Mrer-Fp Aya Khalil

UNIVERSITE LIBANAISE UNIVERSITE SAINT-JOSEPH
Faculté de Génie Faculté d’Ingénierie ESIB
Rapport de stage Master 2 Recherche

Pour l’obtention du diplôme Master Recherche en
Énergies Renouvelables
Effect of façades types on building energy

performance in Beirut
Par
Aya Khalil
Encadré par : Dr.Elias Kinab

Supervisé par : Dr Talal Salem
Soutenance effectuée le 9 septembre 2019 devant le jury composé des membres du
comité scientifique du master, de l’encadrant et de :
Dr. Mazen Ghandour en tant que rapporteur

Dr. Hadi Kanaan en tant que membre invité
Table of Contents
Introduction:..............................................................................................................................................6
Overview....................................................................................................................................................7
Energy state in Lebanon in particular Beirut:..........................................................................................7
Climate zones in Lebanon and the climate conditions in Beirut..........................................................9
Historic review of Lebanese façade...................................................................................................11
Literature review.....................................................................................................................................21
Description of the façade studied:..........................................................................................................25
Methodology............................................................................................................................................32
Trnsys definition....................................................................................................................................32
Modeling phases....................................................................................................................................32
Definition of the models........................................................................................................................33
Indoor environmental parameters..........................................................................................................34
Outdoor environmental parameters........................................................................................................35
Results and discussion.............................................................................................................................36
Analysis of air conditioning demand of the buildings analyzed.............................................................36
General analysis of the air conditioning demand of the buildings analyzed:.........................................55
Facade parameters that affect cooling demand......................................................................................56
Façade parameters that effect heating demand......................................................................................56
Life cycle..................................................................................................................................................57
Life cycle environmental impacts..........................................................................................................57
Life cycle costs......................................................................................................................................63
Performance..........................................................................................................................................64
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................67
Identification of the most adequate façade type for Beirut climate conditions.......................................67
References.................................................................................................................................................67
List of Figures
Figure 1: office buildings area (square meter) distribution in each Mohafaza 2004-2015...........................7
Figure 2:Share of several types of building from the total building area 2003–2015...................................8
Figure 3: Distribution of Electricity consumption per sector in Beirut........................................................9
Figure 4:The Azarieh Buildings complex (B03), D.O.C.1955...................................................................14
Figure 5:Cinema Hamra............................................................................................................................14
Figure 6:'Riad solh 1216' building.............................................................................................................15
Figure 7:Sabbagh center 1964...................................................................................................................16
Figure 8:American Life Insurance.............................................................................................................16
Figure 9: The Unesco Centre 1982............................................................................................................17
Figure 10:El ghazal tower 1983.................................................................................................................18
Figure 11: External and internal views of BLOM Building- Block A 1993..............................................19
Figure 12: External and internal views of BLOM Building- Block B........................................................19
Figure 13:External views of EI-Nahar office building, 2002.....................................................................20
Figure 14:Case B. structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)............................................................27
Figure 15:Case C. ceramic cladding with external insulation....................................................................28
Figure 16: Case D. Aluminum composite panel with covering.................................................................29
Figure 17:Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external...............................................30
Figure 18:Case F: natural stone cladding...................................................................................................31
Figure 19: Case A(Double blocks concrete with internal air cavity and mortar coating)...........................37
Figure 20:Wall type manager case A.........................................................................................................38
Figure 21: window type manager Case A..................................................................................................39
Figure 22: Wall type manager of ground floor Case A..............................................................................40
Figure 23: Wall type manager of roof Case A...........................................................................................41
Figure 24: Simulation graph Case A..........................................................................................................42
Figure 25:CASE B : Structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)........................................................43
Figure 26:wall type manager Case B.........................................................................................................44
Figure 27:Simulation graph.......................................................................................................................45
Figure 28 :Wall type manage Case C........................................................................................................46
Figure 29:simulation graph Case C...........................................................................................................47
Figure 30:Wall type manager Case D........................................................................................................48
Figure 31:Simulation graph Case D...........................................................................................................49
Figure 32:Wall type manager Case E........................................................................................................50
Figure 33:Simulation graph Case E...........................................................................................................51
Figure 34: Wall type manager Case F........................................................................................................52
Figure 35:Simulation graph Case F...........................................................................................................53
Figure 36:Energy demand in kWh for air conditioning of the cases analyzed :.........................................54
Figure 37: Energy demand in kWh for the cases analyzed. Comparison is based on to the overall U-value
of the facade (axis on the right).................................................................................................................54
Figure 38: cooling energy demand in kWh for the cases analyzed. Comparison is based on to the openings
percentage (axis on the right)....................................................................................................................55
List of Tables
Table 1:Monthly demand Case A..............................................................................................................42
Table 2:hourly heating and cooling demand..............................................................................................42
Table 3:Monthly demand Case B..............................................................................................................45
Table 4: Hourly demand Case B................................................................................................................45
Table 5:Monthly demand Case C..............................................................................................................47
Table 6:Hourly demand CaseC..................................................................................................................47
Table 7:Monthly demand Case D..............................................................................................................49
Table 8:Hourly demand Case D.................................................................................................................49
Table 9: Monthly demand Case E..............................................................................................................51
Table 10:Hourly demand Case E...............................................................................................................51
Table 11:Monthly demand Case F.............................................................................................................53
Table 12:Hourly demand Case F................................................................................................................53
Table 13: Total embodied energy and embodied carbon of different facades systems considered per m2 59
Table 14:heating and cooling demand in kWh..........................................................................................60
Table 15: costs of different facades alternatives.......................................................................................64
Table 16: thermal resistance of different alternatives facades...................................................................65
Table 17:sound reduction indices..............................................................................................................66
Summary
The aim of this article is to analyze the energy efficiency issues of six types of building existing
in Beirut, using computer simulation Trnsys software to compare energy demand .The second
purpose is the selection of façade by accounting the economic and environmental impacts of the
decision. A comprehensive list of sustainability criteria for selection the most adequate façade
system is presented and discussed in details .Its demonstrated that there are considerable
differences in demand depending on the type of façade .In all case the cooling demand represent
to 95% of the total energy demand. The results affirmed that the decisive parameter that’s effects
cooling demand is the percentage of openings of the façade and consequently, on its level of
solar control, and the heating demand depends on the thermal insulation (U-value). The
Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels are found to be the alternative with the lowest energy
demand in heating and cooling.
Introduction
The building envelope is the physical interface between the indoor and the outdoor
environments, and it’s responsible for much of the energy balance that occurs in the building
The type of construction used in the façade is a key factor in determine the energy performance
of a building and therefore its level of sustainability
The properties of facades materials should be considered to determine which of them strongly
affect building energy performance, regardless of the building shapes, scales ideal locations, and
building types, and many be able to promote energy efficiency in buildings.
The use of an energy efficient façade is indispensable for reduction carbon emission during the
operational phase of a building
Façade factors related to energy performance are thermal quantities (e.g. U value) and solar heat
gain quantities (solar heat gain coefficient SGHC)
Several new façade materials have been developed that are aimed at reducing the energy
demands of buildings
The development of facades materials should be promote to realize a more energy-efficient
façade, which could potentially be a universal solution regardless of two facts that
1-location, weather, and user behavior strongly affect energy performance and its distribution
2- Façade properties (reflectance, u-value of opaque and window parts, and SHGC), design
factors (building shape, volume, window configuration)
The 1st purpose of this study is to analyze the energy efficient of a 6 different types of office
building in Beirut, were investigated with the purpose of reducing the heating and cooling energy
demands. This was done by simulation using the simulation tool TRNSYS
Since , the cooling and heating demand are strongly affected by the external climate conditions ,
a new weather file represented of the real climate conditions during the experimental campaign
was implemented by using the measured hourly data for air temperature , solar radiation and
relative humidity in order to compare the simulation results and the experimental data and to
validate the model
The second focus in this study is the selection of façade by accounting the economic and
environmental impacts of the decision.
A comprehensive list of sustainability criteria for selection of façade system is presented and
discussed in details.
The selected sustainability criteria are then applied to identify the most sustainable façade system
among 6 different systems.
Overview
Energy state in Lebanon in particular Beirut:
Office building area in Lebanon

In 1996, The Central Administration of Statistics surveyed all buildings of Beirut. From their
data published in September 1996, the total area occupied by establishments considered as
offices was 736,923 m2. According to the Order of Architects and Engineers (2004) the area
occupied by offices has increased by 300% in Beirut during the last ten years, because of the
high level of commercial investments there.
The share of each type of buildings was calculated using OEA data. Using the aforementioned
data, the existing area of buildings between 2004 and 2015 is calculated in all Lebanese
Mohafazat .The total area of office buildings increased about 30% from 4,580,698.78 square
meters in 2004 to reach 6,578,586.63 square meters in 2015. [11]
Figure 1: Office buildings area (square meter) distribution in each Mohafaza 2004-2015
Figure 2: Share of several types of building from the total building area 2003–2015
Building sector energy demand:
The Figure below illustrates the development of the distribution of electrical energy per sector in
Beirut in 1974, before the war, and in 1993, after the war. It should be noted that the building
sector in Beirut has always consumed the highest percentage of total energy used in the city. This
percentage has grown 23% during nineteen years, an annual increase of 1.2%.
The total energy consumption for the building sector was 14,207 Gwh in 2010. And reach 20,651
Gwh in 2014 .
The building sector in Beirut, consumed 70% of the supplied energy. The reason for this high
percentage is that Beirut no longer depends on industry as it did before. (25% in 1974). This city
relies mainly on business and service provision. The other reason is the growth in population
(32% of the total), which naturally has increased residential energy use.
As has been mentioned previously, the annual consumption in Lebanon in 2014 was
20,651GWh, with consumption in Beirut 40% of the total.
The collected empirical data for office buildings in Beirut showed that the consumption of an
office is 180 kWhlm2/year. Therefore office buildings in Beirut took 7.5% of Beirut's energy
consumption, and 1.6% of the national consumption. It is of note that in 1995, 50.1 % of the
residential units in Beirut were multiuse, i.e. providing both residential and office space (Central
Administration of Statistics, 1996).
Following the local problems that started in Lebanon in 1975, the electricity sector suffered
serious damages and continuous energy shortage. The building sector remains the largest
consumer of energy in Lebanon, and the need to rationalize energy consumption in buildings is
vital.
The building sector demand for electricity has increased from 10,500 GWh in 2009 to 15,750
GWh in 2014. This increase could be related to the massive population increase caused by the
migration of more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees to Lebanon.
Energy use for artificial lighting, cooling and heating in offices can account for up to half their
primary energy use.
Figure 3: Distribution of Electricity consumption per sector in Beirut
The EU-funded project on Energy Efficiency in the Construction Sector of the Mediterranean
(MED-ENEC) conducted a study in July 2013 titled a roadmap for developing energy indicators
for buildings in Lebanon. Using 2005 climatic data for Beirut, this study defines the energy
demand for each type of building (except hospitals) and for each essential usage in the coastal
zone. The essential usages are five: heating and humidification, cooling and dehumidification,
ventilation, lighting and domestic hot water. For instance, the average energy demand for cooling
in buildings of all types is about 100 kWh /m2.year for the coastal zone. This value varies from
64 kWh /m2.year for seasonal residences to 193 kWh /m2.year for retail, and varies depending
on the climatic zone.
Climate zones in Lebanon and the climate conditions in Beirut
The climate in Lebanon is inextricably related to the four geographical zones: the coastal plain,
the coastal mountain, the central plateau and the eastern Mountain.
 Climatic zone A, divided into 2 sub-zones Al and A2: This includes the coastal plain (A 1
< 500m altitude) and the coastal chain (A2 > 500m). Beirut is situated within climatic
zone AI. The climate in this zone is Typically Mediterranean with hot and humid summer
months, and a warm, mild winter. .
 Climatic zone B, divided into 2 sub-zones Bland B2: This includes the occidental versant
of the coastal chain reaching out to the north, center and south, where the regulator is the
sea. Within zone B, sub-zone B 1 comprises the regions of 900 to 1500m altitude. B2
includes regions that have an altitude above 1500m. The climate in this zone is mild in
summer and cold in winter.
 Climatic zone C: This extends from the summits of the coastal chain to the frontier, and
includes only the regions between 900 and I500m. The summers of this zone are hot and
dry and the winters are cold.
Beirut is located in Lebanese climatic zone A1 (the Coastal strip) and has a typical
Mediterranean climate
1-Daylight
Day lighting can be a good contributor to energy efficiency in the buildings of Beirut, where the
climate is typically Mediterranean The length of the day in Beirut varies significantly over the
course of the year. In 2019, the shortest day is December 22, with 9 hours, 54 minutes of
daylight; the longest day is June 21, with 14 hours, 25 minutes of daylight.
2-Clouds:
In Beirut, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal
variation over the course of the year.
The clearer part of the year in Beirut begins around May 17 and lasts for 5.0 months, ending
around October 15. On August 9, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or
partly cloudy 100% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 0% of the time.
The cloudier part of the year begins around October 15 and lasts for 7.0 months, ending around
May 17. On December 13, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy
38% of the time, and clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 62% of the time.
3- Temperature:
The hot season lasts for 3.8 months, from June 18 to October 10, with an average daily high
temperature above 82°F (27.7°C). The hottest day of the year is August 10, with an average high
of 86°F (30 °C) and low of 78°F (25.5°C).
The cool season lasts for 3.3 months, from December 11 to March 20, with an average daily high
temperature below 67°F (19.4°C). The coldest day of the year is January 24, with an average low
of 52°F (11.1°C) and high of 62°F (16.7°C).
4- Solar energy
This section discusses the total daily incident shortwave solar energy reaching the surface of the
ground over a wide area, taking full account of seasonal variations in the length of the day, the
elevation of the Sun above the horizon, and absorption by clouds and other atmospheric
constituents. Shortwave radiation includes visible light and ultraviolet radiation.
The average daily incident shortwave solar energy experiences extreme seasonal variation over
the course of the year.
The brighter period of the year lasts for 3.5 months, from May 8 to August 25, with an average
daily incident shortwave energy per square meter above 7.4 kWh. The brightest day of the year is
June 22, with an average of 8.6 kWh.
The darker period of the year lasts for 3.4 months, from November 4 to February 16, with an
average daily incident shortwave energy per square meter below 3.8 kWh. The darkest day of the
year is December 24, with an average of 2.6 kWh.
Historic review of Lebanese façade

Development of office building design and façade configuration in Beirut.
In this section examples of office-use buildings facades in each phase will be described which is
exist in Beirut.
Some of this façade are considered good examples representatives of the phase in which they
were built. [1]
The Traditional and Neo-Traditional Phase (before 1920)
The centralization of commercial and administration areas increased between 1860 and 1880.
During this period the previous garden suburbs became an urbanized periphery, having been
transformed into an urbanized district in the preceding forty years. With the continuing urban
growth, suburban residential types underwent a process of change to adapt to their new functions
In the 19th and early 20th century this urbanized district was subdivided into two parts by
'Weygand' street, the lower and the upper parts. The part below Weygand Street related to the
port of Beirut, which was originally the old city, and the part above related to the city Centre.
The most important governmental and institutional buildings constructed during the Ottoman
period are the 'Grand Serail', the military hospital, the clock tower, the 'Petit Serail' , The Orosdi
Back Department Store, the Imperial Ottoman Bank , and many other educational establishment
of foreign origin.
Transitional Phase (1920 - 1930)
With the beginning of the French mandate, cement was gradually integrated into construction.
Concrete consumption was driven by residential growth during that period. Builders and the
public at large perceived this new material as 'artificial cast stone'. The resulting changes that
occurred in massing and facade treatment may be summarized as follows:
The decline of red brick roofing because of using flat roofs
Disappearance of hood moulds and plastered bands outlining structural openings.
The use of plain stucco finishes to external walls
Progressive replacement of the triple arch by alternative designs and shapes
Most of the buildings consisted of four floors, with the ground floor used for commercial
purpose. As for the floors above, apartments were rented for residential and or office use. Today
some of these buildings are still there, and since the civil war they have been renovated by the
Solider Company for use as office buildings. The use of French windows is quite clear in the
elevations. The use of multiple forms of arches is also apparent in the aligned elevations,
occupying the whole length of their sites.
B01-the petit serial
The building consisted of two floors above a semi-basement, erected on a rectangular ground
plan with a central courtyard. The two floors were lined with tall windows set off by Neo-
Baroque marble frames producing a marked contrast to the dark Beiruti sandstone facade. The
monumental white marble portal stretched over the basement and first floor, recalling the
entrance to a palazzo of the Italian renaissance. The western-inspired treatment of window
surrounds with light stone, segmental lintels, curved cornices and moulded sills, would be
depicted in traditional and neo-traditional apartment houses one to two decades later. This
affinity between public and residential buildings, before the introduction of Western building
types may be attributed to the use of the same construction material and architectural vocabulary,
from fenestration to detailing to overall massing. It is interesting to note that a single window
type is depicted in the Grand Serail, Petit Serail and suburban villas of the same period: only the
window's ornamental treatment changes according to use, taste and budget.
Late Transitional and Early Modern Phase (1930- 1946)
With the arrival of the cement industry in Lebanon in 1931, concrete became the standard
material of construction for urban buildings. The use of cement with skeleton Construction
systems was a way to overcome the increasing price of urban land; the construction of dense
rental complexes increased, consisting of attached buildings and the stacking of small units on
extremely restricted sites. However new building laws were erected in 1940, regulating setback
requirements, sanitary specifications, ventilation requirements and so on. They also determined
the zoning coefficient, densities of occupation and property holding.
To investigate the development of office buildings in this phase building B02 fosh 1153 is
analyzed with available data
B02-fosh 1153
Built in 1932, 'Fosh 1153' represents a developed or 'modernized' version of the central bay
facade typology. This is expressed by the use of the flat arches and semicircular arches only on
the top floor, possibly to indicate the end of the vertical extension of the building. The bay
window is more flattened, taking a simplified rectangular shape. The French window with its
small veranda is another important feature of facade typology that continued in this phase, as in
the previous one. Much simplification occurred to the lintel mouldings and veranda corbels. The
framing of openings is only marked by a change of color.
The same window unit was used in the four façades (constant window to wall ratio in all rooms)
The decrease in floor to ceiling height and the increased framing correction factor are other
reasons that explain this increment in the window to wall ratio, in addition to the bigger windows
area.
The French windows which offer shading for some openings on the four facades
The Early Years of Independence Phase (1946 - 1958)
Beirut began to lose its predominantly horizontal and even sky-line in the beginning of the
1950s.While in 1945 the Municipality of Beirut had issued 390 construction permits counting
626 floors with a total built-up area of 107246m2, New constructions, mostly in the form of
modern high-rise apartments and office buildings in reinforced concrete with impressive glass
facades and prefabricated aluminum frames, began to overwhelm the urban scene.
It is notable here that in 1943, Ecochard's master plan for Beirut had been the first
comprehensive study of land use with a zoning proposal that separated future industrial, business
and residential development.
Office buildings were also built within residential areas. On the other hand Banks Street, which
following the business extension of the old city of Beirut to the west, was also built during this
phase. This district saw several office buildings and bank head-offices built along Riad Solh
Road (also known as Banks Street), and on Riad Solh Square. Starting in the mid-1940s, this
became a proper showcase of modern office buildings over the next two decades. This extension
was not enough to cope with the economic and urban growth. Important administrative and
commercial areas were also developed.
B03-1955 Azarieh building

The Azarieh commercial complex is a group of floor building that enclose an internal courtyard,
and which have identical facades. The openings are simple rectangular windows but having an
overhang that controls sunlight and provides some shade to the offices located on the four
facades.
Figure 4:The Azarieh Buildings complex 1955
B04-1957 Cinema Hamra building
Using a large area of glass, on the north facade, optimization of light provision drove the
architect to design offices with glass running from wall to wall and almost from floor to ceiling,
while the southern side is protected by sunscreens. Being environmentally aware and obsessed
with perfecting details, the architect created a steel and glass façade having a mechanism where
window panels twisted and slid downwards, leaving a gap above and below for air exchange.
Figure 5:Cinema Hamra

In this phase, the office building where no longer similar to those of residential building. The
influence of modernism on architecture in Beirut from 1940 .This is quite clear from the
simplification of office building facades and the freedom from ornamentation that existed in
central bay buildings, In addition, with the development of glazing technology architects tried to
apply it in their designs. Some of these architects were environmentally aware and used large
panels where appropriate, or controlled sunlight penetration by using vertical and/or horizontal
shading devices, which shaped the facade according to their orientation.
The Shihabist and Post-Shihabist Phase (1958 - 1975)
With the growth in urbanization important administrative and commercial areas developed such
as Hamra Street, situated in the west Beirut central district, constituting a main artery for
business investment. Foreign investors built many office buildings. The development of office
buildings of this period will be reviewed consecutively, through the description and analysis of
office building case studies.
B05- Riad Solh 1216
The building is 7 floors in height, and is located in the banking street in Beirut Central District.
This fact explains the rectangular plan of 20m depth, having an inclined side to the north-east. Its
three main elevations face east, north and west. On the south facade, which is adjoining the
neighboring building, the architect has used a brise soleil , an exterior, fixed structure covering
the complete pass-through component or a larger area .Elevated on the entire facade, where the
architect has used large windows for the building service areas, the brise-soleil permits the
passage of light by obstructing direct solar radiation, provides privacy from adjacent buildings
and acts as an airshaft to ventilate associated spaces. As for the east and west, 115cm deep egg-
crates are used to protect the 46% wall to aperture Facades from direct sunlight. On the other
hand, the north facade (which is also inclined to the east) has vertical windows with shallower
fins, which may have been used for aesthetic reasons in order to keep continuity and harmony
between facades.
Figure 6:'Riad solh 1216' building
B06-Sabbagh center 1964
The owner of the 'Sabbagh Centre' , a multipurpose centre including commerce, offices and a
movie theatre, was seeking 'a building with character'. The design of the project was given to
Alvar Aalto, who ended up designing it in partnership with the Swiss architect Alfred Roth. The
building is more Roth's design than Aalto, except for the rear elevation which is broken and
treated with sharp-edged horizontal profiles acting as sun breakers. The other facades are treated
differently, in a very simple, straightforward and well detailed approach by the Swiss architect.
The difference in facade treatments is solved by the use of absolutely solid facades on both
eastern and western sides. As for the building shape, the architects used an L-shape plan to free
the corner, giving way to the perpendicular streets and offering a piazza to the pedestrian quarter.
The restricted horizontal extension on the site was replaced by 12 vertical storys, since building
height was no longer restricted by the '21m building height law'.
This shape increases the perimeter of the building envelope and, hence, permits a greater number
of offices of adequate depth (4- 4.5m depth) and accessibility, unilaterally day lighted.
Figure 7:Sabbagh center 1964
B07-american life insurance building
Designed in 1967 by the British architects Irving and Jones It might be summarily judged as one
more example of the International Style office buildings that spread across the Arab world,
wearing a regional make-up. However this one seems to wear it naturally, with elegance due to
the refinement of detail, the rationality of the structure and the optimization of space. The
aluminum screen tinted in bronze, protecting the building like a 'musharrabiyah' , seems woven
like fabric and adds to the general effect of lightness and elegance The building shape is a 3:1
rectangular slab, 4 storeys in height. The longer facades face east and west, housing open-plan
offices of 9.60m depth.a central chiller system was installed, and electrical sockets were located
in the floor for space use flexibility. This building is now abandoned and stands unoccupied.
Figure 8:American Life Insurance
The Civil War Phase (1975 - 1990)

The construction of office buildings and commercial buildings fell away, due to the economic
and investment regression during the civil war. , most demand was for small office units,
consisting office 1-2spaces and services of 40-60m2 area. In addition security, the possibility of
destruction, and necessary maintenance were important factors that needed consideration while
designing during the period.
B08- the Unesco Centre 1982
Located on the corner of Verdun Street an upmarket residential area, has an enclosing L-shape
plan. The facades are cladded, with bronze reflective glazing, bordered at the edges by a concrete
frame. The average office area is 20m2. The use of complete glazing on facades was not
recommended during that period, for security and maintenance reasons.
Figure 9: The Unesco Centre 1982

B09- El ghazal tower 1983
Built in 1983. Was placed on the eastern side of the green line which divided Greater Beirut into
Western and Eastern parts. 'it is one simple rectangular block, standing like a fortress. It seems
simple and easy, with the outside being composed of protruding vertical elements with all
openings hidden in a manner to keep the inside safe from any sniper fire or shells exploding
nearby . The problem of security was the main concern in the design of EI-Ghazal Tower.
This could not be provided by facade glazing, otherwise the front facade could have readily been
completely glazed without any protection because it faces north. For increased safety, the eastern
and western elevations were designed to be completely solid and therefore the cellular offices are
daylight unilaterally.
Figure 10:El ghazal tower 1983
The Post-War Reconstruction Phase (1990 - 2004)
The pre-war boom years established real estate as a promising investment in Beirut. This was
followed by massive investment in property in the 1990' s, as demand was stimulated by war
damage. The largest of the all country's development agencies is SOLIDERE, the real estate
company that controls reconstruction of the damaged Beirut Central District.
B10-BLOM building
The concept and design development of the BLOM Block a building were based on site
limitations. The building stands on a triangular plan, with a large middle space and a sharp notch
on one comer. Although it embodies one piece in volume, the notch is a transparent prism in
glass and steel; with the rest mainly a block of solid greenstone, and a modular replication of
vertical windows. The prism accommodates all the vertical circulation, with stairs and platforms
suspended from a main bridge at the top. Adding to the architectural language of mixed media,
specific forms define functions and spaces. A grand, two-level high transparent arch on the
ground floor marks the retail bank, and a protruding disc-shaped volume on the seventh floor is
the chairman's office.
In the middle of the triangular plan, an open half-cylinder shaft stretching from ground floor to
the sky provides zenithal lighting to the whole interior. Only on ceiling level at the retail bank on
the ground floor, is it sealed with glass for noise and security reasons.
BLOM Building - Block B is the new extension of block A. The second building has the same
style as the first. It stands as an independent building, but also as a continuation in form and
shape of the old one. The vertical circulation area is all in glass, and the same window unit is
replicated marking the office spaces behind. Inside the triangular volume, open plan offices have
an introverted view to an angular air-conditioned atrium, from one side through balconies and
from the other through small openings. The atrium is also open on the top, and has an outer
surface which is a curtain wall facing west.
Figure 11: External and internal views of BLOM Building- Block A 1993
Figure 12: External and internal views of BLOM Building- Block B
B11-EI-nahar office building

