Structural, Energy-efficient Solutions for Insulated Swedish Slabs

The development of individual residential construction necessitates the use of new technologies and energy-efficient design solutions, which is relevant for regions with a cold climate. The insulated Swedish slab implies a technology for constructing shallow slab foundations, developed and refined in the Scandinavian countries. It allows for the foundation design to be adapted to the geological and climatic conditions of the local area. Various slab design is based on a thermal insulation placement, but specific recommendations regarding the insulation thickness and its placement within the structure are lacking in standard specifications. Purpose: The aim of the study is to determine the optimal thickness for the insulating of a Swedish slab, taking into account sanitary and energy efficiency requirements. Research findings: This paper examines various design options for an insulated Swedish slab. For each option, temperature fields are simulated using the SolidWorks software suite. Based on the modeling basement assemblies, the temperature is measured for the foundation body, and the lowest temperature is measured on the inner surface of the exterior walls. A full room is simulated for each design option to assess the room heat balance and indoor air temperature. According to the results, the best insulating thickness is determined to be 300 mm for the insulated Swedish slab for Moscow climatic conditions. Value: The higher insulating thickness results in a minor change in temperature of ~3 %, making inappropriate the use of these design solutions.