Discussions on air movement, thermal performance, and the control of moisture across building envelopes were covered at AIRAH’s first-ever Building Physics Forum, which was held last week in Brisbane.
With close to 80 delegates from across Australia in attendance, AIRAH’s Building Physics Forum provided an in-depth exploration into the ways of controlling flows across a building’s fundamental architectural elements and assemblies.
AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, said everyone in attendance were briefed on the the latest developments in air movement and building envelopes, as well as air tightness, ventilation and thermal bridging.
"And, as always, there was plenty of thought-provoking discussion between presenters and delegates throughout the day," he said.
Headlining the event was a keynote address from the founding director of the University of Wollongong’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), Professor Paul Cooper.
In his presentation “Pushing the envelope: Building physics and improved indoor environments,” Cooper provided a comprehensive overview on the recent developments and efforts to improve the envelope and ventilation performance of buildings to better control our indoor environment.
Cooper showcased the recent research findings on natural and mixed-mode ventilation systems and associated control systems, together with the latest research on thermal comfort in residential and high-performance buildings.
Innovations and research on building envelope systems, such as innovative wall and façade systems, were also discussed.
“Energy efficiency and health go hand in hand,” Cooper said. “It’s a real issue in Australia. And, while we’ve come a long way in building physics in just a few decades – we still have a long way to go.”
Certis Energy's Mahmudul Hasan, presented on the NCC Section J Assessment and Compliance of residential aged care in hot and mild temperate climates.
As another expert in the building physics space in Australia, Hasan believes the Forum should become an annual staple on the AIRAH conference calendar.
“The Forum provides a significant insight to practitioners regarding what we do based on codes, standards and practices,” Hasan said.
“It shows what we need to change and what needs more attention in the future. There is a lot happening in the industry, and many practitioners are not aware of these.
"Rather than just ignoring the issues, we must be more proactive and educate the building practitioners so they can make things right.”
AIRAH executive manager for government and external relations, Phil Wilkinson, said conferences such as the Building Physics Forum are ultimately about informing and educating the industry.
“At the end of the day, we want to deliver better indoor and outdoor environmental quality, and improve the overall comfort, wellness, and performance of people,” Wilkinson said.
“It was important to hear from those at the forefront of local research, but it was also enlightening to get an international perspective.
"The inaugural Building Physics Forum provided everyone in attendance with a smorgasbord of technical information, but it also outlined a pathway to a healthier built environment overall.”