Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls
The study aimed to investigate the thermal storage potential of oak tree bark as a natural and easily accessible material and to examine the possibility of incorporating this raw material into external prefabricated walls. The U-values of oak tree bark were compared with mineral wool (MW), which is...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Vjekoslav Živković Andrija Novosel Hrvoje Krstić |
| author_facet | Vjekoslav Živković Andrija Novosel Hrvoje Krstić |
| author_sort | Vjekoslav Živković |
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| description | The study aimed to investigate the thermal storage potential of oak tree bark as a natural and easily accessible material and to examine the possibility of incorporating this raw material into external prefabricated walls. The U-values of oak tree bark were compared with mineral wool (MW), which is a standardized and well-known insulating material. Oak tree bark, a residual material, is mainly used as an energy source. However, in light of actual green policies at the European Union (EU) level, raw wood and its components, e.g., bark, should be used for long-lasting products and not as an energy source. According to the Croatian Technical Regulation on the Rational Use of Energy and Thermal Insulation in Buildings, the maximum U-value for external walls in Croatia is 0.30 W/m<sup>2</sup>K. Here presented test results show that the U-values of the experimental wall compositions were 0.22 W/m<sup>2</sup>K for the wall with mineral wool (MW) and 0.29 W/m<sup>2</sup>K for the wall with oak tree bark. Despite mineral wool having a thermal conductivity (λ, W/mK) 53% lower than the experimental tree bark, walls with bark fulfill the national insulation requirements; therefore, they present an alternative and sustainable insulation option. Furthermore, the Blower door test (n50 value) of the bungalow was measured to be 3.75 h<sup>−1,</sup> proving the potential of tree bark as an alternative eco-friendly insulation material in exterior walls. However, further investigations are necessary in order to create and optimize the panel, its thickness, density, adhesive technology, the size of bark particles, production parameters, etc., as these influence properties of the final product to be placed on the market. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e26486624074776958f27c91cdb56fb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e26486624074776958f27c91cdb56fb2025-08-20T02:59:14ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-0115581010.3390/buildings15050810Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior WallsVjekoslav Živković0Andrija Novosel1Hrvoje Krstić2Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 23, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 23, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaThe study aimed to investigate the thermal storage potential of oak tree bark as a natural and easily accessible material and to examine the possibility of incorporating this raw material into external prefabricated walls. The U-values of oak tree bark were compared with mineral wool (MW), which is a standardized and well-known insulating material. Oak tree bark, a residual material, is mainly used as an energy source. However, in light of actual green policies at the European Union (EU) level, raw wood and its components, e.g., bark, should be used for long-lasting products and not as an energy source. According to the Croatian Technical Regulation on the Rational Use of Energy and Thermal Insulation in Buildings, the maximum U-value for external walls in Croatia is 0.30 W/m<sup>2</sup>K. Here presented test results show that the U-values of the experimental wall compositions were 0.22 W/m<sup>2</sup>K for the wall with mineral wool (MW) and 0.29 W/m<sup>2</sup>K for the wall with oak tree bark. Despite mineral wool having a thermal conductivity (λ, W/mK) 53% lower than the experimental tree bark, walls with bark fulfill the national insulation requirements; therefore, they present an alternative and sustainable insulation option. Furthermore, the Blower door test (n50 value) of the bungalow was measured to be 3.75 h<sup>−1,</sup> proving the potential of tree bark as an alternative eco-friendly insulation material in exterior walls. However, further investigations are necessary in order to create and optimize the panel, its thickness, density, adhesive technology, the size of bark particles, production parameters, etc., as these influence properties of the final product to be placed on the market.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/5/810tree barkthermal insulationlightweight wallsthermal properties |
| spellingShingle | Vjekoslav Živković Andrija Novosel Hrvoje Krstić Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls Buildings tree bark thermal insulation lightweight walls thermal properties |
| title | Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls |
| title_full | Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls |
| title_short | Innovative Solutions: Comparative Study of Laboratory and In Situ Measurements of Thermal Properties of Bark Insulated Exterior Walls |
| title_sort | innovative solutions comparative study of laboratory and in situ measurements of thermal properties of bark insulated exterior walls |
| topic | tree bark thermal insulation lightweight walls thermal properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/5/810 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vjekoslavzivkovic innovativesolutionscomparativestudyoflaboratoryandinsitumeasurementsofthermalpropertiesofbarkinsulatedexteriorwalls AT andrijanovosel innovativesolutionscomparativestudyoflaboratoryandinsitumeasurementsofthermalpropertiesofbarkinsulatedexteriorwalls AT hrvojekrstic innovativesolutionscomparativestudyoflaboratoryandinsitumeasurementsofthermalpropertiesofbarkinsulatedexteriorwalls |