Is another example of newly constructed office buildings in the older context of the Beirut
Central District. The facade design was not limited by regulations imposed by SOLIDERE or
the Beirut municipality. On the contrary, the concept of the design was to create an outstanding
structure, without any integration with the surroundings. The building stands openly and freely
as a modem landmark in the old context of Weygand Street. The facades are made of glass
panels and stone cladding, and follow the concept of being a detached membrane from the main
structure of the building which is completely curtain wall. The interplay on volumes in the
facades was mainly intended to 'serve as microclimate control of the interior. The back section of
the building curves around a public garden in an animated way, mainly to provide the interior
with a clear view of some open space. The typical floor has four open plan offices, different in
size and shape. The north and south offices are daylight multilaterally, but the east and west
offices are lit unilaterally. Therefore, despite the high buffer zone depth in the south and north
orientation, the 0.84 wall to aperture ratio and the location of openings on the three sides of the
office gives a deeper daylight flow pattern. , the glazing material used in the facades is not
appropriate to protect the indoor environment from excessive glare and heat gain due to high
wall to aperture ratios.
Figure 13: External views of EI-Nahar office building, 2002.
It can be concluded that current office design trends in Beirut, identified previously as Modern
glass box and Imitative or Conservative architecture mixed with Contemporary architectural
elements, have mostly aesthetic concerns but no environmental or energy efficiency awareness.
In fact, all architects in the last 10 years have tended to use a curtain wall in their facades. The
wall to aperture ratio in the new structures located in the Central Beirut is controlled only for
aesthetic reasons, not for environmental or energy related ones. Therefore, it is important to
study the changes of facade typologies applied to the constant plan morphology of a building, as
well as the differences between the two design directions regarding energy performance.
Literature review
Buildings are responsible for approximately 42% of the world’s total annual energy
consumption.
In fact , building in the united states consume nearly half of all energy in the country for heating ,
cooling and power, and it is estimated that nearly 30 % of this consumption could be saved by
energy conservation and / or sustainable building design and operation .
Studies has shown that in South Africa, approximately 20% of all variable municipal electrical
energy is used in commercial and office buildings. Further studies have shown that air
conditioning is responsible for a substantial share of energy use (50%). Thus, energy efficiency
of air-conditioning systems is clearly of global importance.
The energy consumption in Lebanon is distributed as follows 45% for transportation, 25% for
industry and 30% for the residential and commercial buildings because of the substantial energy
percentage they contribute.
Moreover, in Lebanon, the energy sector is totally dependent on imported oil products and
energy demand is forecasted to increase.
Building envelope, building skin and building façade are three terms most often used in the
literature to describe the enclosure of indoor spaces of a building
Building envelope and building skin which include walls, windows, doors, roofs and floor
surfaces, aim to compare the building façade to an envelope or human skin that protects the
inside from external conditions
The American society of heating , refrigerating and air-conditioning engineers (ASHREA,1985)
defined the building envelope with more emphasis on its thermal function , as being the group of
elements that enclose conditioned spaces through which thermal energy was be transferred to or
from the exterior , or to from unconditioned space .
Stein et al... [2]extended the restricted description of the building envelope as being a set of two
dimensional exterior surfaces .they described it as a transitional space, this transition space is a
place where people indoors experience something of what the outdoors is like at that moment , as
well as where people outside get a glimpse of the functions within. The more suited the outdoors
to comfort, the more easily indoor activity can move into this transition space.
The authors added that building envelope has a fourth dimension, which changes with time.
Seasonal changes have a marked effect on the transition space, and consequently have an effect
on the environmental aspects of the indoor spaces.
Powler et al.. [3] compared the envelope of a building with the skin of the human body, the
building skin , which is called upon to perform a multitude of simultaneous functions in a
relatively thin dimension , these functions can be energy related (to control heat loss from the
interior of the building )or non-energy related ( to present an aesthetic position ).the author stated
that the building envelope always play the role of building façade to communicate important
cultural and social information such as sense of grandeur and permanence .
The thermal transmittance: the thermal transmittance or U-value of a material is the overall
coefficient of heat transfer from air to air .it is the time rate of heat flow per unit area under
steady conditions from the fluid on the warm side of the barrier to the fluid on the cold side, per
unit temperature difference between the two fluids (ASHREA) . the SI of U-value is W/m2
̊c .manufacturers usually present the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their u-value for
the entire window unit ,including the frame.
Heat loss can be also quantified in terms of thermal resistance, abbreviated to R-value.
This is a reciprocal of u-value: R-value =1/U-value m2 ̊c/w
Just as windows are sources of light and have distinct optical characteristics and implications for
visual comfort, they are also sources of heat gains and losses. The U-value of glazing therefore
has great impact on the heat and cooling demands of buildings, which are dependent on climate
and vary seasonally.
1-Effects of type of façade on the energy performance of buildings.
One of findings is that it is very important to adapt a design to the climate conditions to ensure
reduced energy demand and appropriate internal thermal comfort
Numerous studies have been conducted to optimize the thermal design of facades of specific
building located in different climate.
C Planas , & al. [4]showed that among the various office façade in Barcelona investigated in
their study , there are considerable difference in demand (more than double ) depending on the
type of façade ,The cooling demand & solar radiation is the parameter with the greatest effect .
It was even demonstrated that façade with worse insulation can have a lower heating demand
than façades with better insulation.
Additionally based on the result, it can be showed that the west orientation stands out as the most
problematic for cooling demand, while the north orientation is the most favorable because of its
lower demands
Lastly the results show that in climates such as the mediterrean climate , the requirements of
natural lighting of the buildings with high internal load clearly go against the need to control the
cooling demand .
Han & al .. [5] showed that decorative ceramic façade is a better option in terms of
environmental performance than the widely used curtain walls i.e. glass, marble .
But was worse than glass on the depletion of abiotic resources performance and was worse than
glass and aluminum on the human toxicity performance
This research conducted a life cycle assessment of decorative ceramic products from a typical
ceramic entreprise in south china
Takeshi Ihara & al.., [6] studies in their article the properties of facades materials to determine
which of them strongly affect building energy performance, regardless of the building shapes ,
scales, ideal locations and building types
Among the various fundamental façade properties of office buildings in Tokyo , japan ( u value
of the opaque parts , u value of the window & solar heat gain coefficient SHGC ) using certain
consumption , there are three approaches could be used to reduce the annual energy demand
regardless of design factors such as the building volume , floor aspect ratio , and window –to-
wall ratio
It shown that the reduction in the U-value of the opaque parts decreased the heating energy
demand, and this was compared by an increase in the cooling energy demand in some cases
because the total energy demands were predominately for cooling.
2-Multi criteria selection of façade system based on sustainability criteria
Selection of suitable façade material from a vast number of alternative is a complex decision
requiring a large amount of information and input from the design team, a great deal of research
has been conducted to compare the life cycle energy, life assessment and life cycle costing
impacts of different facades system to evaluate the sustainability performance of building s
facades for their selection
A research framework was proposed considering environmental, social and economic impacts.
Mohammad sallem & al [7] was applied to a medium rise commercial building in the city of
Belo Horizonte Brazil four building façades (brick, granite, aluminum and glass façades) were
selected and compared by their life cycle impacts (i.e., impacts in the pre-use, use, and post-use
phases). An energy model was developed in design builder to estimate the impact of the energy
demand of each façade during the operational phase .LCA of each façade was performed using
simple software , later selected facades were compared using multicriteria decision analysis for
three proposed scenarios: proenvironment , neutral and preeconomic. Based on the analysis,
brick façade was identified as the most sustainable façade in the neutral and proenvironment
scenario results.
A great deal of research has been conducted to compare the life cycle environmental impacts of
different façade
The type of façade has an influence on energy consumption during the building life cycle and ,
consequently , contributes to buildings’CO2 emissions , because these emissions are directly
connected to energy consumption ,therefore in this study the aim is to help develop a
methodology for evaluating CO2 emissions generated during the life cycle of office building
façade
Taborland Skt and Prado [8]reported that among the various facades alternatives investigated
in their studying brazil showed that facades using structural glazing and uncolored glass emit the
most co2 through their life cycle followed by brick facades covered with compound aluminum
panels or aluminum composite material (ACM), facades using structural glazing and reflective
glass and brick facades with plaster coating .in the other hand the results show that the typology
of facades that emits less co2 is brickwork and mortar because its thermal barrier is better than
structural glazing facades and materials used to produce this façade are better than brickwork and
ACM .
Description of the façade studied:
The type of construction and used in the facade is a key factor in determining the energy
performance of a building and therefore its level of sustainability. For example, the extensive use
of glass directly affects the energy needs of the building and its level of internal thermal comfort.
This condition is critical in climates such as the Mediterranean climate that have high solar
radiation with moderate temperature winters and warm summers. In order to calculate the
thermal load on buildings and, therefore, their energy consumption, designers currently use
computer programs to evaluate their energy efficiency.
The main aim of this article is to analyze the energy efficiency issues of actual buildings
constructed in Beirut by using simulation tools. The buildings were selected to analyze the most
diverse types of facades possible, of which the materials and construction details data were
available, as well as the associated construction costs, to perform comparisons. The comparative
analysis allowed for considering the most appropriate types of construction for each use and
location to establish design guidelines to achieve gradual improvement in energy efficiency and
to serve as a support tool for future decision making in the planning, design and rehabilitation of
facades.
This study includes six facades of administrative use (office) buildings. In addition an effective
tool for evaluating environmental efficiency and subsequently the energy efficiency of a specific
product is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This tool examines all of the material and energy
inputs and outputs throughout the product life cycle, from raw material extraction to final
product disposal, including the usage stage. This means that, to correctly evaluate the efficiency
of a specific building, the steps in a LCA study have to be followed.
The function of façade systems means to reduce environmental impacts on building functions as
a whole, and to control the flow of heat between the external environment and the internal
environment of the building.
CASE A. double blocks concrete with internal air cavity and mortar coating
This façade comprises of a masonry leaf of concrete blocks between slabs, which is finished with
an external render and usually painted .due to ease of construction this option is generally
regarded as a low cost solution.
This façade tends to impose a bigger load on the structure.
Considering the double wall composition as follows:
 Plaster 2.5cm (density=1900kg/m3)
 Concrete blocks 10cm (density=1500kg/m3)
 Insulation air cavity 5cm
 Concrete block 15 cm(density=1500kg/m3)
 Plaster 2.5 cm(density=1900kg/m3)
 Painting internal 2mm
A window covered with a colorless floating glass and double glazing (12mm), measuring 1.5m
x2.5m was chosen on the façade.
Lebanese Standards Hollow Block 10

Height : 20 Cm
Width : 10 Cm
Length : 40 Cm
Approximate weight : 13 Kg
Thickness of the concrete side : 2 Cm
Type of the cut : Lebanese Standards
Characteristic tensile splitting strength : 9 to 12 Mega Pascal
Lebanese Standards Hollow Block 15

