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Thermal performance

Timber is recognised as being very well suited as a material for high thermal performance buildings.

Thermal performance

Wall, floor and roof constructions have a significant effect on building thermal performance.

Building thermal performance includes the thermal comfort of occupants, the capacity of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and the energy used by that equipment.

Timber is a suitable construction material for high thermal performance buildings for a number of reasons.

 

 

Low thermal conductivity

Compared with other structural materials timber has low thermal conductivity, which is an advantage when designing a building envelope with high resistance to heat flow.

Significant volumetric heat capacity

Timber has significant volumetric heat capacity, which can be utilised to provide a building with thermal mass.

Thermal mass can reduce building energy use and improve thermal comfort by absorbing and storing heat from the indoors, then releasing it back at some later time.

Moisture absorption capacity

Timber has moisture absorption capacity, that can be utilised to reduce fluctuations in indoor relative humidity resulting in improved thermal comfort, perceived air quality and occupant health.   

The thermal performance of a building is dependent on the design of its structure (materials and geometry) and other inter-related factors.

Sophisticated building simulation tools, that model the complex relationship between these factors, are increasingly being used to design building structures for high thermal performance.

Thermal performance

Heat flow in a building structure

The thermal performance of a building space depends on the flows of heat conduction, solar radiation and air across the internal surfaces of walls, roofs… More

Humidity Buffering

Solid wood constructions can buffer variations of indoor humidity, by adsorbing moisture when the humidity of the indoor air is high and desorbing moisture when… More

NZ Building Code - Energy Efficiency

The thermal performance of a building (excluding assembly service, industrial, outbuildings and ancillary buildings) must satisfy Clause H1 Energy Efficiency of the New Zealand Building… More

R-value

The R-value is a measure of the total thermal resistance of a building element to heat flow when the internal and external environments are constant. More

Thermal Mass

Thermal mass refers to the ability of the building structure to absorb and store heat, and to release it at some later time. Wood has… More

Case study

Toko Ngawa House

Toko Ngawa House

Tennet Brown Architects

Key Features
  • Wood is used extensively throughout the house, its natural look complementing the native bush setting beautifully.
  • The occupants enjoy the natural beauty of the largely exposed timber framing including the large rafters that line the ceiling.
  • Principles of sustainability and environmental responsiveness were employed in the design, considering especially the thermal environment and selection of materials.

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Thermal performance