The The application of translucent and transparent materials on building facades and its relationship with thermal comfort

Abstract

Glass and polycarbonate are often used in buildings, in some cases causing severe damage to thermal comfort. Part of the reason for the inappropriate use of these materials is the lack of knowledge, by architects and designers, of the properties of these materials, and how they can be used favorably in passive comfort solutions. This paper shows the results of a research that aimed to select translucent and transparent materials, such as vacuum metallized reflective flat glass, polycarbonates and electrochromic glass, characterizing their properties and associating them with meeting the thermal performance guidelines proposed by NBR 15220-3 (2005), which addresses the Brazilian bioclimatic zoning and the constructive guidelines associated with these zones. At the end of the study, it was possible to obtain the classification of the best indications for the use of these materials according to the bioclimatic zones, in order to contribute to the achievement of the thermal performance objectives of the buildings.