Height : 20 Cm
Width : 15 Cm
Length : 40 Cm
Approx weight : 17 Kg
Thickness of the concrete side : 2 Cm
Type of the cut : Lebanese Standards
Characteristic tensile splitting strength : 9 to 12 Mega Pascal
Figure 14: Double blocks concrete with internal air cavity and mortar coating
Case B. structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

This type uses fixed laminated glass with structural silicone on aluminum columns and beams
that support the façade
Glass properties:
 Outer pane 6mm( SGG COOL-LITE KKN 176 Ⅱ ,tempered)
 Air space 18mm
 Inner pane 8mm (SGG PLANILUX clear float, tempered)
SHGC= 0.29 (The solar heat gain coefficient for the unitized system is equal to the ratio of the
SHGC factor times the area for each element of the façade over the total area of the façade)
U value: assuming for the curtain wall used in this case glazed with 1.3 w/m2k insulated glass
the average Ucw is 1.96 w/m2k
Manufacturing size: nominal size =32 cm , weight =35kg/m2
Luminous factors: transmittance 65%
Outdoor reflectance 16 %
Indoor reflectance 18 %
Solar factor g=0.32 shading coefficient =0.4
Figure 15: Case B. structural glazing façade

(curtain wall system)
Case C. ceramic cladding with external insulation:
A ventilated façade with external leaf composed of extruded ceramic cladding was included as a
case studied
Considering the composition of façade as follow:

 Ceramic tiles 2.5cm (40CMX80CM ) (density =2000kg/m2 )
 Extruded aluminum substructure 8cm (0.018 m2/1m2, density =2739 kg/m3)
 Expanded polystyrene substructure insulation 2.5cm (density =23 kg/m3)
 Block concrete 15 cm (density=1500kg/m3)
 Plaster 2.5cm (density =1900kg/m3)
Figure 16: Case C. ceramic cladding with external insulation
Case D. Aluminum composite panel with covering:

For the fixing and joint systems for these façade panels, the same metallic structural glazing was
used but the glass panel was replaced with ACM, This type of façade also includes vertical
compartmentalization and a masonry structure behind the ACM panels. The use of these
composite panels will provide a new appearance to the building, improve the insulation
performance of the façade and reduce the weight imposed on the structure.
A window covered with a colorless floating glass and double glazing, measuring 1.5m x2.5m
was chosen on the façade.
 Composite Panel Alucobond Plus 4mm (density =2710kg/m3)
 Expanded polystyrene exterior insulation 2.5 cm (density=23kg/m3)
 Block concrete 15cm (density=1500kg/m3)
 Cement plaster 2.5cm (density=1900kg/m3)
Figure 17: Case D. Aluminum composite panel with covering
Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external insulation:

AAC panels are made up of mainly sand, cement and lime with a thick reinforced steel mesh
inside to bind and strengthen the panel. Panels are made to very exacting dimensions with less
waste and a lot less on-site mess to clean up.
AAC panels are ideal for owner builders and established building companies alike whom are
looking for an alternative building product to mainstream brick and foam. Whether it be a new
building or adding additional storeys or renovations to an existing home AAC is the perfect
choice.
AAC panels are lightweight and highly energy efficient with a better thermal performance than
traditional solutions like single block concrete. The other advantages of this façade include ease
of installation and long life
These panels are usually finished with a skim coating providing a uniform appearance
 Skim coating 3cm ( density=1900kg/m3)
 AAC panel 7.5cm (density=611 kg/m3)
 Expanded polystyrene exterior insulation 2.5 cm (density=23kg/m3)
Figure 18: Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external
Case F. natural stone cladding

Building stone cladding, in all places in the word plays an important part in defining, the history
of a city and its geological surrounding
 Natural Stone 5cm (density =2700kg/m3)
 Cement plaster 4 cm (density=1900kg/m3)
 Acrylic paint inside 2mm
Slab components:
 Marble stone 20mm
 Mortar cement 30mm
 Fine aggregates 50mm
 Hollow concrete block 250mm
 Plaster 20mm
The overall U value of slab= 0.7
Windows:
Double glazing with aluminum frames (not thermally broken) U value=2.8w/m2k, g value= 0.77
Building useful life (years) =50 years
Methodology
The methodology consists of performing a thermal energy and lighting analysis of the different
façades by modeling them in TRNSYS software, whose potential and capabilities are clear in
numerous study and is a favorite among specialists.
Trnsys definition
TRNSYS, the transient systems simulation program that has been commercially available since
1975, continues to develop by the international collaboration of the United States, France, and
Germany. TRNSYS remains one of the most flexible energy simulation software packages by
facilitating the addition of mathematical models, the available add-on components, the
capabilities of the multi-zone building model, and the ability to interface with other simulation
programs. There were many building simulation options available to test the façade.
TRNSYS was selected to test the performance of the façade models in the context of an office
building in a specific geographical location (Beirut, Lebanon). TRNSYS software was selected
because it had an open framework that allowed the construction of customized designs for
building components and provided an interface between customizations and standard simulation
elements, such as air-conditioned occupied zones. The unitized façade models were integrated
into TRNSYS software via numerical methods.
Modeling phases
Trnsys uses a multizone building simulation subroutine called type 56

We define the thermal zones in trn-build for the simulation
We define the :
 Thermal zone area of wall and window
 Properties of material
 Orientations
 Integrations of walls and windows
 Output, infiltration, ventilation ,simplified heating and cooling
 Total gains
These elements are used in Trn-build to create the matrices of view factors and the matrices of
shadow mask
One completed the building model, you can edit all the default names generated by drawing the
thermal zones
Before turning to the TRNSYS you must take care of the definition of the walls and floors of the
zones
Through object info window we can define the type of wall or floor that we have, we can set if
they are adjacent, outdoor or to the ground, and we can define the boundary conditions
Create a TRNSYS input file which describe the system to be simulated including the location of
the building data for type 56 with the processor TRNSYS studio
Through TRNSYS we import the Trn-build file and the deck generated, we have to link in the
type 109 the meteorological file of the location of the simulation. From the type 65 we can enter
to Trnbuild , where the imported geometric model is.
We edit the constructive elements and all the features of air conditioning and internal gains.
We install a printer 25c to produce a file of outputs.
In this type we specify the outputs file name and connect all the outputs of the .bui with inputs of
the printer
We integrate a type 24 quantity integrator. To integrate the annual energy consumption number
for cooling and heating
And finally we will visualize the outputs in the graph of the simulation and in the outputs file
Definition of the models
A model was created for each facade studied using the construction and geometric parameters
which is mentioned earlier.
In addition, because the intent was to only assess the effect of each facade on the energy demand
of the interior space, a model with three floors and six rooms per floor was created. Only the area
of the intermediate floor that is completely surrounded by conditioned spaces is analyzed, i.e.,
the analysis module. This eliminates variables such as energy gains and losses through floors in
contact with the ground and roofs in contact with the external environment and focuses the study
on the impact of the facade on energy efficiency.
In addition, an exhaustive review of the existing literature in the field of energy simulations of
office buildings was performed to determine if the dimensions chosen for the analysis module
were adequate. The model used, which was proposed by the International Energy Agency for
medium size offices, has dimensions very similar to those of the analysis module, although it has
been necessary to make minor changes to adapt the modules to the facades of this study.
The analysis module has a space that has a depth of 6 m, a height of 3.25 m between slabs (free
height of 3 m) and a facade length that 4 m. The priority of the developed model was simplicity
to obtain results that were easily attributable to the elements analyzed and not to the particular
configuration of the building.
Indoor environmental parameters
The operational conditions and internal stresses of the area studied depend on the specific use of
the building. In this case, the characteristic values of a conventional administrative building, with
high internal load, were used.
Thus, numerous international standards such as ASHRAE [10] , were reviewed to define the
internal loads.
The values of the indoor parameters applied in the model are:

-Internal loads:
 Occupancy density 10 m2/person
 Sensitive Load Occupation 70 W/person
 Latent Load Occupation 45 W/person
 Electrical power installed in lighting 15 W/m2
 Electrical power installed in electrical equipment 10 W/m2
 Ventilation air 12, 5 l/ (s_person)
 Infiltrations 0, 5 rph
-Indoor environmental conditions:
 The temperature set point for cooling is 25 ̊c, and for heating, it is 21 ̊c, with 40–60%
relative humidity.
 Hours of occupancy and air conditioning operation: Monday through Friday from 8 am to
5 pm.
The ventilation air is supplied to the inside in a controlled manner using a mechanical system
that ensures indoor air quality requirements during the hours of occupancy. When this air supply
is activated, it is assumed that the flow of air blown out compensates infiltrations, and therefore,
during the hours of occupancy and operation of the air conditioning system, infiltrations are
considered to be zero.
Outdoor environmental parameters
Because the buildings are at the same location and same altitude, the climatic basis used for all
the simulations corresponds to a typical year for the city of Beirut, which was obtained from the
weather data included in the software TRNSYS.
Results and discussion
Analysis of air conditioning demand of the buildings analyzed
To establish the effects of the facade on a building’s energy performance, its necessary to
quantify the amount of energy consumption in cooling and heating in relation with the type of
façade system variable, the TRNSYS software offers the possibility for the integration of
analysis of cooling and heating energy consumption to obtain figures for energy consumptions
The results gained in TRNSYS simulations are stored in different files.
The *bldg.-monthly.out file contains monthly values of energy consumption for cooling and
heating in kWh and the *bldg-hourly temp.out file contains the ambient temperature and the air
temperature for every hour in the years and the *bldg.-hourly loads.out contains the hourly loads
in cooling and heating in kW.
We can see the results from the graph which describes the energy in function to the temperature
for each hour after running the software tool, and after the check, if there are any error or severe
mismatch introduced in the variables set.
the results of TRNSYS simulations of all cases have been copied from the external file in the
type 25-c the printer component, In this mode, unit descriptors (kJ/hr, degC,) (are not printed to
the output file with each column heading) and pasted into excel worksheets and then the last
value represents the annual consumption and it covert to kwh, or from the file *bldg.
hourlytemp.out which represent a table for each case studied.
In this research, it is required to study the energy consumption and compare the 6 case studies
and to analyze the results according to their types and properties of materials variables.
According to each simulated case study has a set of graph and table which is described below
Case A: Double blocks concrete with internal air cavity and mortar coating
Figure 19: Case A (Double blocks concrete with internal air cavity and mortar coating)
Figure 20:Wall type manager case A
Figure 21: window type manager Case A
Figure 22: Wall type manager of ground floor Case A
Figure 23: Wall type manager of roof Case A
Figure 24: Simulation graph Case A
Table 1: Monthly demand Case A
Time Heating Kj cooling Kj

