Concrete @ your Fingertips

Thermal mass- an example

Concrete and cementitious-based products have much to offer as environmentally friendly materials. They are able to absorb heat in the warmest weather conditions cooling a building acting as a passive air conditioning system. They have good sound insulation and deadening properties.

One example of the use of concrete´s thermal mass in construction is the PowerGen headquarters in Coventry. Careful design of this structure ensured a large surface to volume ratio in the exposed concrete. Therefore, the concrete cools the interior of the building throughout the day and overnight natural ventilation is used to cool the concrete down. Care in locating the building, the design of surfaces and provision of shading to the building sides, also helps reduce heat build up. Any part of the concrete structure will act in this manner including walls, floors, columns, etc

Acknowledgement: UKQAA