[EN] The constructive solutions characteristic of vernacular architecture are the result of the convergence of geographical, cultural and climatic factors that bring about constructions characterised by adaptation to their surroundings. However, at present, Spanish regulations do not contemplate the properties of traditional materials, such as those found in earthen constructions, whose great thermal inertia is ignored despite their thermal gains and compensations. Given these limitations, the purpose of this study is to assess the thermal behaviour of traditional earthen architecture adjusting to its real performance and original surroundings. This work thus examines a methodology to assess the thermal behaviour of rammed earth walls based on on-site data specifically collected in the summer in a case study located in La Serrania, a region in the northwest of the province of Valencia (Spain). The results show the evolution of exterior and interior surface temperatures of the earthen wall, quantifying its variation frequency and thermal energy transmission. Based on these data, the thermal transmittance of the wall is calculated and compared to highlight the difference from the normalised value, showing that a review of the Spanish regulations applied to earthen architecture is needed. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness as the work was part of the research project "Restoration and rehabilitation of traditional earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula. Guidelines and tools for a sustainable intervention" (Ref.: BIA2014-55924-R; main researchers: Camilla Mileto and Fernando Vegas Lopez-Manzanares) Balaguer-Garzón, L.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F.; Mileto, C.; García-Soriano, L. (2019). Assessment of the Thermal Behaviour of Rammed Earth Walls in the Summer Period. Sustainability. 11(7):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071924 Martínez-Molina, A., Tort-Ausina, I., Cho, S., & Vivancos, J.-L. (2016). Energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 61, 70-85. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2016.03.018 Webb, A. L. (2017). Energy retrofits in historic and traditional buildings: A review of problems and methods. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 77, 748-759. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.145 De Fino, M., Scioti, A., Cantatore, E., & Fatiguso, F. (2017). Methodological framework for assessment of energy behavior of historic towns in Mediterranean climate. Energy and Buildings, 144, 87-103. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.03.029 Balaguer, L., Mileto, C., Vegas López-Manzanares, F., & García-Soriano, L. (2019). Bioclimatic strategies of traditional earthen architecture. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 9(2), 227-246. doi:10.1108/jchmsd-07-2018-0054

Código Técnico de la Edificación https://www.codigotecnico.org Heathcote, K. (2011). El comportamiento térmico de los edificios de tierra. Informes de la Construcción, 63(523), 117-126. doi:10.3989/ic.10.024

Technical Building Code https://www.codigotecnico.org Heathcote, K. (2011). Thermal performance of ground-based buildings. Construction Reports, 63 (523), 117-126. doi:10.3989/ic.10.024

Assessment of the Thermal Behaviour of Rammed Earth Walls in the Summer Period

Abstract