Study on the Factors Affecting in Situ Measurement of the Thermal Resistance of Building Elements

A current global effort is being made in order to find solutions that will limit global warming. The building sector is responsible for the highest share of total energy consumption, which requires the continuous development of strategies to increase buildings energy efficiency. Considering the high share of emissions generated by buildings, improving buildings energy performance can significantly slow down global warming.

A key point in developing strategies to reduce energy consumption and making more accurate forecasts of the evolution of global warming is to determine the actual energy consumption generated by the use of buildings, which in some cases may differ from the theoretical one. In order to determine the actual energy consumption, with high accuracy, determinations in situ of the thermal resistance of the building elements that form the envelope, are essential.

The article presents the main methods for determining the thermal resistance of building elements in situ, factors influencing the accuracy of the results, and recommendations for the use of methods to reduce the risk of errors.