Document Archives

Improving the Thermal Performance of the Ordinary Concrete Block

• ID:

  30

• ESCSI:

  3214.003

• Author:

  Knickle, H.N. & Edgar Ducharmye

• Publication Name:

  Special Technical Publication 544

• Type of Publication:

  Article

• Publisher:

  ASTM

• Dated:

  1974

• Issue/Volume:

• Other ID:

• Page(s):

  215-222

• Reference List:

  N

• Abstract:

  Thermal performance tests have been performed on ordinary concrete block walls which have been constructed of sand and gravel concrete blocks and expanded shale concrete blocks. The thermal conductance of these walls were measured according to ASTM Test for Thermal Conductance of Built-Up Sections by Means of the Guarded Hot Box (C236-66). The sand and gravel block wall conductance was measured, then polystyrene inserts were inserted in these two-core masonry units, and the thermal conductance was remeasured. There was a significant improvement in the thermal conductance. The same procedure was applied to the expanded shale block wall, again resulting in a significant improvement of thermal conductance. Thermal transmittance has been calculated using the measured thermal conductance and film coefficients representing a 15-mph wind and a 1-mph wind. Calculations to show the comparative costs of building walls with and without the polystyrene inserts have been made.