Acoustic and thermal field investigation of low-cost dwellings, a case study in Brazil

The present paper presents acoustic and thermal performance evaluations carried out in low-cost houses located at the Vila Tecnológica de Curitiba (Technological Village of Curitiba), in Curitiba, Brazil. Two dwellings were evaluated, which were built according to different building systems: (1) the building system Batistella, built with pre-fabricated modules and elements, composed of reforestation wood and (2) the building system Constroyer, composed of expanded polystyrene (EPS) plates, framed in a welded iron mesh, with structural plastering. For the thermal performance evaluation, it was verified that the materials used in the envelope were quite significant for controlling heat gains and losses through the building elements as well as for regulating heat storage. In this case, the system with highest thermal inertia presented better results. Results showed that both building systems had poor acoustic performance, characterized by a low weighted apparent sound reduction index of the façade Rw′=18 dB. The German DIN 4109 Norm recommends a minimum of Rw′=30 dB. The weighted apparent sound reduction index measured for internal walls was Rw′=25 dB and Rw′=30 dB, for the building systems Battistela and Constroyer, respectively. The minimum required by German regulation VDI 4100 is Rw′=36 dB, for internal walls.