Project “Circularbuild” – Study of the durability of the panel cladding plate

Abstract

The project CircularBuild - “Development and Validation of the Concept of Circularity Applied to Modular Prefabricated Construction” aims to investigate solutions based on alternative materials for the panels of the prefabricated modular system, in a perspective of circularity, allowing total reuse of the waste generated, without compromising the building performance, namely in terms of energy efficiency. The promoter was CONCEXEC – Arquitectura, Lda (Portugal), and Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, I.P. (LNEC; Portugal) was one of the partners. The LNEC’s Prevention of Biodeterioration Unit (LNEC/UPB) team was responsible for the evaluation of the biological susceptibility of the panel cladding within the task T3.1: Study of the durability of the panel cladding plate. The laboratory evaluation of the biological durability of the materials was conducted on the bio-based material chosen within this project: AGEPAN® DWD PROTECT (16 mm thickness). Some tests were selected to evaluate the durability of this material: 1) swelling in thickness after immersion in water, and the resistance of the board against 2) moulds and 3) decay fungi, including 4) soft rot, and 5) the resistance against subterranean termites as a model for insect deterioration. Parallel tests after leaching of the board samples were also conducted to assess the importance of water on the biological deterioration mechanisms. The AGEPAN® DWD PROTECT resistance against moisture penetration was confirmed through the results of the swelling in thickness test performed. Under the test conditions, the samples of AGEPAN® DWD PROTECT were considered susceptible to mould growth, and highly susceptible to decay fungi, particularly to brown rots and soft rot. The material was also highly susceptible to subterranean termites, which were able to cross the material and to feed on it. The results obtained demonstrate a weak resistance of the tested plate to biological degradation under high moisture situations. The material tested, according to the results obtained in this report, should therefore always be protected from moisture when applied.