Evaluation of the radiometric properties of roofing materials for livestock buildings and their effect on the surface temperature

• Influence of envelope materials on livestock buildings microclimate.
• External surfaces able to reduce solar heat gain.
• Red steel with the highest solar reflectivity and the lowest surface temperatures.
• The mean value of the convection coefficient was equal to 12.2 W m−2 K−1.

Passive systems, such as high solar reflective roofing materials, protective facades, vegetative green walls and roofs, can be used in order to control solar heat gain in buildings. These sustainable technologies can reduce the temperature of the external surface of the building envelope, so reducing the energy consumption for cooling in summer. The radiometric properties of metallic roofing materials and their effects on the surface temperature were evaluated. Nine smooth metallic materials used for livestock buildings were tested; 4 were made of aluminium and the other 5 of steel and they were characterised by different colours. Solar reflectivity and long wave infrared emissivity were evaluated by means of laboratory tests; the influence of the radiometric properties on the surface temperature was evaluated in the field by using an experimental structure in Summer. The solar reflectivity coefficient ranged from 7.1% for the brown aluminium to 40.1% for the red steel; significant differences of the temperatures were recorded when the solar radiation hitting the metallic surface was higher than 600 W m−2. A difference of 13.4% of the solar reflectivity coefficient resulted in a difference of the surface temperature of up to 8 °C. Variation of the slope from 15° to 40° resulted in an increase of the surface temperature of more than 8 °C. The value of the convection coefficient was calculated by means of the data measured in the field, and the mean value was equal to 12.2 W m−2 K−1.