Appropriate Building Materials

and Technologies

Properties of Building
Materials
 Aspects for identification of alternative materials

• Properties (Visual, Thermal, Chemical and Physical)

• Utility (Thermal, Applicability, Durability )
• Technical knowhow
• Eco friendly considerations
• Embodied Energy
• Limitations and other issues
 Thermal Properties of materials
Thermal properties of material decide how it reacts when it is
subjected to heat fluctuation (excessive heat or very low heat, for
example).
The major components of thermal properties are:
• Heat capacity
• Thermal Expansion
• Thermal stress
• Thermal conductivity
• Thermal Lag
 Thermal Properties of materials
Heat Capacity:
• The heat capacity of material defines as the amount of heat
required to change the temperature of a material by one degree.
It is expressed in joules or calories and temperatures in Celsius
or Kelvin.
Thermal Expansion
• Thermal expansion occurs when the heat is transferred through
a material it changes the shape. There can be a change in the
area, volume and shape of the material
 Thermal Properties of materials
Thermal Stress
• The thermal stress experienced by a material when thermal
expansion or contraction occurs. This stress can cause cracks,
damage or deformation in shape, etc
 Thermal Properties of materials
Thermal Conductivity
• The thermal conductivity is a method to calculate the rate at
which the heat gets transferred through a material’s surface.
This transfer of heat occurs due to the difference in
temperature from outside to inside a building envelope.
• The heat transfers from higher to lower temperature of a
material surface.
• A lower value of thermal conductivity for a material can define
as a good insulator as it reduces the rate of heat transfer.
 Thermal Properties of materials
Thermal Conductivity
• The thermal conductivity (k-value) for the material is measured in
terms of watts per meter kelvin (W/mK). For a composite material
the thermal conductivity requires to be converted into thermal
resistivity in order to get the cumulative value. The thermal resistance
of material can be calculated with respect to the thickness of each
layer of building fabric. It is measured in terms of m²K/W. The U
value defines the total thermal conductance of composite material for
a particular thickness. The U value of an element of a building can be
calculated from sum of the thermal resistance (R-values) of the layers
that make up the element plus its internal and external surface
resistances (Ri and Ro).
• U-value = 1 / (ΣR + Ri + Ro)
 Thermal Conductivity of materials
Thermal
Density
Name Form Conductivity Specific Heat
kg/m³
W/(mK) MJ/m³K

Acrylic Sheet Board 1145 0.2174 1.5839

Asbestos Cement
Board 1404 0.4709 0.7218
Board
Autoclaved Aerated
Concrete Block Block 642 0.1839 0.794
(AAC)

Bamboo Wood 913 0.1959 0.6351

Composite Marble Stone 3146 2.44 2.1398

 Thermal Properties of materials
Thermal Lag
• The rate at which heat is absorbed and re-released by
uninsulated material is referred to as thermal lag. Lag is
dependent on conductivity, thickness, insulation levels and
temperature differences either side of the wall. Consideration
of lag times is important when designing thermal mass,
especially with thick uninsulated external wall systems like
rammed earth, mud brick or rock.
• In moderate climates, a 24-hour lag cycle is ideal. In colder
climates subject to long cloudy periods, lags of up to seven days
can be useful, providing there is additional solar exposed glazing
to ‘charge it’ in sunny weather (see climate-specific glass to mass
ratios in ‘Thermal mass checklist’).
 Thermal Properties of materials
Material thickness (mm) Time lag (hours)

Double brick (220) 6.2

Concrete (250) 6.9

Autoclaved aerated concrete (200) 7.0

Mudbrick/adobe (250) 9.2
Rammed earth (250) 10.3

Compressed earth blocks (250) 10.5

Sandy loam (1000) 30 days

 Thermal Control
• Thermal control helps keep the occupants of a building
more comfortable by moderating the temperatures of the
interior surfaces.
• Buildings gain or lose heat through conduction,
convection or radiation processes. The purpose of
thermal control is to slow down heat gain or loss in order
to maintain comfortable interior temperatures while
conserving energy.
 Thermal Control
Insulation Type & Placement Location
The choice of insulation material depends on its
• Physical characteristics,
• Resistance to the flow of heat, and
• Cost
• When choosing a specific type, R-Value is usually the most
important consideration.
• Additionally, location and placement play a significant role
in the type of insulation.
 Thermal Control
Thermal Insulation
Thermal insulation is composed of materials that have
• high thermal resistance (R) or high reflectivity,
like aluminum foil.
• Some common types of insulation include loose fill, batt
or blanket, board or sheet, reflective, and foam. Each has
advantages depending on the use and placement.
Insulation is measured using R-Value, the inverse of
thermal conductivity (R=1/k) where R is resistance and k
is thermal conductivity
 Types of Insulation
1. Loose Fill Insulation
• Loose fill is composed of glass or mineral wool. Loose fill
insulation is blown into building cavities using special
equipment. It is well suited for places where it is difficult
to install other types of insulation, such as irregularly
shaped areas, around obstructions, and in hard-to-reach
places.
 Types of Insulation
2. Batt or Blanket Insulation
• Batt or blanket insulation is made from glass or mineral
wool enclosed by paper or aluminum. Thickness is
typically 3.5 inches and R values are about 11.00. It is used
in air spaces in framed walls, floors, and ceilings. Batt
insulation and blankets are available unfaced, faced on one
side with moisture resistant kraft paper forming a vapor
barrier, and faced with aluminum foil forming a fire-
resistant facing.
 Types of Insulation
3. Board or Sheet Insulation
• Board or sheet insulation is comprised of cork, glass, or
mineral fibers, or paper pulp. It is typically 1 inch thick
with an R-value of 2.75. It is typically used for wall
sheathing and as rigid roof insulation.
 Types of Insulation
4. Reflective Insulation
• Reflective insulation is made up of aluminum foil in
combination with layers of paper and a 1-inch air space.
The R-value for two reflective surfaces with a 1-inch air
space is 1.39. It is typically used on roofs, walls, and floor
insulation with a vapor barrier. It is available in single
thickness layers or in a multi-layer batt that has dead air
spaces between the layers.
 Types of Insulation
5. Foam Insulation
• Foam can be either the spray type or rigid panels usually 1
inch in thickness. It has an R-Value of 6.00 and is
commonly used as sheathing or in the case of spray foam
in irregular spaces.
 Types of Insulation
6. Vapor Barriers
• Vapor barriers are often combined with insulation, and since
condensation tends to form on the cool side of insulating
materials, aluminum foil-backed insulation should always be
installed with the foil facing the warm side. A vapor barrier is
used to keep water vapor generated inside a building, such as
by cooking, from penetrating the wall and condensing as
moisture on the building insulation. It can also be used to
reduce the penetration of moisture from outside sources
into the building.