8.76E+03 5.57E+05 1.09E+07
Table 2: Hourly heating and cooling demand Case A
The annual consumption in heating =154.7 Kwh, in cooling=3027 Kwh,
The annual consumption per m2 in heating=6.45 Kwh/m2, cooling=126.12 Kwh/m2.
From the external file “results” we can conclude that the maximum demand: heating =4821.63
Kj/hr (1.339kw), cooling = 4772.55 Kj/hr(1.32kw) .
Case B: Structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

The same roof, ground & windows properties for all cases
Figure 25:CASE B : Structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

Figure 26: wall type manager Case B
Figure 27:Simulation graph Case B
Table 3: Monthly demand Case B
Time Heating kj Cooling kj

8.76E+03 1.99E+05 1.39E+07
Table 4: Hourly demand Case B
The annual consumption in heating =55.33 Kwh, in cooling=3875 Kwh .

The annual consumption per m2 ,in heating=2.305 Kwh/m2 cooling=161.4 Kwh/m2
From the external file “results” we can conclude that the maximum demand: in heating 3722.758
Kj/hr (1.03kw) cooling = 6541.978 Kj/hr (1.817kw)
Case C: Ceramic cladding with external insulation

Area of window =3.75m2
Figure 28 :Wall type manage Case C

Figure 29:simulation graph Case C
Table 5:Monthly demand Case C

8.76E+03 2.14E+05 1.00E+07
Table 6:Hourly demand Case C
The annual consumption in heating =59.4 Kwh, in cooling=2780 Kwh .
The annual consumption per m2, in heating=2.48 Kwh/m2 cooling=116 Kwh/m2
Kj/hr (1 kw), cooling = 4942.35 Kj/hr(1.372kw)
Case D: Aluminum composite panel with covering

Figure 30:Wall type manager Case D

Figure 31:Simulation graph Case D
Table 7:Monthly demand Case D
TableTime
8: Hourly demand Case Dkj
Heating Cooling kj
8.76E+03 2.05E+05 1.02E+07
The annual consumption in heating =57 Kwh, in cooling=2827 Kwh.

From the external file “results” we can conclude that the maximum demand: in heating
3506.85Kj/hr (0.97 kw), cooling = 5273 Kj/hr(1.464kw)
Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external insulation

The same roof and ground properties for all cases
Fig
ure 32: Wall type manager Case E
Figure 33:Simulation graph Case E
Table 9: Monthly demand Case E

8.76E+03 1.14E+05 9.80E+06
Table 10:Hourly demand Case E
The annual consumption in heating =31 Kwh, in
cooling=2722 Kwh.
Kj/hr (0.748 kw), cooling = 4694.102 Kj/hr(1.303kw)
Case F: Natural stone cladding

Figure 34: Wall type manager Case F

Figure 35:Simulation graph Case F
Table 11:Monthly demand Case F

8.76E+03 1.10E+06 1.30E+07
Table 12: Hourly demand Case F
The annual consumption in heating =305 Kwh, in cooling=3618 Kwh.

Kj/hr (1.779 kw), cooling = 5717.365 Kj/hr(1.588kw)
4500 4500
3912.3 3923
3857 2841.4
4000 4000
3181 2753.7
2884 3618
3500 3027 3500
3000 2782 2827 3000
2722
2500 2500
2000 2000
1500 1500
1000 1000
500 305 500
154 55.3 59.4 57 31.7
0 0
A B C D E F
Heating Kwh Cooling Kwh Total Energy Kwh
Figure 36:Energy demand in kWh for air conditioning of the cases analyzed :
350 3
2.487
305
300 2.5
250
2
1.76
200 1.511
1.5
154
150
0.938 0.957
0.755 1
100
55.3 59.4 57
50 0.5
31.7
0 0
A B C D E F
Heating Kwh U-value w/m2k
Figure 37: Energy demand in kWh for the cases analyzed. Comparison is based on to the overall
U-value of the facade (axis on the right).
4500 100 %
4000 90 %
3857 90 %
3618
3500 80 %
3027 70 %
3000 2782 2827 2722
60 %
2500
50 %
2000
40 %
1500
29 % 29 % 29 % 29 % 29 % 30 %
1000 20 %
500 10 %
0 0%
A B C D E F
Cooling Kwh Opening Percentage
Figure 38: cooling energy demand in kWh for the cases analyzed. Comparison is based on to the
openings percentage (axis on the right).
Above are the results obtained for the buildings studied in regards to cooling demand (in blue)
and heating demand (in red ) , for the different buildings .
The effect of each of basic parameters of the façades on the thermal energy performance of the
simulated models was examined separately
General analysis of the air conditioning demand of the buildings analyzed:
the first thing that can be seen is that for the same use (office), the type of façade used can make
a significant difference in the energy demand for air conditioning of the building depending on
the case, this difference can be more than once and half as high ,for example the cooling demand
for case B (structural glazing façade ) was 3912 kwh , for case E (Autoclaved aerated concrete
AAC panels ) 2722 kwh ,additionally it can be been in all the analyzed cases that the cooling
demand dominates representing between 85% and 95% of the total climate control demand .
This results consistent with those obtained in several previous studies which indicate that in
buildings used this difference is directly attributable to the type of construction used for retail
and, in particular for offices located in Mediterranean climate areas, the energy demand for
cooling prevails.
This result is mainly because of the presence of a large number of equipment that generates heat
and the high typical occupancy of these types of buildings. These factors result in some very
high internal loads that are constant throughout the year, which combined with high incident
solar radiation, result in a significant need to dissipate heat toward the outside of the building.
Facade parameters that affect cooling demand
The simulations indicate that the cooling demand of the building depends directly on the
percentage of openings of the façade and, consequently, on its level of solar control, as Fig.38
shows, in which the percentage of openings of each facade is indicated.
There are cases (Case A ,C,D, E) where the percentage of openings are substantially the same ,
the cooling demand is equal in the four cases, and consequently, in case B the cooling demand
value increase due to the percentage of openings increase 90%.
The conclusion is the determining parameter that affects the level of cooling demand of the
building is the opening in the facade; therefore, there can be facades with a low percentage of
openings such as case F that do have increased in cooling demand.
Façade parameters that effect heating demand
The results indicate that the heating demand of the building depends largely on the degree of
thermal insulation U (W/m2K) of the facade (Fig. 37), although other factors may also have a
large impact, such as the level of direct solar gain, which is directly related to the percentage of
openings of the facade, or the thermal inertia of the walls.
Therefore, in the analysis of the parameters that affect heating demand, it is necessary to take
into account all the factors that cause heat gains and losses.
In case F when the u value is the greatest the heating demand increase to 305 kwh , greater
thermal insulation results in fewer losses, and therefore, leads to lower heating demand . Case D
(Aluminum composite panel) and case E (Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels) are
examples of this because these case represent a better thermal performance than traditional
solutions (U=0.955 w/m2k U=0.755 w/m2k respectively) and have a high level of overall
façade insulation.
Life cycle
Six systems types of building facade construction materials were selected, Construction details
(from the outer layer to the inner layer) .
An opening with a glass window for ventilation was considered in all cases. The assumed
opening size was 29% window to-wall ratio (WWR) for block concrete, AAC, ceramic ,stone
and aluminum facades, and 90% WWR for a glass facade. System boundaries and functional
units were then defined. A functional unit was the part of the whole building system that was
considered in the study for calculations and analysis.
This Study explored life cycle environmental impacts, life cycle costs and performance to
identify the most sustainable façade system among six different facades.
Sustainable criteria for façade material selection:

