Improved Durability of Steel Sandwich Panel Constructions regarding Hygrothermal and AIRtightness Performance

ended

HAIR is concerned with safeguarding the durability of steel intensive building envelopes against thermal and moisture related hygrothermal failures of the type that are increasing common, in part as a consequence of the more widespread use of well insulated construction. The project concentrates on investigations and solutions to prevent condensation and corrosion effects at steel sandwich construction, which have been increasing in recent years throughout Europe. Improved solutions in relation to both new build and refurbishment will be developed to produce reliable design methods and practical guidance for avoidance of failures in the future. As a consequence, the work will reduce the levels of risk associated with hygrothermally induced premature corrosion of steel sandwich panel constructions, and moisture related degradation of non-steel elements such as insulation materials and internal linings. The project also focusses on renovating and repowering of existing buildings by over-cladding with steel sandwich panel constructions. Especially, the impact on the building physics performance due to changing the envelope properties and interactions between heat, air and moisture on element level are regarded. The conducted investigations are raised from element to building level in order to extend applications of steel sandwich panel constructions to a wider use for several building types, climatic conditions and user profiles. In this way, the whole building performance of the systems will be investigated and assessed with regard to their influence on the durability, energy efficiency and life cycle performance of hall-like buildings. In addition to the development of explicit solutions, the principles of durable steel sandwich panel constructions will be summarised in guidelines.