H-house prompts indoor pollutants to stand clear

H-house is a four-year (September 2013 to August 2017) collaborative research project co-funded by the European Commission within the frame of the « 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development ». The project, which actively addresses the issue of a healthier indoor environment in old and new constructions via the use of eco-innovative building materials and components (internal and external walls), comprises a consortium of twelve partners from France, Germany, Poland and Sweden including 3 research centres and 9 key industry stakeholders:

Stone by stone, each partner adds its contribution to the project

Work packages per project leader, based on areas of expertise

Two targets set to be met:

First, produce a building envelope (interior and exterior walls) which is:

• Able to prevent winter heat loss and summer overheating
• Environmentally-friendly while ensuring a high level of living comfort
• Soundproof and moisture-resistant

Second, foster the use of materials and components that are:

• Eco-friendly
• Energy-efficient
• Improvable in the long run
• Low-expense
• Non-polluting

To this end, a study of materials and components’ chemical and physical activity is conducted: for new constructions, an innovative Precast sandwich panel made of Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) and Foamed concrete (FC) is compared to a Steel reinforced concrete (SRC) wall of the same thermal resistance. As for renovation works, the H-house Half-sandwich panel made of Ultra-high-performance-concrete (UHPC) and Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is compared to claddings of the same thermal performance.

Example of a “Conventional concrete vs Textile reinforced concrete/foamed concrete” comparative study

Human health and LCA-related work package 6 is handed over to Cycleco. This includes:

• An LCA study as well as an LCC analysis of materials and components
• The assessment of indoor pollutants’ impacts on human health using the USEtox^R model
• The inventory of emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• The provision of eco-design solutions via the design of materials and components based on environmental criteria stemming from a Life Cycle Inventory database

Scroll down and gain a deeper insight into the project:

• Leaflet No1
• Leaflet No2
• Project’s dedicated website
• Series of project-related presentations

Contact: marion.sie(at)cycleco.eu