Outdoor testbeds for studies on performance of building envelopes: review and recommendations

High-performance building envelope materials, components and systems have been developed to achieve reduction in energy demand and meanwhile maintaining a satisfactory indoor environmental quality. The performance of building envelopes is generally assessed through numerical and experimental methods. Experimental work conducted with outdoor testbeds provides live data under real weather conditions, and therefore become an effective approach to evaluating the performance façade technologies. This paper reviewed 82 outdoor testbeds employed in studies on performance of building envelopes. They are categorized according to scale and form. Representatives in each category are discussed in details, and the main features are compared and summarized systematically. The functions of testbeds are analyzed according to the dedicated experimental purposes. Different construction materials and structures are also compared. On this basis, recommendations are made for future design, construction and application of outdoor testbeds.