Building Climatology R&D Laboratory

The laboratory of the Institute of Building Climatology (IBK), Technical University of Dresden, provides a wide range of hygrothermal material testing with the measuring methods beyond the standardized procedures regulated in the standards and guidelines.
Our research field ranges from the determination of basic material parameters to the extensive material optimization or even special investigations in the multi-chamber climatic test facility. Material-producers, planners and experts are welcome.
In addition, the monitoring on the refurbished buildings by measuring the temperature and humidity in the constructions and the adjoining rooms is also offered. In particular, this will be beneficial in case of application of the new renovation technologies or usage in the critical environment.
Finally, the laboratory provides all the prerequisites for applying the simulation methods developed at the institute, including the material parameters and the validation of the climatic measurements.

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Research scope

Building materials

IBK laboratory provides a wide range of hygrothermal material tests by application of the measuring methods and procedures regulated in the international standards and guidelines. IBK currently can measure basic material properties (bulk density, specific heat capacity, open porosity, thermal conductivity), moisture storage properties (sorption isotherm, pressure plate measurement), moisture transport properties (water vapor transmission test “cup test”, water absorption test, drying test, unsaturated liquid conductivity test), condensation, etc.

Building components

The IBK laboratory has a test facility to evaluate different interior insulation systems in combination with joist ends / wooden beam ends. The test facility consists of mainly three parts, a cold-side chamber, the test wall (with nine test fields) and the warm-side chamber. Both chambers are accessible through a door and equipped with air-conditioning technology. Currently, an enhanced façade test facility in the development to investigate the performance of multifunctional active façade systems, including the roof components and its constructive joints.

Building

The expertise of the IBK laboratory includes the technical monitoring of restoration projects by survey of temperature, moisture and heat in the construction and the room. This building monitoring provides valuable knowledge in the context energy efficiency of historical buildings. Sensor technologies and measurement methods, measurement data analysis and processing are further developed and improved.

Key competencies

Comprehensive determination of hygrothermal material properties (with implementation in hygrothermal simulation software)
hygrothermal material improvement
quality assurance of building physics for product development
expert valuation of damage cases (e.g. moisture loads, lack of protection against driving rain, condensation behavior)
technical monitoring of restoration projects by survey of temperature and moisture in the construction and the room, even over longer periods of time
development of new sensor technologies and measurement methods, climate measurements
development of measurement- and laboratory standards

Contact: Research and Development Laboratory - Institute of Building Climatology