A. Environmental impacts
B. Life cycle costs
C. Performance
Life cycle environmental impacts
Three sub-criteria were identified by respondents to account for the life cycle environmental
impacts of facades.
These include embodied energy and carbon, cooling and heating load and resource sustainability
1-Embodied energy and embodied carbon:
The embodied energy/carbon of a building is determined mainly by the embodied energy/carbon
factor of materials have different embodied energy and carbon factors due differences in the
energy and carbon intensiveness, respectively, of their production and processing process.
The table below (Table 13) compares the embodied energy and carbon of different facades
systems, calculated by multiplying the quantity of different constituent materials of the facades
by their corresponding embodied energy and carbon factor.
The embodied energy and carbon factors are obtained from the inventory of carbon and energy
(ICE). [12]
As can be seen the embodied energy carbon and energy of façade may vary considerably (by up
to 69%).
As shown, aluminum composite panel shown with high-test embodied carbon while the glazing
facades are found to be the system with lowest carbon footprint.
FAÇADE MATERIAL DENS THI UNIT EMB EMB TOTA TOTA
TYPE ITY CK WEIG ODIE ODI L L
KG/M NES HT D ED EMB EMBO
3 S /m2 ENER CAR ODIE DIED
CM GY BON D CARB
(MJ/K (Kg ENER ON
G) CO2- GY (Kg
e/KG (MJ/K CO2-
) G) e/KG)
A: double plaster 2.5cm 1900 2.5 47.5 10.5 0.36 498.75 17.1
blocks concrete block 10 cm 1500 10 150 0.72 0.088 108 13.2
concrete (12mpa)
with insulation air cavity 5 cm 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
internal concrete block 15 cm 1500 15 225 0.72 0.088 162 19.8
air cavity (12mpa)
and plaster 2.5cm 1900 2.5 47.5 10.5 0.36 498.75 17.1
mortar
coating
SUM 1267.5 67.2
B outer pane 6mm 2500 0.6 15 15 0.91 225 13.65
structural air space 18 mm 0 0.18 0 0 0 0 0
glazing inner pane 8mm 2500 0.8 20 15 0.91 300 18.2
façade
(curtain
wall
system)
SUM 525 31.85

C ceramic tiles 2.5cm 2000 2.5 50 12 0.78 600 39
ceramic extruded aluminum 2739 8 3.9441 154 9.08 607.40 35.812
cladding substructure 8cm 6 064 9728
with (0.018m2/m2)
external expanded polystyrene 23 2.5 0.575 88.6 3.29 50.945 1.8917
insulation substructure insulation 5
2.5cm
block concrete 15 1500 15 225 0.72 0.088 162 19.8
cm(12mpa)
plaster 2.5cm 1900 2.5 47.5 10.5 0.36 498.75 17.1
SUM 1919.0 113.60
9564 4723
D composite panel 2710 0.4 10.84 155 9.16 1680.2 99.294
Aluminu alucobond 4mm (silver 4
m anodized aluminum)
composite extruded aluminum 2739 8 3.9441 154 9.08 607.40 35.812
panel with substructure 8cm 6 064 9728
covering (0.018m2/m2)
expanded polystyrene 23 2.5 0.575 88.6 3.29 50.945 1.8917
substructure insulation 5
2.5cm
block concrete 15 cm 1500 15 225 0.72 0.063 162 14.175
cement plaster 2.5cm 1900 2.5 47.5 10.5 0.36 498.75 17.1
SUM 2999.2 168.27
9564 4123
E: AAC panel 7.5cm 611 7.5 45.825 3.5 0.375 160.38 17.184
Autoclave 75 375
d aerated extruded aluminum 2739 8 3.9441 154 9.08 607.40 35.812
concrete substructure 8cm 6 064 9728
AAC (0.018m2/m2)
panels expanded polystyrene 23 2.5 0.575 88.6 3.29 50.945 1.8917
with substructure insulation 5
external 2.5cm
insulation block concrete 15 cm (12 1500 15 225 0.72 0.088 162 19.8
mpa)
SUM 1479.4 91.789
8314 0978
F natutal stone 5cm 2700 5 135 1.26 0.073 170.1 9.855
natural cement plaster 2.5cm 1900 2.5 47.5 10.5 0.36 498.75 17.1
stone block concrete 15 cm (12 1500 15 225 0.72 0.088 162 19.8
cladding mpa)
SUM 1329.6 63.855
Table 13: Total embodied energy and embodied carbon of different facades systems considered
per m2
2-heating and cooling load:
Thermal efficiency is an important building characteristic which significantly affects the
operating energy needs of the building.
The thermal efficiency is affected achieved by design of the building envelope
In this study, the cooling and heating loads required to provide thermal comfort in the building
were estimated by varying the types of façade system of the building in trnsys software
And performing a thermal analysis
The analysis was detailed in the previous chapter.
Furthermore, the annual cooling and heating load results for each façade system are summarized
in Table 14.
As shown, case E (Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels) are found to be the alternative with
the lowest energy demand in heating and cooling (31.3kwh and 2722 kWh respectively).
Case Heating Kwh Cooling Kwh

A 154 3027
double blocks
concrete with
internal air
cavity and
mortar coating
B 55.3 3857
structural
glazing façade
(curtain wall
system)
C 59.4 2782
ceramic
cladding with
external
insulation
D 57 2827
Aluminum
composite panel
with covering
E 31.7 2722
Autoclaved
aerated concrete
AAC panels
with external
insulation
F 305 3618
natural stone
cladding
Table 14: Heating and cooling demand in kWh

3- Resource sustainability:
The three key indicators identified in this study to evaluate the sustainability of facades systems
in terms of use of natural resources include renewability, recyclability, and criticality
Renewability:
Natural resources are usually divided into renewable and nonrenewable resources. Renewable
resources refer to resources such as timber that can be renewed or regularly harvested. A
nonrenewable resource is a resource that can only be harvested once such as iron or is formed
extremely slowly such as crude oil. Many of these resources are limited, and others such as
metals and fossil oil are severely exploited. In the global scale, the stock of a majority of
common building materials such as aggregate, clay, lime .etc.. Is large.
The typical façade materials such as clay, concrete and aluminum, fall into the same renewability
category of stock resources, as their renewal rate is low compared to their rate of consumption.
Therefore, in the absence of a more accurate measure to measure the differences between the
levels of renewability as a selection criterion does not contribute to decision making.
Further research is required to develop a reliable methodology for comparative ranking of degree
of renewability, depletion rate, of different construction materials based on local consumption
and resource availability data.
Recyclability:
Recycling of building materials contributes considerably to sustainability in construction by
reducing the negative end of life impacts of building materials.
Recycling contributes to sustainability mainly by reducing the need for extraction of natural
resources through making available alternative recycled materials, reduces the energy use and
carbon emissions insured in transportation of waste materials to remote landfills, and save the
landfill space.
With this in mind, recyclability of constituting materials is considered as an important
sustainability indicator in selection of the façade systems. a reliable measure of recyclability
should account for the benefits achievable , or the reduction in the end-of-life environmental
impacts, of the material through recycling rather than solely the availability of local recycling
technology , yield of the recycling process, quality of the recycled material , availability of
market for the recycled material ..And thus is challenging to quantify.
In absence of such measures, a simplified measure of recyclability may be achieved using the
statics on the amount of material recycled within a certain period of time
However, such statics are sensitive to the location and may not be readily available for all
common façade materials.
Critically:
The critically of material is assessed by economic and geopolitical factors such as economic
importance, supply risk .
Therefore, critically of resources does not lead to differentiation between different façade
systems considered in this case study and thus is not included as one of the selection criteria.
Based on the above discussion, recyclability was selected as a differentiating indicator,
representing the resource sustainability criterion, for comparison of façade systems considered is
discussed in the following.
A-Concrete blocks, ceramics tiles and naturel stone:

Naturel stones and ceramics tiles can be considered as mixed masonry which can be recycled for
use in low grade road and pavement sub-base applications after being cruched together with
brick and concrete debris ,consequently , due to the ease of recycling of concrete blocks using
well established technologies , along with the possibility of cleaning and reusing in others
projects .
In this case study the recycling potential for concrete block work was considered to be high
B-Glasses and Aluminum composite panel:

Lebanon relies on the import of aluminum raw materials from KSA or Europe such as (aluminco,
vistawall international , alucoil…) and is being designed and installed here .
So there are no recycling plants in Lebanon, unlike in Europe where are one of the largest
aluminum fabricators (rolling,extraction, and casting), the EU is structurally dependent on
aluminum recycling for its domestic metal supply.in 2003 ,2.6 million tones of primry aluminum
were produced and a reported 3.9 million tones of aluminum were extracted from purchased and
tolled scrap .
The absence of a well-established market for aluminum and glasses debris are considered the
main reasons behind non-recycling aluminum.
Consequently the recyclability of composite panels considered in this case study was in a worst
position compared to concrete blocks
C- Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) panels:
The AAC debris can be crushed and recycled as aggregates. Similar to concrete blocks, AAC
neither contains nor emits toxic substances, leading to its high recyclability
The panels are fully biodegradable as the main part can be crushed down to powder form and
reused in road base and the steel melted and reused, making it a substantial eco-friendly choice.
Life cycle costs
The economic viability is one of the most important requirements of a successful project in
practice.
In the present case study, life cycle cost analysis was performed by estimating the four major life
cycle cost element, i.e. material, design cost, transportation, and labor for the most sustainable
alternative façade system that is block concrete, curtain wall system, and aluminum composite
panel and AAC panels based on the construction costs from local suppliers.
The material and design cost for different façades are compared in table 15. As can be seen the
cost is vary up to 74 % among the alternative façade systems considered
FAÇADE MATERIAL cost

