In recent years, there has been an increase in building density, particularly in cities, due to factors such as a lack of housing and rising land prices. This is another reason why the focus is increasingly shifting towards redensification and the addition of extra storeys to existing buildings.
Furthermore, the modernisation and renovation of existing buildings is an important step towards achieving the German government’s climate and sustainability goals.
The research project ‘Multifunctional wood-based lightweight construction element with adjustable sound and heat insulation properties’ addresses the requirements for resource efficiency in construction, and in particular in interior design, by contributing to the development of multifunctional wood-based lightweight construction elements. In the hollow chamber element to be developed, wood is to be used only where it is sensible and necessary from a structural point of view. Established wood connections such as gluing, screwing or nailing are to be replaced by alternative solutions with advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and circular use. One possible solution, for example, is to use connectors between the cover layers. The ability to easily dismantle the element into its individual components offers important advantages at the end of its useful life, as all components can be easily separated from each other and reused in other application scenarios or sent for material recycling. The filling of the hollow chamber element will also consist of renewable raw materials, which are intended to provide targeted sound and heat insulation. Like the support structure of the lightweight element, the filling should also be suitable for circular use. The project targets applications such as installations in cold buildings, for example office spaces or communication cells in factory or exhibition halls. These types of use have special requirements. Older cold buildings in particular are often not thermally or acoustically upgraded. There is a need for functional solutions here.
The project with the funding code 49MF240133 is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the INNO-KOM module ‘Market-oriented research and development’ funding guideline.
Contact:
Sebastian Kegel (sebastian.kegel@ihd-dresden.de)