A Technological Analysis Applied to Existing Building Insulated with Straw

Abstract:

The current building culture requires a more careful and sensitive attention to environmental problems and the necessity to reduce the building energy requirement using sustainable products and solutions (eg. re-use of agricultural by-products). This research concerns the study of insulating existing buildings with straw (internal and external insulation) realized in Europe and in New Mexico. The case studies are analyzed with a technological point of view through the dissection of the insulation build-up to understand the construction phases during its insulation. The analysis of each case regards three building parts: the upper enclosure, the vertical enclosure and the attachment between the vertical enclosure and the ground. The application of this working method allows the analysis and understanding of how different elements are connected to each other, the possible finishing solutions and the relationship between the straw insulation and the existing building. This research analyzes different examples in order to develop a possible improved solution through the critical analysis of different construction methods used in the buildings. It is possible to achieve a classification methods of straw insulation found in the study cases and analyze every single part in the insulation system.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 600)
• Pages: 719-726
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.600.719
• Online since: March 2014
• Authors: Anna Rita Bertorello
• Keywords: Existing Buildings, Retrofit, Straw, Technological Analysis

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