TYPE (dollar/m2
)
A painting 8
double plaster 2.5cm 5.5
blocks concrete block 10 cm (12mpa) 11
concrete insulation air cavity 5 cm 0
with concrete block 15 cm (12mpa) 13
internal air inner plaster 2.5cm 4.5
internal painting 6
SUM 48
outer pane 6mm 320
B air space 18 mm
structural inner pane 8mm
glazing
façade
(curtain
wall
system)
SUM
D composite panel alucobond 4mm (silver anodized 90
Aluminum aluminum)
composite extruded aluminum substructure 8cm (0.018m2/m2) 30
panel with expanded polystyrene substructure insulation 2.5cm 4
covering block concrete 15 cm 13
cement plaster 2.5cm 4.5
internal painting 6
SUM 147.5
E AAC panel 7.5cm 40
Autoclave extruded aluminum substructure 8cm (0.018m2/m2) 30
d aerated expanded polystyrene substructure insulation 2.5cm 4
concrete block concrete 15 cm (12 mpa) 13
AAC cement plaster 2.5cm 4.5
panels internal painting 6
with
external
insulation
SUM 97.5
Table 15: costs of different facades alternatives
NB: All the prices shown in this table are the average prices provided by all the manufacturers
and importers that we contacted. But a general idea about the product has been provided to point
out that these prices could vary with different criteria (density, thickness, their inter correlation
and the total area of projects …).
As can be shown that glass system Case B cost 320$/m2 (According to the data obtained from
glass line industries engineering and contracting located in Lebanon,tower 44 project ) Record
the highest number in cost and of course, these numbers vary from project to project and from
industries to other, depending on the quality and characteristics of the material such as SHGC,
double or single or triple glazing , the thickness, quality of aluminum frame ...
The lowest cost was recorded for the double blocks concrete with internal air case A 48$/m2,
due to the availability in the local market frequently and not need to import from abroad
But this does not mean that we classify the double block concrete façade as one of the most
sustainable facades since it is not modern aesthetically and did not succeed as AAC panels in the
energy efficient (heating and cooling demand)
As shown the long transport distance for aluminum composite panels (from Europe,
America,china …), results in a considerably higher cost compared to AAC panels and double
block wall concrete .
Performance
Due to their technical features, building materials have different performances under the
conditions imposed by the building and its surrounding environment. In this study, based on the
results of the survey conducted and available literature, three performance indicators namely fire
resistance, thermal insulation and acoustic insulation were selected and were evaluated for their
applicability to the case project. We assume that this case study is classified as an unattached or
isolated building, thereby the fire resistance requirement does not apply. This indicators was
applied to the most adequate façades type for Beirut climate conditions, which are Case D
aluminum composite panels and Case E autoclaved aerated concrete panel to choose the most
sustainable façade systems
1-Thermal resistance:
Thermal properties of façade materials can significantly affect the amount of energy used during
the operation phase of a building to keep its internal temperature within a comfort range. In this
study, the thermal resistance WAS selected to compare the thermal performance of two different
façade systems. Thermal resistance, R-value, is a measure of material’s resistance to heat flow
through suppressing conduction, convection, and radiation. It is a function of material thermal
conductivity, thickness, and density .The greater the R value is (m2.K/W), the more the wall is
insulating. The values are compared in table 16.
FAÇADE TYPE THERMAL RESISTANCE (m2k/w)

D 0.66
Aluminum
composite panel
with covering
E 0.56
Autoclaved
aerated concrete
AAC panels with
external insulation
Table 16: thermal resistance of different alternatives facades
2-Acoustic insulation
The acoustic performance of façade systems can considerably affect the noise pollution levels
inside a building. Noise pollution decreases the indoor environmental comfort and adversely
effects the residents’ health [54]. In this study, the acoustic properties of a single material layer
of different alternatives specified by the Sound Reduction Index (Rw).
The sound reduction index (SRI) is a measure of the reduction in the intensity of sound when it
passes through part of a building; in other words, the level of sound insulation provided. It is the
difference between the sound intensity that hits one side of an object (such as a wall, door,
window, partition and so on) and the sound intensity measured on the other side, expressed in
decibels (dB).
When sound hits the surface of a material, some will be reflected, some will be absorbed by the
material and some will be transmitted through it. By determining the SRI, the effectiveness of
the element as an insulator (the amount of sound that it has prevented from passing from one side
to another) can be assessed.
FAÇADE TYPE THICKNESS (mm) RW (db)
D 4 26
Aluminum
composite panel
with covering
E 75 50
Autoclaved
aerated concrete
AAC panels with
external insulation
Table 17:sound reduction indices
As we have seen in the results in table above (table 17) there is clear mortality of AAC panel
facade over aluminum composite panel façade .there is a difference of SRI about 50% and for
thermal resistance that is the resistance of AAC panels greatest than aluminum composite panels.
Conclusion
Identification of the most adequate façade type for Beirut climate conditions
The results of the energy performance study of offices buildings representatives of the city of
Beirut demonstrate that there are considerable differences between the energy performance
results for different types of façade analyzed.
Additionally, these results was presented to highlight the important sustainability criteria for
selection of façade systems and present a systematic decision making methodology for selection
of the sustainable façade system based on such criteria sustainability of six facades systems,
double block concrete, structural glazing facades, aluminum composite panels, ceramic cladding,
AAC panels and natural stone cladding was evaluated based on the criteria identified.
In regards to the effect of the façade on cooling demand, the results affirmed that the decisive
parameter that’s effects cooling demand is the percentage of openings of the façade and,
consequently, on its level of solar control.
Lastly, based on the results, the heating demand depends on the thermal insulation (U-value)
It can be seen in all the analyzed cases that the cooling demand dominates representing between
85% and 95% of the total climate control demand.
Case E (Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels) are found to be the alternative with the lowest
energy demand in heating and cooling.
The results has highlighted 7 important sub-criteria for selection of sustainable façade systems
which were classified into three main categories namely, Environmental impacts, cost, and
performance.
The embodied carbon and energy following by material costs were identified as the most
important criteria.
We can highlight after the analysis of the result of this study that the AAC panels as the most
adequate façade system among the alternatives considered for Beirut climate conditions.
References
[1] Sawsan Mohamad Saridar, The Impact of Facade Design on Day lighting Performance in
Office Buildings the Case of Beirut, Lebanon
[2] Stein, B. and J. Reynolds (2000) Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings. 9th Ed.
New York: John Wiley & Sons.
[3] Powler. D. and D. Kelbaugh (1990) Building envelopes In (Anderson, B. (Ed.)) Solar
building architecture. Cambridge, Mass: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
[4] Carla Planas., Effects of the type of facade on the energy performance of office buildings
representative of the city of Barcelona.
[5] Han, B., et al., Life cycle assessment of ceramic façade material and its comparative
analysis with three other common façade materials. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015.
99: p. 86- 93.
[6] Takeshi Ihara, Effect of facade components on energy efficiency in office buildings.
[7] Muhammad Saleem, Life Cycle Thinking–Based Selection of Building Facades
[8] Taborianski, V.M. and R.T.A. Prado, Methodology of CO2 emission evaluation in the life
cycle of office building façades. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2012. 33(1): p.
41-47.
[9] Zahra S. Moussavi Nadoushani,Multi-Criteria Selection of Façade Systems Based on
Sustainability Criteria
[10] The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) ,The First Energy Indicators
Report of the Republic of Lebanon,
[11] Hammond, G. and C.I. Jones, Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE). 2006: UKUniversity
of Bath
[12] ALME - Association Lebanaise pour la Maitrise de L'Energie (1998) "State of the energy
in Lebanon." Beirut: ALME.

Mrer-Fp Aya Khalil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Mrer-Fp Aya Khalil

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mrer-Fp Aya Khalil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UNIVERSITE LIBANAISE UNIVERSITE SAINT-JOSEPH

Faculté de Génie Faculté d’Ingénierie ESIB

Rapport de stage Master 2 Recherche

Effect of façades types on building energy

Encadré par : Dr.Elias Kinab

Dr. Mazen Ghandour en tant que rapporteur

Energy state in Lebanon in particular Beirut:

Office building area in Lebanon

Building sector energy demand:

Figure 3: Distribution of Electricity consumption per sector in Beirut

Climate zones in Lebanon and the climate conditions in Beirut

Historic review of Lebanese façade

B03-1955 Azarieh building

Figure 5:Cinema Hamra

Figure 6:'Riad solh 1216' building

B06-Sabbagh center 1964

B07-american life insurance building

Figure 8:American Life Insurance

The Civil War Phase (1975 - 1990)

Figure 9: The Unesco Centre 1982

Figure 12: External and internal views of BLOM Building- Block B

B11-EI-nahar office building

2-Multi criteria selection of façade system based on sustainability criteria

Lebanese Standards Hollow Block 10

Lebanese Standards Hollow Block 15

Case B. structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

Figure 15: Case B. structural glazing façade

Case C. ceramic cladding with external insulation:

Considering the composition of façade as follow:

Figure 16: Case C. ceramic cladding with external insulation

Case D. Aluminum composite panel with covering:

Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external insulation:

Case F. natural stone cladding

Trnsys uses a multizone building simulation subroutine called type 56

Definition of the models

Indoor environmental parameters

The values of the indoor parameters applied in the model are:

Analysis of air conditioning demand of the buildings analyzed

The results gained in TRNSYS simulations are stored in different files.

Table 1: Monthly demand Case A

Time Heating Kj cooling Kj

Case B: Structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

Figure 25:CASE B : Structural glazing façade (curtain wall system)

Table 3: Monthly demand Case B

Time Heating kj Cooling kj

The annual consumption in heating =55.33 Kwh, in cooling=3875 Kwh .

Case C: Ceramic cladding with external insulation

Figure 28 :Wall type manage Case C

Table 5:Monthly demand Case C

Time Heating kj Cooling kj

Case D: Aluminum composite panel with covering

Figure 30:Wall type manager Case D

Table 7:Monthly demand Case D

The annual consumption in heating =57 Kwh, in cooling=2827 Kwh.

Case E: Autoclaved aerated concrete AAC panels with external insulation

Table 9: Monthly demand Case E

Time Heating kj Cooling kj

Case F: Natural stone cladding