Research infrastructure

Monitoring conditions in buildings

Tampere University

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Faculty of Built Environment

Civil Engineering

Hervanta Campus

Rakennushalli, Korkeakoulunkatu 5 F

Tampere

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Field measurements

Temperature, moisture, and other conditions as well as indoor air quality can be assessed during both construction and maintenance with various follow-up measurements.

Typical measurements in building physics are temperature, relative humidity, moisture content of material, air pressure differences, and heat flow. Tampere University’s Building physics research group is also able to measure air impurities, such as CO₂, VOC, radon, fine particles and microbes.

If needed, outdoor monitoring can accompany indoor monitoring. Outdoor monitoring may include temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and speed, rain on vertical and horizontal surfaces, direct and diffusive solar radiation, and long-wave heat radiation.

Building airtightness is measured with a pressure test, and airtightness is portrayed by air leakage q₅₀. To locate points of air leakage thermographic imaging can be done.

Things to investigate in buildings in field measurements

Depending on the need, it is possible to study several different things about structures and indoor air. The Building Physics Research group of Tampere University has experience in the following types of measurements in various contexts:

Pressure difference across the outer shell
Indoor and outdoor temperature
Relative humidity of indoor and outdoor air
Indoor air humidity supplement
Indoor air carbon dioxide concentration
Indoor air radon concentration
Indoor air VOC concentration (volatile organic compounds)
Indoor air fine particle concentrations (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10)
Air tightness of the building's outer envelope (q50)
Thermal imaging of the building

Equipment characteristics

The conditions of buildings and the quality of indoor air are measured as needed with varying measurements using varying measuring devices, which, depending on the needs and scope of the research project, may be acquired for project-specific use through a partner.
Characteristics of the Blower Door pressure test equipment:
- Measurement range of air flow is from 180 to 7,800m³/h; or 22,500m³/h when using multiple blowers.
- Can be fitted to 0.7–1.14m wide and 1.14–2.41m tall doorway; or with large frame 1.05–1.45m wide and 1.82–2.68m tall opening.
- The air leakage of building is computed automatically when the volume of building is known.
- Accuracy of measurement is ±5%.
Characteristics of the FLIR T420 thermal camera:
- Measurement range -20…+650°C.
- Sensitivity 0.045°C (at 30°C).
- Accuracy ±2°C, ±2%.
- Spectre 7.5–13μm (long-wave).
- Picture resolution 320x240.
- Pictures are saved in jpeg format.
- Features also a picture-in-picture function.

The latest publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Raunima, T., Laukkarinen, A., Kauppinen, A., Kiviste, M., Tuominen, E., Ketko, J., Vinha, J. Indoor air temperature and relative humidity measurements in Finnish schools and day-care centres. Building and Environment. 2023, 246, 110969. http://10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110969

Kauppinen, A., Kiviste, M., Pirhonen, J., Tuominen, E., Laukkarinen, A., Huttunen, P., Vinha, J. Air Pressure Differences over External Walls in New and Retrofitted Schools and Daycare Centers. Buildings. 2022, 12(10), 1629. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12101629

Vinha, J., Salminen, M., Salminen, K., Kalamees, T., Kurnitski, J., Kiviste, M. Internal moisture excess of residential buildings in Finland. Journal of Building Physics. 2018;42(3):239-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744259117750369

Research reports

Vinha J., Laukkarinen A., Kaasalainen T., Pihlajamaa P., Teriö O., Jokisalo J., Annila P., Harsia P., Hedman M., Heljo J., Kallioharju K., Kauppinen A., Kero P., Kivioja H., Lehtinen T., Marttila T., Moisio M., Mäkinen A., Paatero J., Raunima T., Ruusala A., Sankelo P., Sekki P., Sirén K., Tuominen E., Tuominen O., Uotila U. & Uusitalo S. Comprehensive development of nearly zero-energy municipal service buildings (COMBI). Introductory and summary report of the research project. Tampere University of Technology. Civil Engineering. Research report 168. 2019. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-15-4306-7

Vinha, J., Korpi, M., Kalamees, T., Jokisalo, J., Eskola, L., Palonen, J., Kurnitski, J., Aho, H., Salminen, M., Salminen, K., Keto, M. Air tightness, indoor climate and energy economy of detached houses and apartments. Tampere University of Technology. Civil Engineering. Research report 140. 2009. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-2011122914971

Vinha, J., Korpi, M., Kalamees, T., Eskola, L., Palonen, J., Kurnitski, J., Valovirta I., Mikkilä, A., Jokisalo, J. Humidity and Temperature Conditions, Ventilation and Air Tightness of Wooden Frame Detached Houses. Tampere University of Technology. Civil Engineering. Research report 131. 2005. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-2011041510587

Master's theses

Ketko, J. 2023. The effects of switching off night-time ventilation on gas and particle content in schools and kindergartens Master's thesis. Tampere University. Tampere. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202305135729

Kauppinen A. 2018. Pressure differences over building envelope in new and renovated municipal service buildings. Master's thesis. Tampere University of Technology. Tampere. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201811292781

Monitoring conditions in buildings

Field measurements

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