The thermal performance of walls under actual service conditions: Evaluating the results of climatic chamber tests

The dynamic aspects of building envelope behaviour, which are usually evaluated using computer simulation tools that require substantial expertise for proper use, are receiving increasing amounts of attention. However, the U-value, which neglects the significance of heat capacity, continues to be the primary reference parameter for describing the thermal performance of walls in the building sector. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of overcoming this widespread simplification by analysing, through climatic chamber tests, the actual performance of a set of walls that have equivalent U-values but are characterized by different heat capacities.