Krystyna Pietrzyk

An Example of Application of Limit State Approach for Reliability Analysis of Moisture Performance of a Building Component

Application of limit state approach for the reliability analysis of building performance in the context of building physics characteristics is presented. Analysis of the probability of surface condensation on windows carried out on the basis of statistical description of the climatic parameters and the moisture production is shown as an example of application of this technique for reliability analysis of moisture performance of a building component. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is employed to estimate the probability of performance failure. The results of probabilistic approximations are verified with the help of statistical analysis of the results obtained from deterministic simulations.

Thermal Performance of a Building Envelope – A Probabilistic Approach

A probabilistic model of the thermal performance of a building envelope is proposed. The model predicts the probability density function of the heat loss over a specified period of time on the basis of the design parameters of the house, climatic characteristics of the site as well as the air change rate due to mechanical or natural ventilation. Reliability of the heat loss performance of the building envelope components exposed to various climatic conditions is analyzed, and the probability of excessive heat loss is quantified. Different design options are considered. They involve a dynamic wall strategy and various types of building ventilation.