UNDERSTANDING INSULATED THERMAL MASS – ZEGO AUSTRALIA A Case Study
THE CHALLENGE • As an accredited Master Builder Green Living Builder, Knight Building Group are setting the standard high in passive solar design. However, for passive design to be effective, thermal mass which is the ability to store energy and insulation which slows down the transfer of hot and cold also needs to be integrated. Passive Design will not work entirely on its own especially after a series of cold, sunless days and likewise a super insulated house will rely on artificial heating and cooling systems to control the air temperature if too much energy is being stored. Knight Building Group are building luxurious living spaces with a goal of also creating thermally stable residences capable of heating and cooling itself naturally whilst minimising artificial heating and cooling systems
THE SOLUTION • To achieve thermal stability, Knights were seeking building materials that could store heat energy yet also slow down the thermal transfer. ZEGO Insulated Concrete Forms is a logical choice as the reinforced concrete core is insulated with 60mm of foam insulation on both sides. The insulated foam panels on both sides creates a wall which means it takes longer to heat and longer to cool down as the foam almost acts like a shock absorber. The right amounts of insulation either side of the reinforced concrete core assists in keeping a building thermally stable
THE RESULT • By using the ZEGO FireFORM System on the external walls, Knights were able to create an extremely tight insulated shell that keeps the air inside the dwellings sealed from temperature changes outside. The ZEGO FireFORM 60mm foam panel with an R- rating of approximately 1.5 per 50mm foam actually slows down the transfer of thermal energy. Therefore, the thermal mass of the concrete and the insulation of the sacrificial foam panels both help to regulate the temperature inside a home in different ways. However, together, they provide the optimal performance for keeping a home comfortable.
THE RESULT • The result is that Knights have been able to reduce the infrastructure cost of HVAC (heating and cooling systems) by half the horsepower of a comparable traditionally built building due to the Insulating Concrete Forms stabilizing temperatures inside the homes very quickly to change the internal air temperature
FOR MORE INFORMATION MAIL US AT QUOTES@ZEGO.COM.AU OR CALL US AT 1300 13 9346. www.zego.com.au