DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF MULTILAYERED WALL ASSEMBLIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31649/2311-1429-2026-1-185-195Keywords:
Dynamic thermal performance, Multilayered assembly, Envelopes, Energy efficiency, Physical parametersAbstract
This paper introduces an approach to assessing the dynamic performance of multilayered building envelopes, focusing on physically measurable thermal performance metrics. Based on EN ISO 13786:2023, the study considers thermal transmittance (U-value), internal areal heat capacity (k1), and decrement factor (f) as thermal performance parameters, and wall mass as an additional objective indicator. Five wall assemblies common in the Ukrainian market - hempcrete, AAC + Rockwool, Porotherm brickwork + Rockwool, wood-chip cement-bonded blocks (Woodcrete) and ICF systems were evaluated through numerical modelling and comparative analysis. To eliminate subjectivity in the weighting of criteria, the four physically meaningful parameters are compared to determine the overall assessment. Results indicate that Wall E (ICF) ranks as the dynamically balanced, efficient assembly according to the internal area heat capacity and decrement factor parameters, but it has the maximum mass among other assemblies. Wall B (AAC) demonstrated the highest heat-flux attenuation effect, 0.115, which can lead to summer overheating, while Wall C (hollow brick + insulator) and Wall D (Woodcrete) demonstrated a similar dynamic behaviour with a too-low decrement factor, 0.007. The study highlights the complexity of MCDA in envelope design and provides physically grounded criteria that can support more objective predesign decision-making. Current research revealed that, even though all the walls meet the requirements of the Ukrainian National Building Code, steady-state thermal transmittance coefficient (U-value) can be considered only in the early stages of decision-making as the primary determinant of envelope efficiency; however, this parameter alone fails to accurately reflect the dynamic thermal behaviour of constructions and their inertia-related performance.
References
J. Kosny, E. Kossecka, A. O. Desjarlais, and J. E. Christian, “Dynamic thermal performance of concrete and masonry walls,” in Buildings VII: Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings, Atlanta, GA, USA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), 1998.
E. Kossecka and J. Kosny, “Equivalent wall as a dynamic model of a complex thermal structure,” Journal of Thermal Insulation and Building Envelopes, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 249–268, 1997, doi: 10.1177/109719639702000306.
P. Shafigh, I. Asadi, and N. B. Mahyuddin, “Concrete as a thermal mass material for building applications - A review,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 19, pp. 14–25, Sep. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2018.04.021.
Stazi, F. (2017). Thermal Inertia in Energy Efficient Building Envelopes. Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-00641-1
A. H. Ghoreishi and M. M. Ali, “Contribution of Thermal Mass to Energy Performance of Buildings: A Comparative Analysis,” International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 245–252, Sep. 2011, doi: 10.5390/susb.2011.2.3.245.
Humaish, H.H., Marmoret, L., & Beji, H. (2018). Effect of thermal inertia (time lag and decrement factor) on the insulation thermal capacity. 2018 International Conference on Advance of Sustainable Engineering and its Application (ICASEA), 137-141. https://doi.org/10.1109/icasea.2018.8370971
Childs, K. W., Courville, G. E., & Bales, E. L. (1983). Thermal mass assessment: an explanation of the mechanisms by which building mass influences heating and cooling energy requirements (No. ORNL/CON-97). Oak Ridge National Lab.(ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). https://doi.org/10.2172/5788833
Kalinović, S. M., Djoković, J. M., Nikolić, R. R., & Hadzima, B. (2019). Calculation of the thermal dynamic performance of the residential buildings' walls. Quality Production Improvement-QPI, 1.
Alkhatib, H., & Lemarchand, P. (2024). Assessing Thermal Performance: An Experimental Study on U-Value Variability in Building Fabric Elements. Results in Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103730
Verbeke, S., & Audenaert, A. (2018). Thermal inertia in buildings: A review of impacts across climate and building use. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 82, 2300-2318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.083.
Oktay, H., Argunhan, Z., Yumrutaş, R., Işık, M. Z., & Budak, N. (2016). An investigation of the influence of thermophysical properties of multilayer walls and roofs on the dynamic thermal characteristics. Mugla Journal of Science and Technology, 2(1), 48-54
B. Salehpour, M. Ghobadi, T. Moore, and H. Ge, “Component sequence and thermal mass effects on the transient thermal performance of concrete walls,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 2069, no. 1, Art. no. 012091, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2069/1/012091.
