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org © 2018 IJCRT | Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2018 | ISSN: 2320-2882

THERMAL TRANSMITTANCE (U-VALUE

CALCULATIONS) OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
MATERIALS FOR WALLS
Ar. Priyadarshani1, Ar. Sudarshana2
1
Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonipat, Haryana, India
2
University Institute of Architecture, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, India
Abstract: Mud, lime, wood, stone and others traditional materials are silent used in house constructions in many countries,
especially in India. Thermal comfort level changes for different indoor and outdoor condition which can be measure. The
thermal comfort level can be changed for indoor by putting thermal materials like insulation, but the out comfort level is
not control by human. Indoor thermal conditions can be improved by the selection of building components, optimum
orientation & proper selection of building material. This paper contains the values of the different materials to control &
perform better for the thermal comfort and to meet with value of energy conservation building code (ECBC).
Keywords: Thermal performance, Thermal transmittance, sustainable building materials, and ECBC.

1. INTRODUCTION
Due to their inherent properties, different building materials respond differently to climatic conditions. The thermal properties of
building components such as walls, ceiling and floors together determine the energy consumption patterns and comfort conditions
in an enclosed space. Various building materials, such as factory produced extruded hollow brick, concrete blocks, sun dried
mud-brick and aerated concrete blocks have been used for construction works.
2. THERMAL PERFORMANCE
Many parameters are considered when selecting material, including durability, cost, compressive strength, water vapour
absorption and transmission, simplicity of application, and thermal conductivity, fire resistance. The factors that contact the
choice of materials can be summarized as Follows:
-Thermal performance
-Thermal resistance
-Cost
-Environmental impact
-Availability
1.1 CLASSIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF THERMAL EFFECTS ON MATERIALS

CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIAL:
1.1.1 Classification by type of substance
- On solid material
- On fluid
1.1.2 Classification by types of effect
- Chemical effect- reaction, decomposition
- Biological effects- sterilisation
- Physical effects- phase change, dimension change, heating
- Chemical effect are decomposition, reaction
1.1.3 Classification by temperature range effects
- Cryogenic effects- superconductivity
- Mid-temperature effects
- High-temperature effect- ionisation, dissociation
1.1.4 Classification by function of its study
- To know the effects - expansion, decomposition)
- To avoid the effects- food preservation) 1

1.2 PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL

Material property may be classified according to the material (i.e. metal properties, polymer) or according to the application; in
the concluding case, the standard category is:
Mechanical properties (mainly structural) are density, shear modulus, strength, elongation, hardness-damping, fracture, fatigue,
young’s modulus, rigidity-plasticity.

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Thermal properties are thermal expansion coefficient and capacity, thermal conductivity, density.
Chemical properties are corrosion, environmental attack, oxidation, composition, erosion.
Optical properties are absorbance, reflectance, emissivity, fibre optics.
Acoustic properties are acoustic impedance, speed of noise and sound attenuation.
Thermal conductivity (k-value) is property denoting a materials inbuilt ability to conduct heat. It is an inherent material property
and temperature dependant also. Units are W/m.k
Thermal transmittance (u-value) is property denote a resources ability to conduct heat. It is the reverse of thermal resistance (R-
value), it is property denoting a materials resistance to heat. It is dependent on temperature and thickness of the material. Units are
m2.k/W. Relationship between k, R- value & U-value are R-value= thickness of material (d)/ K, U-value= 1/R- value.2
Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb heat energy. The heat store capacity of building materials helps to achieve the
thermal comfort conditions by providing a time stoppage to the flow of heat. High density materials, like steel, brick, concrete and
stone have high thermal mass. Thermal mass is most suitable for climates with a diurnal variation of more than 10º C.
Thermal insulation is the reduction of heat transfer through a material. Heat flow is a consequence of contact between objects of
differing temperatures. Insulating material reduces the thermal conduction thus reducing unnecessary heat loss or gain. The
insulating capability of a material is measured with thermal conductivity (k). Low thermal conductivity is equivalent to high
insulating capability (R-value)3

2. SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL

2.1 Sustainable building material: sustainable building material can be defined as material with largely act in terms of particular
criteria. The criteria are commonly used:

 Low embodied energy

 Locally available material
 Environmental impact
 Thermal efficiency
 Recyclability of building materials
 Construction and demolition waste
 Waste and pollution generated during manufacturing process
 Use of renewable energy
 Operation & Maintenance costs
Traditional green building material: Lime, Mud, Wood, Stone
2.2 Contemporary Green building materials
Fly Ash Brick
Hollow Concrete Block
Perforated blocks
GFRG Glass fibre reinforce gypsum
Precast Ferro cement panels
Autoclave aerated concrete blocks

