Selection of the best radiant barrier system (RBS) location in double skin ventilated roofs

Abstract

Double skin ventilated roof is one of the important passive cooling techniques to reduce solar heat gain through roofs by reducing both the conduction and convection heat transfer from the roof to the ceiling of buildings. On the other hand, Radiant barrier system (RBS) is very powerful in blocking the radiation heat transfer between the two skins. In this research, an experimental study was performed to study the effect of placing a thin layer of aluminium foil at different locations on the thermal insulation performance of a double skin ventilated roof model that is made of two parallel inclined galvanized steel plates. Galvanized steel has been used in the roof construction of industrial buildings and storehouses in Iraq. It was found that placing the RB on the inner surface of the lower skin can reduce the radiation heat exchange to the minimum and hence enhance the thermal insulation performance of the roof.