SEDL / STP / STP718-EB / STP29274S

Thermal Research Facility—A Large Calibrated Hot Box for Horizontal Building Elements

Mumaw, JR
Research supervisor, Insulation Technology Laboratory, Owins-Corning Fiberglas Corp., Granville, Ohio

Pages: 13    Published: Jan 1980

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Abstract

A large multipurpose facility utilizing existing calibrated hot-box technology was designed and constructed to perform research on the heat flow mechanisms of horizontal building elements. The Thermal Research Facility incorporates a 4.3 by 6-m (14 by 20 ft) opening calibrated hot-box metering pit with a 10.7 by 21.3 by 7.6 m (35 by 70 by 25 ft) primary chamber to permit measurements on both horizontal building elements, such as floors, ceilings and roofs, and complex building elements such as a one-room house or a small manufactured house. This paper describes the design considerations and construction details required to build the facility using state-of-the-art technology for measurements and control.