The role of thermal mass in residential design and its application in practice is the theme of three new publications from WoodSolutions, funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Ltd. WoodSolutions is managed by FWPA and supported by companies and organisations in the Australian forest and wood products industry. FWPA undertakes industry-level activities where a collective approach can deliver more effective and valuable commercial outcomes than individual action.
Guide 22 “Thermal Performance in Timber-framed Buildings”, provides a simple step-by-step overview of housing design for greater thermal comfort and serves as an introduction to Guide 23, “Using Thermal Mass in Timber-framed Buildings”, and Guide 24 “Thermal Performance for Timber-framed Residential Construction”.
WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide 23 was written following an analysis of existing rules of thumb and existing design guidance. It is based on analysis of both real-world and computer simulations of thermal mass in typical project homes and experimental structures in several Australian climates.
WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide 24 explains the principles of thermal performance and focuses on ways to enhance the performance of residential timber-framed buildings. It:
- explains principles of thermal performance for timber-framed construction
- provides strategies to optimise performance for each climate zone
- presents tips for increasing thermal performance efficiently.
While the Guide focuses on detached or semi-detached dwellings, many of these principles are useful for larger timber-rich commercial and multi-residential buildings.
Copies of the Guides are available for free download from http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/Articles/Resources/Thermal-Performance-Technical-Design-Guides
On Wednesday 5th August at 11:00am AEST Mark Dewsbury (School of Architecture and Design, University of Tasmania) will be presenting a webinar: Thermal Performance for Timber-framed Residential Construction: WoodSolutions Guide 24. Register for the webinar here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thermal-performance-for-timber-framed-residential-construction-tickets-17963937621
For more information visit www.fwpa.com.au
