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National Energy Code of Canada reference thermal resistance calculation methods compared to a validated 3D heat transfer simulation for framed walls containing thermal bridges

From National Research Council Canada

Linkhttps://dspace.library.uvic.ca/items/28dd3e86-344f-46a0-a3c3-e289f37e1c6c
AuthorSearch for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7751-120X; Search for: 1; Search for: 1
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council of Canada. Construction
FormatText, Article
Conference2nd International Conference on New Horizons in Green Civil Engineering (NHICE-02), August 24–26, 2020, Victoria, BC, Canada
Subjectthermal bridging; national energy code canada; steel stud wall assemblies; comsol multiphysics
Abstract
Construction of buildings in Canada requires adherence to the minimum requirements of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) through one of three respective compliance paths: the prescriptive path, the trade-off path, or the performance path. The most straight forward path is the prescriptive path, which defines minimum performance levels for different components and assemblies of the building to meet for compliance. One prescriptive requirement is a minimum effective thermal resistance value for the wall assembly. Within the prescriptive path, methods are referenced for determining the effective thermal resistance of wall assemblies, as detailed in section 3.1.1.5(5) of the NECB. Specifically, the effective thermal resistance of a wall assembly can be determined through either testing a representative wall assembly in accordance with ASTM C1363, or, calculation using: ISO 14683, two-or three dimensional modelling, or the calculation methods described in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals. Additional guidance for the use of the calculation methods described in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals for calculating the effective thermal resistance of framed walls (i.e. wood and steel stud framed) in accordance with the NECB is provided in the NECB “Users Guide”. This paper investigates the accuracy of using the methods described in the “User’s Guide” on three representative steel stud framed wall assemblies with increasing thickness of exterior insulation: none, 25 mm and 50 mm of thickness. The accuracy of each calculation method is determined by comparing the results to ASTM C1363 guarded hot box tests. This paper will focus on the accuracy of these calculation methods and include some commentary on any restrictions that should be imposed on the use of these methods, especially in instances where the framing can significantly influence the effective thermal resistance of the wall assembly through thermal bridging.
Publication date
PublisherUniversity of Victoria
BC Housing
In
  • NHICE 02: Conference Proceedings (24 August 2020): 237–240.
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifier592924df-316e-4627-96cf-e34d08265d1a
Record created2024-07-12
Record modified2024-07-12
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