Final report to-do:

Update all cross-references in report and check

Spellcheck proofing language to UK English?
Remember to attach appendices
o Structural calcs
o Energy calcs
o WinDesign

26/8 to-do:

More arguments for solutions

Detail for air-and-watertight joints in (3D) corners!
review older notes and make sure nothing critical has been skipped
Aim / Introduction / entire report:
o Highlight the strengths of the system that are NEW
Low energy houses have been investigated, but this combines
prefab + energy efficiency + prepared for repair! This combined
solution has not been seen
Prefab is usually seen as a way of lowering the price, but it
should also be seen as an opportunity to improve the quality
o Increased insulation levels for 2020 should make sure that the
insulation does not need to be replaced, resulting in a long-term better
solution
o Price-driven business, extend the lifetime and improve the LCA
o Historically, some prefabricated buildings in Denmark succeeded with
low initial cost, but moisture damage and lack of airtightness in the
prefab roof resulted in relatively new buildings requiring large amounts
of insulation replacement and structural repair
Simulations:
o Need to revise to show main room to South and West, maybe keep
north results for comparison. this is because the main room should
have evening sun
o Consider ways to reduce overheating
Increase venting rate considering cross-ventilation, esp main
room
Try lowering the setpoint of venting in some rooms
Need to argue that it may be slightly colder in the
summer mornings due to this, but it may be justified to
have a better overall performance. A balance should be
found
Try including thermal mass of furnitures
OH in sleeping rooms may be less critical, main room is where
evenings are spent
o Take closet/dressing room out of master bedroom area, should be a
separate room

explain why the main room has OH when facing north (higher g and
windows facing east)

13/8 to-do

Structural calcs clean up

Light tube/skylight details?
Abstract
more discussion about technical connections, esp. in foundation
details for prefab bathroom pod connections
o Pod-slab
o Pod window-external wall
go through each part of Chapter 6 and describe why each solution was
chosen
Upload new draft of Chapter 7
Possibly show how light tubes and/or skylight would improve DF in main room
Revise prelim results to Uroof = 0.050 W/m2K
o new HEAT2 sim of roof
add equations to calculated values (TM, Uw)
heat capacity of internal walls!
need to add thickness of elements and assumed material properties. brief
discussion
Add reference and discussion from Lise thesis. Windows and WinDesign
Revise Chapter 4
Revise Chapter 5
Appendix A for learning objectives. Point out the learning objectives relevant
to the thesis, and also add some discussion on what was learned from this
thesis
Finish daylight simulations and appendix
o update original daylight simulation to not use doors and revise final
simulation (weird DF in walls)
o argue that levels are sufficient and discuss how they could be
improved: light tunnels and skylights, roof geometries, splayed reveals
o Clarify why the DF is different in the different orientations
o Explain that the original layout is likely using 2x windows with higher
light transmittance, which is why the daylight is insufficient when using
3x windows.
Thermal mass: period of thermal variations should be 1 day, unless the
WinDesign results are showing that there are extended periods (~1 week)
that overheating is occurring. Need to check the results in WinDesign for each
room
WinDesign:

o add more input data to report (LV Paper II)

o Vary the air volumes in each room? describe in report
IDA ICE model: could be main room, or a sleeping room if the WinDesign
results show that overheating is a problem in the sleeping room for long
periods
Point to scale model wall-wall connection test as an example of designing and
testing a solution for a particular issue during the development of the system
instead of leaving a solution to be devised in construction

5-8-2014

To-do / report review

**General: Explain, where possible, that NEW knowledge has been produced by this
project
**General: Review DTU thesis learning objectives and demonstrate that all are
fulfilled. Research-oriented paper!
1

Introduction

Possibly add figure(s) to motivation, e.g. graphs or charts of building energy

consumption
AIM: clarify and elaborate the aim of the project
Aim: this project takes a standard typehouse product and makes it in a new
way, with a new system. Generates new knowledge!
Aim: to solve the problems in the DESIGN phase and not leave the contractor
to solve the problems (also describe this in methodology).
LIMITATIONS: what is NOT included in the project work
Literature Study

