Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IMPRESS (New Easy to Install and Manufacture PRE-Fabricated Modules Supported by a BIM based Integrated Design ProceSS)
Teaser
Buildings dated between 1950 and 1975 were constructed in an era where energy efficient performance was not a critical part of the design. New technologies and techniques to improve energy efficiency in these buildings are required. Prefabricated panels are one such technology...
Summary
Buildings dated between 1950 and 1975 were constructed in an era where energy efficient performance was not a critical part of the design. New technologies and techniques to improve energy efficiency in these buildings are required. Prefabricated panels are one such technology which can be retrofitted to an existing building to improve thermal performance. IMPRESS will leverage on the potential of prefabrication by developing a new range of easy to install panels, which can reduce energy demand while preserving and/or improving the building aesthetics. Both over-cladding and re-cladding options will be investigated which will maximise the range of buildings which are suitable for façade renovation. Three different prefabricated panels for buildings will be developed: (i) a polyurethane based insulated panel with improved thermal performance and light radiation and (ii) a thin, lightweight pre-cast concrete sandwich panel, with optimum thermal and weathering resistance, both of which are suitable for over-cladding; (iii) a lightweight pre-cast concrete sandwich panel incorporating Phase Change Materials (PCM) to adapt the thermo-physical properties of the building envelope and enable optimum passive heating and cooling benefits, suitable for re-cladding. Innovative nano/micro particle based coatings, suitable for 3D printing, will be also developed to achieve anti-corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, improved solar reflectance, improved ageing resistance and anti-vandalism properties. These will also provide an aesthetic finish to the façade. To create the panels, an innovative manufacturing process will be created that includes Reconfigurable Moulding (RM) techniques, 3D laser scanning and 3D printed technology. In addition, 3D printed microstructured formworks will be developed as permanent external layer for the polyurethane panel in order to improve its solar radiation efficiency. The overall manufacturing process will (i) allow for mass production of panels, which take into account complex architectural and aesthetic issues, (ii) allow for faster production while lowering prefabrication costs and (iii) develop new controlled and cost effective solutions. To minimise cost and maximise efficiency with respect to ecological, economical and social aspects of the prefabricated renovation process, improved methodologies and system are needed. These include planning instruments which provide information for the whole planning process over the life cycle for the building. IMPRESS will develop a new Iterative Design Methodology, which will incorporate all stages of the
Design-Construct-Install-Operate process. This will be integrated with a cloud based BIM database focussing on the interoperability between software tools required for the prefabricated process. The methodology will ensure that energy efficiency is taken into account early within the design process. To address this, Decision Support Software (DSS) will be developed specifically for the design stage of renovation to allow the end user to choose which re-cladding/over-cladding option is suitable for their building and then evaluate the various configurations and combinations of the panel options. To ensure all stakeholders within the process are responsible for final product performance, new penalty based business models will be investigated. The final result will be demonstrated on two existing buildings where final as-built product performance will be validated against the initial design.
Work performed
Work Package 1
• Task 1.1: Hybrid Polyurethane Panels: Research and Design – Completed
• Task 1.2: PCM Panel Development: Research and Design – Completed
• Task 1.3: Hybrid Polyurethane Panels: Development – Ongoing
• Task 1.4: PCM Panel Development: Development – Ongoing
• Task 1.5: Embedded sensors for the panels – Ongoing
Work Package 2
• Task 2.1: Mass production process for standard and customised panels prefabrication – Ongoing
• Task 2.2: 3D Laser Scan for identification of façade geometrical features and customised shapes - Completed
• Task 2.3: Formwork equipment and technology for standard and customised panels – Ongoing
Work Package 3
• Task 3.1: Development of Adhesive Anchoring Systems - Ongoing
• Task 3.2: Development of Joints between Panels - Ongoing
• Task 3.3: Development of Metallic Anchoring Systems – Ongoing
Work Package 4
• Task 4.1: Analysis of stakeholder interests, drivers and motives – Completed
• Task 4.2: Baseline: collaborative methodologies for design and construction – Completed
• Task 4.3: Development of the Iterative Design Methodology for the Prefabrication Process – Completed
• Task 4.4: Optimised BIM Methodology and Process according to different standards and regulations across Europe – Ongoing
• Task 4.5: Development of Penalty Based Business Models – Ongoing
Work Package 5
• Task 5.1: Decision Support Software for Prefabricated Building Renovation - Completed
• Task 5.2: Online Management Platform - Ongoing
• Task 5.3: Development of an Interoperable Data Exchange Server - Ongoing
Work Package 6
• Task 6.1: Envelope assessment of the demo sites - Ongoing
• Task 6.2: Integration of small scale prototypes on a test façade - Ongoing
• Task 6.3: Performance evaluation of the integrated façade components - Ongoing
• Task 6.4: Retrofitting demos at building - Ongoing
• Task 6.5: Performance monitoring and evaluation towards targets - Ongoing
Work Package 7
• Task 7.1: Dissemination and Collaboration - Ongoing
• Task 7.2: External Advisory Panel Reviews - Ongoing
• Task 7.3: Standardisation - Ongoing
• Task 7.4: Exploitation – Ongoing
Work Package 8
A knowledge management,document control and sharing platform is in use, and Quality Assurance procedures are in place. There is regular contact with EC officers and there have been a number of full Consortium meetings during this period:
• June 2015 - Kick off meeting, Glasgow
• December 2015 – 2nd Consortium meeting, Naples.
• May 2016 -3rd Consortium meeting, Coventry.
• November 2016 – 4th Consortium meeting, Dublin.
Final results
As the project is essentially coming to the end of its ‘research’ phase and is now moving into testing and installation of the panels on buildings, it is difficult to quantify expected impacts further than that mentioned in the DoA, and more will be confirmed during the next 12 months as panels are tested, optimised and installed on the demo buildings. That said, it can be confirmed that:
• The panels developed in WP1 are showing promising returns in terms of reduction in energy use of the building.
• Once validated, the innovative panels (particularly the geopolymer developments) are likely to lead to the generation of new high-tech SMEs specialised in renovation with prefabricated modules, and the creation of high-skill jobs for workers who could master innovative construction tools.
• The addition of sensors to the panels is likely to lead to better quality standard and performance guarantee for the installed prefabricated modules and their integrated components, while enhancing indoor air quality
• The manufacturing processes documented in WP2 and the methodology in WP4 have been designed to give a reduction of renovation operations while ensuring low intrusiveness and impact for users.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.project-impress.eu.