ROOF PHYSICS
The design of a well performing highly energy efficient roof system requires a good understanding of how heat, air and moisture enter and leave the roof construction. For instance, in a highly insulated roof, much of the heat and water vapour are carried by airflows rather than by classical conduction and diffusion.
- In cold climates the key parameters are the level of insulation, the degree of air tightness, the presence of cold bridges and the amount of thermal mass.
- In hot climates reflectivity is also an important parameter, determining the amount of solar energy absorbed into the construction, which directly links to thermal comfort.
MONIER Technical Centre has studied the performance of different constructions, both in buildings and in the laboratory. This knowledge has been used to develop state-of-the-art software capable of predicting the energy performance and condensation risk of virtually any roof construction in any climate.
Applications of this software include:
