Thermal bridge free PH design in the

Romanian seismic region

Szabolcs Varga, PhD Eng., PH certifier, CEPHD, V&V Projekt

Horia Petran, PhD Eng., URBAN-INCERC

Ancuța Măgurean, Dipl. Eng., TU Cluj-Napoca
Norana Petre, Arch., CEPHD, Atelier 1,
Marian Niculuţă, Dipl. Eng. URBAN-INCERC
 Introduction

European seismic hazard map

D. Giordini et. al, 2013
 Introduction

- Romania: country with high seismicity

- majority of new structures: masonry,
cellular clay blocks and RC strip
foundations
- high compressive strength of masonry is
required (>10N/mm2): aerated concrete
blocks or foam glass blocks aren’t
accepted
- “Passive house for all” => there is a need
for simple construction details
 Method
Advantages:
- cost-effective
- quick
- does not affect the
structural system
- materials available
on the construction
market

Filling the first cellular clay blocks with EPS pearls

λ,vert=0,40 W/m2K -> ~ λ,vert=0,25 W/m2K

 Analysis

Isotherms distribution and linear thermal bridges for

structural details of passive house foundations widely
accepted in Romania
 Analysis

Isotherms distribution and linear thermal bridges for the

optimised details
 Conclusions
- thermal breaking of the structural elements of the
infrastructure is not generally accepted
- placing the insulation over the RC slab on the ground &
filling the blocks with EPS leads to details with smaller
thermal bridges
- if one would choose to use the “widely accepted” details for
an average size passive house project, the heating demand
could be increased by approx. 4kWh/m2/yr, according to
PHPP.
- the proposed details are suitable for their use in cost-
effective passive house projects, since they are made up of
affordable materials, which can be locally purchased
=> Passive House for all!