http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1007768 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:07:25 GMT 2026-10-26T10:07:25Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019377 Advanced 6D BIM framework for energy performance optimization: HVAC system enhancement in commercial buildings Betim, R. C.; Falcão Silva, M. J.; Pinho, F. Integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) with energy analysis supports the validation of sustainable rehabilitation strategies, offering benefits to building owners, stakeholders, and managers. This study presents a case involving a large commercial building, detailing the development of an energy-focused BIM model. Key steps included incorporating thermal and regulatory parameters into the design, assigning thermal characteristics to materials, generating an energy simulation model, and validating it using actual utility consumption data. The validation process guided design adaptations based on the building’s new functional requirements and enhanced thermal load assessments. The HVAC system’s performance was influenced by external heat gains, occupancy, and space typology. Comparative analysis of energy consumption and cost per square meter showed that the proposed rehabilitation scenario, adapted to new space usage, was less energy-efficient than the existing configuration. The modeling software offered strengths in user interface, component integration, and flexibility in adjusting energy parameters and space types. However, limitations in accurately representing real-world occupancy and space usage affected the model’s reliability, posing challenges in validating both existing and proposed energy scenarios. In summary, while BIM-based energy modeling provides valuable insights for sustainable retrofitting, current software limitations in simulating real conditions can hinder the accuracy and applicability of energy performance evaluations. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019377 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019373 Mapping the Resilience Potential of the Portuguese Construction Ecosystem Through a Digital Platform Rezvani, S.; Falcão Silva, M. J.; Almeida, N. In an era of increasing natural disasters and hazards, strengthening resilience, particularly in urban contexts, is paramount. This study presents a digital platform developed to map the resilience potential of the Portuguese construction ecosystem. This platform empowers practitioners to input wide-ranging data encompassing their current assets, infrastructure, anticipated hazard probability, and prospective impacts of these events. The platform’s use cultivates a comprehensive understanding of risk distribution and impacts, forming the bedrock of evidence-based decisions on resilience enhancement. The study further deepens this exploration through a case study on Portuguese districts, employing the number of IMPIC-certified companies per 1000 population as a measure of urban reconstruction capability—an intrinsic resilience component. Findings reveal significant disparities in reconstruction potential across districts, emphasizing the requirement for targeted resilience strategies. These results underline the innovative potential of the digital platform to map and enhance urban resilience, projecting its broad utility for practitioners, stakeholders, and guiding future resilience-focused interventions. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019373 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019300 The legacy of asbestos in public buildings in Portugal Raposo, S. Clara Germana Gonçalves & Afrodete Paapnikou Due to its numerous properties, asbestos was used in many industrial sectors during the 20th century. Asbestos fibers have been incorporated into many building materials in the construction enhance sector to fire resistance, improve mechanical strength, or even optimize acoustic and energy performance in structures. The increasing awareness of the health risks associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers has led to successive regulatory changes in Portugal, beginning in the 1980s. These regulations progressively tightened the conditions for using this mineral, gradually restricting its application until its complete ban in 2005. Although the extraction, manufacture, and processing of asbestos are banned, the EU continues to face challenges due to the so-called "asbestos legacy". This ongoing issue threatens public health and worker safety, as asbestos remains present in many older buildings, which are likely to be renovated, adapted, or demolished in the coming years. In recent years, Portugal has enacted legislation on asbestos removal in public buildings, facilities, and equipment (Law No. 2/2011) and in company-owned buildings, facilities, and equipment (Law No. 63/2018). Legislation was also enacted to protect workers from the risks of asbestos exposure in the workplace (Decree-law No. 266/2007) and to establish standards for the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM), as well as for the packaging, transportation, and management of related construction and demolition waste, aiming to protect both the environment and human health (Ordinance No. 40/2014). This paper examines the Portuguese strategy for screening and registering asbestos in public buildings, as outlined in Law No. 2/2011. A survey of 12,944 public buildings was conducted in 2014, revealing that in 84% of cases, no materials suspected of containing asbestos were detected. The Working Conditions Authority (ACT) and the Directorate- General of the Treasury and Finance (DGTF) coordinated and oversaw the survey. A standard questionnaire was developed to support visual inspections of buildings, and an asbestos module was implemented in the State Property Information System on the DGTF electronic platform. The list of inspected buildings and their results were publicly posted on the government website. Despite these efforts, certain actions outlined in Law No. 2/2011 still need to be implemented, including an asbestos management program that establishes hierarchies and action priorities to prevent the release of asbestos fibers into occupied areas and protect building occupants from exposure. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019300 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019247 Evaluating Porcelain Polishing Waste as a Pyro-Expansive Agent in Clay Formulations for Sustainable Lightweight Aggregates Oliveira, V.; Neto, J.; Nascimento, G.; Anjos, M.; Dutra, R.; Pederneiras, C. This study addresses the use of porcelain polishing waste as a pyro-expansive agent in clay-based formulations for the production of lightweight aggregates, aiming to reduce the consumption of natural resources and mitigate environmental impacts. In line with circular economy principles and sustainable construction goals, this study investigates the potential use of porcelain polishing waste as a pyro-expansive agent in clay-based formulations for producing sustainable lightweight aggregates. Using the Taguchi method and ANOVA, the effects of key processing parameters were evaluated. The results demonstrated a broad range of volumetric changes, from shrinkage of 40.84% to expansion of 91.69%, depending on the formulation and processing conditions. The aggregates exhibited specific mass values ranging from 0.99 g/cm3 to 2.36 g/cm3, water absorption up to 3.29%, and mechanical strength from 4.57 MPa to 39.87 MPa. Notably, nine of the sixteen experimental conditions met the technical standards for classification as LWA, indicating suitability for applications in high-strength, structural, and non-structural lightweight concretes, as well as lightweight mortars. The performance of these materials was directly linked to the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the precursors and the proportion of pyro-expansive waste used. Overall, the findings suggest that 50% of the produced aggregates are viable for high-performance concrete applications, offering an environmentally responsible alternative to virgin raw materials and contributing to sustainable waste valorization in the ceramic and construction industries. Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1019247 2025-08-15T00:00:00Z