Fred Heller presentation RE system building

C:\Users\Tim\Documents\DTU\F2013\11116 Sustainable Buildings\1.
Presentations\Lecture 12. Development of system products (not added)
Need to determine the use of copyrighted images for examples of wall types
and create/add explanatory images as necessary.
Add analysis to applicability of current envelope elements for 2020 energy
Add discussion/references for improved durability and prepared for repair
in Requirements!!
Finish summary of prefab elements
Product Development

Further explain how the methodology was used to solve the problems and
develop the product. Did not just jump into the final solution but many
alternatives were investigated. Describe how the best strategy/detail was
chosen. Refer to this later in Description of Solutions

Parameters

Requirements

Description of Solutions

Simulation of Solutions

External wall connection: Solution must ensure that the bolt does not just
turn when tightened. Define how many of the rods are needed along the
height of the element (3-4?).
Velux Visualiser simulation to verify DF of at least 3% in middle of rooms.
Calculate window/floor ratio is in 20-25% range. Need to document that the
daylight is sufficient AND overheating is not a problem. Critical to list g and
for the window chosen. Find an actual glazing from Saint Gobain or Pilkington!
Standard for 3x glazing g = 0.50. Make sure the same windows are used in
the same room, and use real wall thickness.
Pitched roof: describe a tie beam solution that is not visible
Internal finishing: The expansion joint is visible. Explain that this is a visual
problem but argue that it could be acceptable. The joint is visible & honest,
but not a normal solution. Example of solving the problem in design phase.
Possible to hide with a sliding plate
*** Need to take time to clarify that this is not an example of a single building
but a SYSTEM solution. The problems are solved in a specific process. Briefly
describe, for each solution, the alternatives that were considered and how it
was decided that this was the best solution. This is a critical part of the
evaluation!!

Thermal mass: investigate the thermal mass with 14 mm wood floor and 3
mm air gap over the 100 mm concrete slab. Report on difference in heating
energy and overheating
Detailed room thermal mass simulation with actual built-up construction to
verify WinDesign results. IDA ICE?
Conclusions
(not written)

Future Work
(not written)

Image credits!

28-7-2014 to-do
** new draft by Monday 4-8
- External wall partition wall detail: screw from outside with plate that compresses
both elements. how to cover cracks when ext. wall expands?
- Gypsum plate manufacturer recommendations for mounting to reduce
cracking/movements
- Arguments for choices, e.g. 1) premade elements can be installed without
plastering finishing 2) roof section was chosen for increased insulation and
structural capacity, so that only a small layer of EPS needed to be added on
afterwards. This also facilitates a small gap between the two moisture barriers so
that a prepared for repair system is in place to detect and repair leaks in the top
barrier
- Gutter detail: show sloping to left, revise detail. Can install drip plate on premade
element (but not gutter)
- add 20-30 mm stone wool layer above EPS for standard heat application
of waterproof membrane (Icopal DK?)
- Revise EPS groove to only edge of block. Sundolitt standard radon plate for floors
could possibly be referenced. ROBUST SOLUTIONS!!
- Figure 39: flip
- marketability section
21-7-2014 to-do
** new draft by Sunday 27-7
- respond to svend comments from 21-7
- revise compressible connections to have mechanical fixture that compresses seals
(external wall to partition wall, etc.)
- calculate expected movement of partition walls, external wall osb plate and
corresponding demand on seals. The seal materials must remain flexible for 100
years. **new section on thermal movements
- Wall-roof connection: how to ensure the roof element does not move because the
bolt is smaller than the hole size. Friction plate when bolt is tightened
- Sketches of production process (sketchup)
- option for hidden gutter

9-7-2014 to-do
** new draft by Friday 11-7
- calculate thermal mass in system and investigate the effect of slightly lower (e.g.
lightweight floor) or higher thermal mass on overheating and heating demand in
WinDesign. EN 13790 1 zone effective thermal mass (week 31)
- Cost: arguments for the system being necessary in 2020 and the true cost of the
system being unknown until it is actually built (week 31)
- Structure: insulation thickness demands mean that the structural elements can be
much stiffer for the cost (week 30)
- Pitched roof section: No details, just describe how a pitched roof could be
implemented into the system
- Daylight: 20-25% glazing/floor ratio for 2020 ok per Mathilde Grn BSc thesis
(week 30)

