Croxford
Cliff Elwell
Outputs
Event
MVHR: making ventilation systems work
Invited co-ordinator and QA for Passivhaus Trust workshop – held at UCL
Media Article (magazine/newspaper)
International selection of sustainable dwellings and what we can learn from igloos
Invited author to contribute an article about my choice of 6 inspirational, international sustainable buildings, including 2 Passivhauses for Passivhaus plus magazine with 20,000 subsribers.
RIBA scraps Plan of Work: say goodbye to stages A-L
Extract published of invited opinion on RIBA changes to Workstages in Architects Journal. Full piece can be read on www.sofiepelsmakers.com
Other
Listed in Ecobuild 100 list of influential tweeters in sustainable construction
#Ecobuild100 list of top Twitter influencers in sustainable construction, design and the built environment
Recognised as 1 of 12 women’ influencing sustainable architecture today’ by Architects Journal
Recognised as 1 of 12 women’ influencing sustainable architecture today’ by Architects Journal
Invited Guest Critic MSc Environmental Design & Engineering, UCL
On the Natural Ventilation module, UCL Bartlett
WORKSHOP: Use of PHPP for modelling and decision-making in building-retrofit
Invited guest lecturer at MSc Environmental Design and Engineering at UCL Bartlett to deliver 2 workshops
How sustainability is going to change the architectural industry
Article for WAN in November 2012
Invited Judge for the WAN (World Architecture News) Sustainability Award 2012
To be held in February 2013.
Presentation
Applying technology to achieve Sustainable design: implications
Invited guest lecturer at BSc Year 1 Architecture: Applied Technology Lecture series, Feb 7th 2013
URBANO: Disspelling Environmental design myths
Invited speaker at URBANO breakfast event, March 7th 2013
Future proofing for climate change
Invited guest speaker at CAR Ltd Showroom, Oct 24th
RIBA Guerilla Tactics: Disspelling Environmental Design myths
Invited speaker at RIBA yearly Guerilla Tactics event
Pre-1919 un-insulated suspended timber ground floors: a heat loss study ( in terraced housing)
Presentation at LOLO 2012 Colloquium
Publicity material
Joint group poster and presentation preparation for Manchester UKERC conference
UKERC CDT conference 29th-30th November
Report (progress/mini project/consultation reports)
High fabric energy efficiency is a priority and not an optional indulgence
Invited author to comment on RIBA/NBS survey of sustainability in construction/architectural industry.
Pre-1919 un-insulated suspended timber ground floors: a heat loss study ( in terraced housing)
Contributing Researcher on behalf of UCL for STBA/DECC
Webpage
Lolo Colloquium – a student perspective
A blog reporting on our yearly colloquium
Website
Initial findings of Technology Strategy Board (TSB) Retrofit projects
Summary of findings as presented at Retro-Expo 2012
Retro-Expo Review (Oct 30th-31st)
Personal blog about Retro-Expo seminars and stands attended at Birmingham NEC, Oct 30-31st.
RIBA plan of work changes and what it could mean for the delivery of sustainable buildings
Personal blog – extract published by AJ.