2.3 Agro waste building materials

Rick husk cement building particle board
Timber jute fibre polymer bonded panel
Baggase polymer bonded boards
Ground nut hull cement building board
2.4 Construction and demolition waste
Concrete Tiles, Excavated Material, Bricks, Glass, Plaster, Metal and Steel, Concrete Rubble, Fly Ash Lime Gypsum (FALG)4
2.4.1 FLY ASH
Types of fly ash are generally mixed with concrete:-
Class C - produced from burning lignite coals
High-calcium fly ash that contains less than 2% carbon contents
Class F – produce from anthracite coals
Low-calcium fly ash that contains less than 5% carbon contents
Utilization of fly ash in building materials
Ready-Mixed Fly Ash Concrete
Precast Fly Ash Concrete blocks
Clay Fly Ash Bricks

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Lime Fly Ash Bricks

Lime Fly Ash Cellular Concrete
Fly Ash Sand Lime Bricks5

Figure 1: Types of Fly Ash (Class C&F)

CALCULATION:
Thermal resistance = The formula for calculate U value = 1 / (Rso + Rsi + R1 + R2 ...)6
Thermal conductivity = K value
Relationship between k, R- value & U-value:
R-value= thickness of material (d)/ K
Thermal transmittance (U-value) = 1/R- value.
K value of plaster = 0.721 (NBC 2016)
R value = 0.012/0.721=0.017
K value of fly ash =0.44 (NBC 2016)
R value of fly ash = .23/0.44=0.52
K value of plaster= 0.721 (NBC 2016)
U value= 1/0.017+0.44+0.721 = 1.799 W/m2.K
3. CALCULATIONS: THERMAL TRANSMITTANCE U-VALUE

Table 1: U VALUE FOR WALL MATERIALS

Wall R Value U Value

Wall materials Source
thickness(M) m2k/W W/m2K

Exterior Brick Wall 230 mm 0.254 0.31 3.15 NBC 2016

Cavity wall (30mm) 0.284 0.53 1.88 NBC 2016

Cavity with insulation (PUF 30mm) 0.284 1.74 0.57 SP41

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Cavity with insulation (mineral wool

0.284 1.31 0.75 NBC
30mm)

Cavity with insulation (rock

0.284 1.01 0.98 NBC
wool30mm)

Gypsum board cavity 0.074 0.41 2.39 ASHRAE

ASHRAE, SP
Gypsum with insulation PUF 0.074 2.44 0.40
41

ASHRAE, SP
Gypsum with insulation mineral wool 0.074 1.72 0.57
41

ASHRAE, SP
Gypsum with insulation rock wool 0.074 1.12 0.88
41

Fly Ash Brick Wall 0.254 0.55 1.79 NBC 2016

Hollow Concrete Block Wall 0.222 0.91 1.09

AAC Block Wall7 0.1 0.89 NBC

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Block

0.15 0.59 NBC
Wall8

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Block

0.2 0.445 NBC
Wall

GFRG WALL panels 0.12 0.36 2.77 iit madras

FALG bricks 0.250 0.594 ASHRAE

7
NBC 2016,Chapter 11
8
NBC 2016,Chapter 11

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Figure 2: wall section with layer by layer

Table 2: calculation of u-value

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CONCLUSION
The aim of this research is to evaluate the thermal transmittance of sustainable building materials. Thermal transmittance (u
value) of the burned brick wall (230mm) is 3.15 W/m2k, not much very good as compare to u values given in ECBC 2017 but it
can be improve with using the insulating material such as mineral wool, rock wool etc. Fly Ash, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete,
Glass Fibre Reinforce Gypsum, Fly Ash Lime Gypsum comes under the criteria for sustainable building material as their u values
meet close to the ECBC 2017, they can be made from construction and demolish waste and industrial waste.
REFERENCES
[1] M. F. Ashby and K. Johnson, Materials and Design, Butterworth Publication, 2002.
[2] Manual of Tropical Housing and Building: climate design, by OH koenigsberger.
[3] USEPA- united states environmental protection agencysustainable-management-construction-and-demolition-materials.
[4] Source: IJER Additive to Cement –A Pozzolanic Material-Fly Ash, 27-28 Feb. 2016.
[5] Energy Conservation Building Code 2007.

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