Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
14
Climatic materials
Climate regulating materials control the indoor climate, and are mainly orientat-
ed towards comfort. They can be subdivided into four groups:
• air-regulating
• moisture-regulating
• temperature-regulating
• noise-regulating.
Air-regulating materials are usually composed of a thin barrier over the whole of
the outside surface of the building and resist the incoming air flows. They are
also used in internal walls between cold and warm rooms, where there is a
chance of a draught being caused in the warm room.
Moisture-regulating materials are primarily used for waterproofing foun-
dations, and as an inner vapour barrier to stop moisture from inside the
building penetrating the wall and damaging it. They include materials that
can regulate and stabilize air moisture in permanent absorption and emission
cycles.
Temperature-regulating materials mainly include thermal insulation materials
built into the outside surface, but also materials that stabilize temperature rela-
tionships through their warmth-regulating properties. A subgroup for internal
use are surface materials that can reflect, absorb or carry heat radiation through
their structure and colour.
Noise regulation is necessary to reduce and transfer sound of different qual-
ities in and between rooms, and to guarantee a good acoustic climate. External
sources of noise, such as road and air transport, necessitate good insulation in
