The construction of three thermal performance test cells at the University of Tasmania's Launceston campus is now complete. Special thanks for this go to postgraduate student, Mark Dewsbury and the builder cb&m design pty ltd, for mobilising the subcontractor team and supervising work.
Launceston's coldest month is July. Initial monitoring began a fortnight ago. Full data will be collected during the remainder of winter and spring.
Detailed monitoring equipment is now being installed. The main sensor set inside each cell should be in place by the weekend, with the sensors in the building fabric being installed in the following week. Initially, the cells are being monitored with heaters on but without carpet or skirting. These will be installed in about a month.
Each cell has nine sensor poles. The eight poles around the perimeter are 100mm away from each wall and in the centre of each room. There is also one in the centre of the room.
Naturally, the poles are timber dowel while the sensor supports are plywood cut out on the School's CNC router.
There are three temperature sensors on each pole. In addition to this, sensors are being positioned on top of the floor sheet and directly under the plasterboard ceiling.
Monitoring overview
The thermal performance of each test cells will be monitored continually from this winter until autumn 2007. The cells will be heated. So, sensors will be used to control the heating, determine temperature variation in various parts of the room and measure heat movement through the cells' fabric.
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Construction - July 11
All cells are now effectively complete. They are all insulated and lined and brickwork is finished. Final detailing is in progress with door trims, painting, and carpeting to come.
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Construction - July 8
Even allowing for some unkind winter weather, completion of the test cells is now in sight. They are all insulated and lined and cladding is well advanced.
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Construction - June 26
Though three days were lost to rain, the frame for each building is in place, and the first cell has been wrapped.
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Construction is now under way
The test cells are being built by contracted local builders using standard building material and construction systems. Construction began in early June and is scheduled to be completed by mid-July.
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