Insulation, comfort and energy saving

Abstract

The continous appearance of new materials, the general tendency towards lighter structural charges, the increased personal welfare levels, tile extended use of mechanical equipments for environmental conditioning in most of the housings presently being constructed, and the incessant and considerable increase of the organic fuel costs have given rise to a new study, both in scope and precision, of the physical and construction basis of the fundamental problems of living spaces. In addition to the financial and engineering aspects of the separate installations the problem is here approached through three different angles: I. Analysis of the thermophysical characteristics of the materials and structural elements that define and quantify the insulating capacity of these. II. Constructive arrangements suitable for carrying out the architectural projects of the construction elements, in order to obtain their maximum efficiency, as regulators of the negative environmental influences. III. A relative study of existing national and foreign regulations of the hygrothermal needs that the elements and structural spaces must meet to achieve the required comfort within the envisaged budget. Each of the above mentioned items will be dealt with in this Journal from this number onwards.