Reilly, A., Kinnane, O., & O’Hegarty, R. (2020). Energy embodied in, and transmitted through, walls of different types when accounting for the dynamic effects of thermal mass. Journal of Green Building, 15(4), 43-66. https://doi.org/10.3992/jgb.15.4.43
Reilly, A., & Kinnane, O. (2017). The impact of thermal mass on building energy consumption. Applied Energy, 198, 108-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.04.024
Stazi, F., Ulpiani, G., Pergolini, M., & Di Perna, C. (2018). The role of areal heat capacity and decrement factor in case of hyper insulated buildings: An experimental study. Energy and Buildings, 176, 310-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.07.034
Ukrainian National Standard. DSTU EN ISO 13786:2023 Thermal performance of building components – Dynamic thermal characteristics – Calculation methods (2023). (Official edition) Kyiv: Institute of Technical Thermophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
A brief guide and free tool for the calculation of the thermal mass of building components. Retrieved February 18, 2026, from: https://www.htflux.com/en/free-calculation-tool-for-thermal-mass-of-building-components-iso-13786/
Isotex. (n.d.). Isotex: Wood-cement blocks for construction. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://en.blocchiisotex.com/
Isotex Srl. (2025) Product catalogue. Retrieved July 19, 2025 from https://www.blocchiisotex.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/product-catalogue-isotex-worldwide.pdf
Fixolite. (2009). Brochure: Blocs de construction isolants en aggloméré bois-ciment. La performance au service de l’éco-construction [document PDF]. Retrieved June 22, 2025, from http://www.fixolite.be/sites/fixolite.be/files/Brochure_Blocs_Fixolite_ENTETE_VERTEmodif.pdf
Isolabloc. (2025). Le futur se construit. Retrieved June 22, 2025, from http://www.isolabloc.fr
Isospan. (2025). Technical Data and Product Range. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://www.isospan.eu/cms/upload/dlmstat/index.php?sprache=en
Fasswall®. Build your natural, non-toxic home with this remarkable wood-chip concrete building block. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://faswall.com/
Nexcem. Insulated Concrete Forms without Styrofoam. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://nexcembuild.com/
Durisol. DURISOL ICF INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS FOR AUSTRALIA. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://www.durisol.com.au/
Костробетон — революційна новинка на ринку екобудівництва (Hemcrete – a new revolutionary innovation on the ecobuilding maket) Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://zelenasadyba.com.ua/dim-i-podvirya/kostrobeton.html (in Ukrainian)
Утеплення будинку з газобетону зовні: як правильно це зробити? (House exterior insulation – how to perform it correctly?) Retrieved March 20, 2026, from http://gazobloki.lviv.ua/uteplennya-budinku-z-gazobetonu-zovni-yak-pravilno-ce-zrobiti/ (in Ukrainian)
Porotherm 38 P+W. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://info-haus.com/product/porotherm-38-p-w/ (in Ukrainian)
Будинок з арболіта — будівництво будинку своїми руками (House made of arbolit — DIY construction). Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://stroyfibra.com.ua/budinok-z-arbolita-budivnictvo-budinku-svoimi-rukami/ (in Ukrainian)
Shaik, S., & Setty, A. B. T. P. (2013). Analytical computation of admittance, decrement factor, time lag and surface factors for different exterior wall materials of the buildings in Dakshina Kannada district. In Proc. 22th Natl. 11th Int. ISHMT-ASME Heat Mass Transf. Conf.
Building Better with ISOTEX. Retrieved March 20, 2026, Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://murotex.co.uk/about-us/
Ukrainian National Standard. DSTU N B V.2.6-101:2010. (2010). Constructions of buildings and structures. Method for determination of thermal resistance of building envelopes. Kyiv, Institute of Technical Thermophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
Ukrainian National Standard. DSTU 9191:2022. (2022). Thermal insulation of buildings. Method for selecting thermal insulation material for building insulation. (Official edition). Kyiv: Ministry of Economy of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
Shea, A., Lawrence, M., & Walker, P. (2012). Hygrothermal performance of an experimental hemp-lime building. Construction and Building Materials, 36, 270–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.123
Le, A. T., Maalouf, C., Mai, T. H., Wurtz, E., & Collet, F. (2010). Transient hygrothermal behaviour of a hemp concrete building envelope. Energy and buildings, 42(10), 1797-1806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.05.016
Evrard, A. (2008, May). Transient hygrothermal behaviour of lime-hemp materials (Doctoral thesis). Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Unité d’Architecture.
Walker, R., & Pavia, S. (2014). Moisture transfer and thermal properties of hemp-lime concretes. Construction and Building Materials, 64, 270-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.081
Florentin, Y., Pearlmutter, D., Givoni, B., & Gal, E. (2017). A life-cycle energy and carbon analysis of hemp-lime bio-composite building materials. Energy and Buildings, 156, 293-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.09.097
Porotherm – Wall solutions. Retrieved July 20, 2025 from https://porotherm.com.ua/pdf/Porotherm_P_W_RU.pdf
Porotherm Technical datasheet Porotherm BIO Inc. 38 T. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://www.infobuild.it/wp-content/uploads/Porotherm-BIO-inc-38-25-19-T.pdf
Neopor® – a Raw Material for Diverse Solutions. Retrieved July 19, 2025 from https://neopor.de/portal/load/fid1225927/Neopor_Thermal_insulation.pdf
Eco2soft. Life cycle assessment of buildings. Retrieved June 28, 2025, from: https://www.baubook.at/eco2soft/?SW=27&LU=1823785713&qJ=1&LP=b4BKl&lng=2.
Rockwool SIUPERROCK. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://www.rockwool.com/ua/products-and-applications/products/ua-diy/SUPERROCK-UA/
Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated
Ukrainian National Standard. Energy efficiency of buildings. Building climatology: DSTU N B V.1.1-27:2010 (2010). (Official edition). Kyiv: Minregionbud of Ukraine. (in Ukrainian).
Вінницямісьтеплоенерго. Споживачам. URL: https://vmte.vn.ua/public/consumer/43 (дата звернення: 22.05.2026).
Ukrainian National Building Code. Thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings: DBN V.2.6-31:2021 (2021). (Official edition). Kyiv: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. (in Ukrainian).
Ukrainian National Standard. Energy efficiency of buildings. Method for calculating energy consumption during heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water supply: DSTU 9190:2022 (2022). (Official edition). Kyiv: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. (in Ukrainian).
Downloads
-
PDF
Downloads: 10
