Brick’s Thermal Mass Benefits & What They Mean
One of the most important natural benefits of bricks is their thermal mass. What is thermal mass you might ask? It’s a good question!
As we endeavour to lessen our impact on our fragile environment by reducing greenhouse gases, thermal mass becomes a vital part of the equation. By incorporating thermal mass into our buildings, including our homes, in combination with passive design principles, we can reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For instance, a passively designed full brick home will deliver many benefits - including maximum thermal mass due to the internal walls being built with brick. We know it as sustainable housing and we will hear more about that term.
Probably the best way to understand brick’s thermal mass is to think of brick as a thermal battery.
“Thermal mass acts as a ‘thermal battery’. During summer it absorbs heat, keeping the house comfortable. In winter the same thermal mass can store the heat from the sun or heaters to release it at night, helping the home stay warm.”
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You can also think of brick as a natural air conditioner.
In summer, brickwork’s thermal mass cools down overnight and stays cooler during the heat of the day.
It is important to note that many building product substitutes do not have the thermal mass qualities of bricks.
Comprehensive research has been undertaken at the University of Newcastle featuring actual buildings built of bricks as well as lightweight materials. The tests proved that the brick veneer and full brick homes performed much better in climate extremes than the lightweight materials.
As part of a well designed building;
- Thermal mass helps to achieve thermal comfort
- Thermal mass reduces the need for air conditioning
- Thermal mass reduces greenhouse gas emissions over the life of a building
The University of Newcastle research mentioned earlier has demonstrated that thermal mass can naturally moderate temperatures. The chart shows results from a summer heat wave.
The external temperature fluctuations were moderated by brickwork to a range more consistent with human comfort. The brochures and background papers below provide more detail about the research.
Important points on Thermal Mass and the R-Value
Bricks provide long-term environmental benefits, which offset their embodied energy.
Building with bricks will pay dividends in the future, as bricks are:
Long lasting
The long life of bricks prevents the continual reinvestment in embodied energy at short intervals.
Low maintenance
Rendering, painting and sealing adds to the building’s costs and has associated environmental impacts.
Durable and strong
Designing for strength, robustness and durability will help to ensure the long life of a home.
Healthy
Bricks have virtually no emissions and are so safe that they can be specified for people with acute allergies.
Reusable and recyclable
As bricks have a long-life they can be reused with their original properties intact. Bricks are inert and can be recycled as filling and stabilising materials and aggregates.
As part of a well-designed building, the thermal mass in bricks can:
- Significantly reduce operational energy
- Achieve thermal comfort naturally
By naturally moderating temperature fluctuations, the thermal mass in bricks can be used to reduce the reliance on artificial forms of heating and cooling. This can significantly reduce the energy used during the life of a home as space heating and cooling uses the largest proportions of energy in an average Australian home (AGO, 1999).
For Further information please refer to the following brochures: