Project Brief:
Construct a 1:2 model of one of the above
systems.
Using actual material elements.
The group has selected the construction
method of reverse brick veneer (RBV) for our construction method for the
Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Alternative Wall Construction (Wall
Project).
RBV or Insulated Masonry
Construction is a method which uses the bricks or any form of masonry for
the internal wall of a building and other materials for the external wall or
skin. In effect reversing the traditional brick veneer construction method.
Please refer to diagrams 1 and 2 for example.
 |
| Diagram 1. Conventional Brick Veneer Construction |
 |
| Diagram 2. Conventional Brick Veneer Construction |
Reverse Brick Veneer
The RBV method takes advantage of the
thermal mass of the bricks reducing the buildings internal temperature
fluctuations. Thermal mass is a materials ability to store either heat or cold.
Thermal mass is most effectively applied over a large area to maximise
efficiency. In regards to sustainable design, bricks have a higher thermal mass
than timber, so thereby situating the bricks internally they take advantage of
the stored daytime heat and may passively release this back into the building
during the cooler night.
The Building Codes of Australia (BCA)
divides Australia into a range of 8 climate zones, we are located in climate
zone 6, a cool to temperate climate. This cool temperate climate is ideal for
the thermal mass properties provided by the RBV construction.
The method is gaining recognition and Mirvac’s
9.2 Star sustainable prototype home Harmony 9, heralded to be “the first zero
carbon house of its kind built by a commercial developer”, includes reverse
brick veneer construction. This is a positive to note that commercial
developers are beginning to integrate responsible environmentally sustainable
building practices.
Our group continues to discuss the most
efficient external skin or building material to achieve the best thermal mass
properties from the construction.
Concurrently we are also exploring the
finer details of construction methods, these will be confirmed once all
construction materials selected.
As the group is sourcing materials from
salvage this may be a fluid process!