25-5-14 to-do
Solutions for making the water barrier tight
Reconsider roof element lifting, add gap between elements
Read literature on low-flow attic vent
Revise low-flow ventilation system:
- Find air and vapour permeability of MW:

= 1-2

where
Remove ducts at top of roof elements
Add 2 cm of MW on top of EPS layer for EPDM bonding?
Look up details for Iopal roof membranes
Details for air and water-tight joints, especially in corners

- Roof structural calculations

- Option for internal supports for roof!

Notes:
Low density mineral wool has high vapour permeability so moisture trapped in the
roof cavity will become evenly spread.. this means that ventilating the bottom of
the elements with dry air will transport away some of the water vapour and the
element will continue to dry out. Small pressure drop required to displace air.
Testing Strategy: Circulate air in cavity once per week and test RH. If RH > 80-90%
at cold surface, increase ventilation. Temperature at cold surface can be easily
calculated from indoor/outdoor temp
Ensuring air-tightness after production/assembly
- Elements can first be tested individually in factory
- Once assembled, blower test (with soap) to check joints in roof (lower roof
membrane)
- After top ventilation, EPS, and top membrane, another blower test
Remember that the worker should not be tasked with finding a way to make it work
(leads to errors)

11-5-2014 to-do:
Revisions:
Eliminate outer OSB on walls replace with battens?
o Diffusion-open fibre reinforced board 8mm Cembrit

Lifting strategy Simpson strong-tie standard items?

Simpson CHC component hoist clip:
http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/CHC.asp

capacity = 975 lb = 442 kg/clip for 45-90 loading, 610 lb = 277 kg/clip for 0-44
loading
Roof element bay ventilation manifold drawings/plan
o Find low-cost spacers with perforations
permeable geocomposite drains?

Fabrication/mounting tolerance of 1 mm!! Therefore need a strategy to make sure

the elements are set into place perfectly! 3D visualization of connection
Cost optimization of external cladding size of cladding and spacing vs. number of
external battens optimization
To avoid need for extensive gypsum finishing inside
Walls: Completely finished with joints hidden at partition walls external walls
before partition walls before roof elements!
Sketchup of this connection
Ceiling:
Consider alternative to gypsum in place modular acoustic panel
system

23-4-2014 to-do:
Revisions:
wall section to handle wind load on cladding needed?
roof section to include extra membrane and ventilation layer
foundation sections to use outer block support (lucatherm)
element connections to include tolerance gap between, how to close &
ensure air tightness
lifting strategy to consider straps instead of swivel hoist rings
roof element facia to be placed after, cover joints. also different material (not
aluminum)
vapour barrier wrap-around in roof element and how to close between 2
roof elements
External cladding panelized to cover gap sufficiently in element
Determine when to install bathroom pods before or after slab pour? and ensure
door of pod floor level the same as house floor level. How to connect services?
It can be done either by placing the pod first it arrives in weather wrap
and then pouring the slab around it, or a gap can be left that is covered when
the gypsum around the pod is placed. Is this even relevant to the building
envelope project? Maybe windows are not possible in prefab bathroom pods.
How to connect/install partition walls? What is the bowing deformation of the roof
elements due to moisture differences, and can the joint between partition walls &
roof handle this deformation? The partition walls should not be load-bearing IMO but
still need to be air-tight to the roof.
Moisture deformations in timber are radial and transverse to the grain not
longitudinal with the capillaries so deformations in the direction of the
beam span are the problem. Temperature deformations will occur, but to
what extent?
Wall-wall corner connection to ensure flush facing
One element is designed slightly short where it butts to the inside face of the
end element. This leaves a small gap between, which must be made air-tight.

Add Q & A section to end of thesis about design?