Influence of Solar Radiation on the Thermal Load of an External Wall Taking into Account Its Material Properties

This study empirically verified the effect of solar radiation on the building envelope, with particular emphasis on the generated surface temperature. A model of a cellular concrete block wall with ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) was constructed with varying insulation-plaster configurations, followed by tests in a “sun chamber” aging chamber and numerical analyses. The measurement results were compared with those from the numerical simulations, taking into account the thermal properties of the materials used and the radiation exposure conditions. The purpose of the study was to determine to what extent different types of plasters and insulation materials affect the heating of the façades. Computer simulations confirmed the direction of energy flow and the gradual heating of successive layers. Furthermore, the differences between the material variants were consistent with the experimental observations. By modeling perfectly uniform conditions, the numerical analysis allowed us to limit the impact of radiation variability, resulting in results with reduced error.