TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the applicability of expanded polystyrene (EPS) based concrete panels as roof slab insulation in the tropics
AU - Meddage, D. P.P.
AU - Chadee, Aaron
AU - Jayasinghe, M. T.R.
AU - Rathnayake, Upaka
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Heat transfer through roof slabs significantly increases the operational energy consumption of buildings. Therefore, passive implementations are necessary to improve the thermal performance of roof slabs in tropical climates. This paper presents a novel roof slab insulation using expanded polystyrene (EPS) based lightweight concrete panels. The workflow consists of field experiments and numerical simulations performed in Design Builder. Moreover, we offered a holistic life-cycle approach to investigate the economic and environmental feasibility of alternate forms. Accordingly, the roof slab with 75 mm EPS insulation and a white exposed surface performed satisfactorily. Corresponding decrease in life cycle cost, carbon emission (kgCO2e), and operational energy consumption were 8.3%, 20%, and 41%, respectively. The overall eco-efficiency index (EEI) implies that the recommended insulation system is environmentally and economically feasible under tropical climatic conditions. Further, manufacturing EPS concrete is eco-friendly since it reduces EPS waste content which does not decay through natural means.
AB - Heat transfer through roof slabs significantly increases the operational energy consumption of buildings. Therefore, passive implementations are necessary to improve the thermal performance of roof slabs in tropical climates. This paper presents a novel roof slab insulation using expanded polystyrene (EPS) based lightweight concrete panels. The workflow consists of field experiments and numerical simulations performed in Design Builder. Moreover, we offered a holistic life-cycle approach to investigate the economic and environmental feasibility of alternate forms. Accordingly, the roof slab with 75 mm EPS insulation and a white exposed surface performed satisfactorily. Corresponding decrease in life cycle cost, carbon emission (kgCO2e), and operational energy consumption were 8.3%, 20%, and 41%, respectively. The overall eco-efficiency index (EEI) implies that the recommended insulation system is environmentally and economically feasible under tropical climatic conditions. Further, manufacturing EPS concrete is eco-friendly since it reduces EPS waste content which does not decay through natural means.
KW - EPS concrete
KW - Eco-efficiency index
KW - Low-rise apartment
KW - NERD slab
KW - Roof insulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135198123&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01361
DO - 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01361
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85135198123
SN - 2214-5095
VL - 17
JO - Case Studies in Construction Materials
JF - Case Studies in Construction Materials
M1 - e01361
ER -
