INSULATION 55 Winds of change for testing
Lisa Stephens of ROCKWOOL UK gives an update on the latest developments in wind load testing to equip buildings for the more extreme winter storms we are seeing.
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cross the globe, extreme weather conditions are becoming more common, with heavy fl ooding,
wildfi res and hurricanes regularly making the news headlines and heavily impacting towns, cities and communities often with devastating consequences.
Recent research by Newcastle University and the Met Offi ce, looking specifi cally at the UK, has concluded that climate change may increase the number of extreme winter storms, including strong winds. Analysing data from climate simulations covering historical (1981-2000) and future (2060-2081) periods, the research showed that “as the climate warms, these events are likely to become more severe, with stronger winds and heavier rainfall happening together.”
The study advised that these changes are mainly driven by increased rainfall, as a ‘thermodynamic’ response to rising temperatures. Additional contributing factors include a strengthened jet stream and its southward displacement that brings storms through warmer areas, leading to further increases in rainfall.
Resilient structures Wind load (which refers to the forces exerted on a structure by wind), depends on factors like location, building height and surrounding terrain. Urban environments, in particular, are at heightened risk due to the funnelling effect of wind between buildings, which amplifi es local wind speeds. Likewise, coastal and high-altitude locations require specifi c design adaptations to address elevated wind pressures. Architects have always had to contend with the impact of wind. However, as wind speeds increase due to climate change, so do the loads that buildings must endure. While wind-tunnel testing and computational fl uid dynamics (CFD) modelling are commonly used to assess wind loads on buildings during the design phase, identifying areas of high stress and highlighting the impact of building
ADF MARCH 2025
geometry on wind load, analysis of material testing data is also critical.
Tested for site Rainscreen insulation, often used on high- rise buildings more exposed to extreme weather and wind, must withstand such pressures. Wind-load testing is common for most rainscreen insulation available in the UK and Ireland; however, testing programmes vary in terms of the build up. Typically, rainscreen insulation is independently tested in accordance with BRE Digest 346 Part 7. This testing regime sees product samples placed and sealed into dynamic wind loading test apparatus and subjected to sequential proportional loading cycles that mimic what a building would experience within a 50-year lifespan. The process tests the insulation prior to the fi nal cladding being added, which, in reality, will give further protection. To ensure that test scenarios refl ect typical construction types, it is important to consider all materials within the build-up
As wind speeds increase due to climate change, so do the loads that buildings must endure
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