Thermal performance of container homes in hot climates

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the influence of different envelope insulation parameters on thermal performance of long-permanence rooms of a single-family container house. The analysis involved the selection of three Brazilian cities with different climates, Manaus, Paulo Afonso, and Cuiabá, and the application of the normative requirements of Brazilian Standard 15.575/2021. Computational simulations were conducted considering four different configurations of insulation materials on walls and roof. The analysis of results indicated that long-permanence rooms had different behaviours at the minimum performance level. Analyses of the intermediate and higher levels were performed to encompass all performance indicators required by the Brazilian Standard. The results showed that none of the insulations models achieved such levels because none of the rooms satisfied the criteria for total annual thermal load reduction and did not have increment values equal to or higher than the minimum requirements for each performance level. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the use of containers with conventional insulation materials in hot climates increases the difference in performance between the rooms, requiring adjustments and design corrections.