Development of Thermography Protocol for In-Construction Testing Thermal Perf.

CIBSE Technical Symposium, DeMontfort University, Leicester UK
6th and 7th September 2011

If the Welsh Government aspiration for all new homes to be zero carbon as soon as possible is to be achieved in practice and not just in theory, considerable attention should be paid to closing the gap between designed performance and as-built performance. Low carbon design has been practiced by design teams across the UK for many years, but it is not clear if low carbon design is subsequently translated into low carbon construction and low carbon operation. Physical test methods capable of providing evidence that the design thermal performance of the building fabric is achieved in-construction will be a key element in demonstrating that low carbon design translates into low carbon construction. This paper presents a methodology developed for in-construction testing of the thermal performance of new low carbon dwellings, and explores the benefits and limitations of thermal imaging techniques (thermography). The methodological approach adopted, and some of the results obtained from pilot studies in Swansea, are reported, and some practical considerations for the use of in-construction thermography on „live? construction sites in Wales, UK, are discussed. The paper will be of interest to building services engineers engaged in or considering thermography, residential developers, clients, architects and architectural technologists and researchers interested in methods of investigating the thermal performance of dwellings.