Lowering Emissivity of Concrete Roof Tile’s Underside Cuts Down Heat Entry to the Building

Researchers from the Guilin University of Technology and the Michigan Technological University used greenTEG’s gSKIN®-XP heat flux sensors to show how lowering the emissivity at the underside of concrete roof tiles can curtail heat entries into houses in summer.

In Southern China, most buildings use a double-skin roof to reduce heat entry in summer. The outmost layer often consists of concrete roof tiles due to their resistance against hail and wind. However, dust deposits and algae growth darken those tiles over time, which leads to an increased heat entry into the building.

In the study, the emissivity of the underside of the concrete roof tiles was lowered by coating it with a specific paint. Six gSKIN®-XP heat flux sensors were used to measure the heat flux through the roof under tiles with different emissivity values. The study confirmed that a concrete tile with a lower emissivity has a lower roof deck temperature and propagates less amount of heat to the building interior.

The research contributes to higher energy efficiency of buildings and increased comfort for the inhabitants, and we’re pleased to be a part of it.