Energy efficiency and thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction: A review

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.066

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Volume 78, October 2017, Pages 194-209

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.066 Get rights and content

Abstract

The improvement of the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar thermal energy, and the reduction of energy demand during the several stages of buildings' life cycle is crucial towards a more sustainable built environment. This paper presents an overview of the main features of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction with cold-formed elements from the point of view of life cycle energy consumption. The main LSF systems are described and some strategies for reducing thermal bridges and for improving the thermal resistance of LSF envelope elements are presented. Several passive strategies for increasing the thermal storage capacity of LSF solutions are discussed and particular attention is devoted to the incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs). These materials can be used to improve indoor thermal comfort, to reduce the energy demand for air-conditioning and to take advantage of solar thermal energy. The importance of reliable dynamic and holistic simulation methodologies to assess the energy demand for heating and cooling during the operational phase of LSF buildings is also discussed. Finally, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the environmental performance of LSF construction are reviewed to discuss the main contribution of this kind of construction towards more sustainable buildings.

Introduction

The International Energy Agency [1] points out that residential and commercial buildings account for roughly 32% of global energy use and almost 10% of total direct energy-related CO₂ emissions. It also highlights the importance of implementing stringent energy-saving requirements for new buildings and retrofitting, and the need to use high-efficient technologies in building envelopes and heating/cooling systems. In this context, the reduction of the environmental impacts of the built environment and the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings during their entire life cycle is a worldwide prime objective for energy policy. As a result, the demanding legislation concerning the reduction of the energy consumption of buildings has been challenging both the construction sector and the research community to develop new high-efficient products and construction techniques, to set up new methodologies for assessing the energy demand of buildings during each stage of their life cycle, and to develop new technologies to improve the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar thermal energy.

This paper brings together existing research on the assessment of the energy efficiency and thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction with cold-formed elements in order to provide an overview on how this typology of buildings can contribute to a more sustainable built environment. Indeed, this review aims to point out the main advantages and drawbacks of this type of construction. The paper also intends to provide an overview on how LSF construction can contribute to a more sustainable use of energy during the several stages of the lifetime of buildings and how some technologies can be used to improve the thermal performance of LSF buildings and, at the same time, to take advantage of solar thermal energy.

LSF construction has been attracting interest worldwide and its popularity is increasing for use in both residential houses and apartment blocks [2], [3]. Veljkovic and Johansson [4] also pointed out that LSF buildings have a widespread use in the USA, Australia and Japan and are gaining market in Europe. A general description of LSF construction for low-rise commercial and medium and high-rise residential buildings can be found in ref. [5] along with an extensive review of the main advantages of this type of construction. As suggested by several authors [3], [6], [7], [8], LSF construction presents certain advantages over heavyweight construction, such as: small weight with high mechanical strength; speed of construction and reduced disruption onsite; great potential for recycling and reuse; high architectural flexibility for retrofitting purposes; easy prefabrication allowing modular construction, suited to the economy of mass production; economy in transportation and handling; superior quality, precise tolerances and high standards achieved by off-site manufacture control; excellent stability of shape in case of humidity; and resistance to insect damage. However, the high thermal conductivity of steel elements may lead to significant thermal bridges. LSF construction may also show lower thermal mass which can be problematic in some conditions, leading to several comfort-related problems (e.g., overheating), larger temperature fluctuations and higher energy demand for heating and cooling.

In the first part of this paper, several LSF systems are presented and classified, and some materials, manufacturing/design options and framing methods are listed in order to provide a general overview of this kind of construction. Secondly, some strategies for reducing thermal bridges and for improving the thermal resistance of LSF envelope solutions are discussed. Several strategies for increasing the thermal storage capacity of LSF elements are also presented and particular attention is devoted to the incorporation of PCMs in LSF systems. Nowadays, it is well known that the use of adequate thermal energy storage (TES) systems with PCMs presents high potential in energy conservation in the building sector [9]. The energy consumption for heating and cooling and the thermal comfort of LSF buildings during their operational phase are also discussed, and some methodologies to evaluate the thermal performance of buildings are presented. Finally, in the last part of the paper, the environmental performance of LSF construction and the life cycle assessment (LCA) of this type of construction are discussed, pointing out the main challenges of this sort of analysis.

Section snippets

Materials

LSF is a building construction system consisting of dry materials [10], mainly for low-rise residential buildings [11]. This dry construction system can be characterized by three main materials that are used in walls and slabs: cold formed steel sections for load bearing; sheathing panels (e.g., oriented strand board (OSB) and gypsum plasterboard) and, insulation materials (e.g., mineral wool and expanded polystyrene) [12]. Further materials are needed for joining and fastening (e.g.,

Thermal performance of LSF construction

In this paper, thermal performance refers to how well a building responds to changes in the outdoor environment in order to maintain indoor thermal comfort conditions. These conditions must be achieved involving as little energy demand for heating and cooling as possible. The energy efficiency of the building means using less energy to provide the same indoor thermal conditions. In this context, the thermal performance of LSF construction can be improved by reducing thermal bridges and by

Life cycle environmental performance

Dubina et al. [215] presented the theoretical background and design rules for cold-formed steel sections and sheeting, members and connections for building applications. The authors also pointed out the importance of the sustainability of cold-formed steel construction. Nowadays, the environmental performance of lightweight steel frames can be assessed by a life cycle analysis, which takes into account all stages, from material production to end-of-life and recycling of materials. The general

Conclusion

This papers presents the key advantages and drawbacks of LSF construction regarding the energy efficiency and thermal performance of buildings. Moreover, some research gaps are identified, providing guidelines for future research. The main driving research topics to improve the thermal performance of LSF construction are related to:

•
the development of single and combined strategies to reduce thermal bridges and to improve the thermal resistance of LSF envelope elements;
•
increase the thermal

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) within ISISE project UID/ECI/04029/2013. The work has also been funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020-POCI, and by FCT in the framework of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016750 | PTDC/EMS-ENE/6079/2014.

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Energy efficiency and thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction: A review

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials

Thermal performance of LSF construction

Life cycle environmental performance

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Energy Build

Build Environ

Thin-Walled Struct

Energy Build

J Constr Steel Res

Thin-Walled Struct

Build Environ

J Constr Steel Res

J Constr Steel Res

Appl Acoust

J Constr Steel Res

Build Environ

Thin-Walled Struct

Energy Build

Energy Convers Manag

Build Environ

Energy Build

Energy Build

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Appl Energy

Energy Build

Energy Procedia

Vacuum

Energy Build

Appl Energy

Energy Convers Manag

Appl Therm Eng

Energy Convers Manag

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Build Environ

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Energy Build

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Appl Energy

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Energy Build

Energy Build

Energy Convers Manag

Energy Build

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Appl Therm Eng

Energy Build

Energy Build

Sol Energy

Appl Energy

Renew Sustain Energy Rev

Energy Build