Press releases of the Fraunhofer IBP

Energy-efficient renovations are no longer solely a matter of climate policy. They have become part of a growing transformation market expected to attract public and private investments amounting to hundreds of billions. Yet, hidden among insulation materials, aging pipes, and decades-old wall structures lies a risk capable of disrupting timelines and budgets alike: asbestos. According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, the rapid and reliable identification of asbestos fibers is becoming one of the key prerequisites for the upcoming renovation wave. To save time and costs on construction sites, the institute is developing a new optical detection method in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB, while simultaneously expanding its analytical capabilities through a dedicated hazardous materials laboratory. The aim is to technologically address one of the critical bottlenecks in the building transition.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP have set out to improve the work environment for production employees. They have developed an analytical concept that combines measurements of temperature, air quality, lighting and noise with workers’ subjective perceptions. As people become more comfortable, efficiency and productivity could also increase.

Are existing or planned buildings sufficiently protected against moisture? This can be calculated using the WUFI® Pro software from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, which has now established itself as the standard for moisture protection assessment. Version 7.0 draws on the experience of 30 years of pioneering work in hygrothermal simulation. It offers numerous innovations based on the latest research, and which are frequently requested in practice, such as moisture assessments for solar suitability in roofing, concrete-corrosion forecasts, and wood-rot assessments. WUFI® Pro 7.0 also features a completely redesigned interface that is even more intuitive than its predecessor.

“Fume events” occur when fluids such as engine oil or hydraulic fluid contaminate the air inside an airplane cabin via the “bleed air” used for air supply and conditioning. Measurements taken in flight do not allow for determination of whether the air quality on board is negatively affected as a result. With the Bleed Air Contamination Simulator (BACS), researchers at the Fraun-hofer Institute for Building Physics IBP can artificially simulate fume events on the ground, deliberately contaminating the air inside the testing unit with oils and deicing fluids and then studying the polluted air. The results can be used to make inferences about potential health risks.

A universal modular construction system: In the BAU-DNS flagship project, seven Fraunhofer institutes are developing innovative methods for the sustainable, modular and circular refurbishment of existing buildings, aimed at industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. They will be presenting recent findings and solutions at the BAU 2025 trade show in Munich from January 13 to 17.

Times remain challenging for the construction industry: the ongoing climate change with its extreme weather events, the growing scarcity of the resources needed to manufacture key building materials, as well as rising building costs, urgently call for new solutions. At the BAU 2025 trade fair, which is taking place in Munich from January 13 to 17, 2025, Fraunhofer IBP will be presenting innovative products and system solutions as part of a special exhibition titled “Mission for the future of building – affordable.sustainable.safe” at the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance booth (Hall C2, Booth 528).

Cutting carbon emissions by more than two-thirds with consistently high quality: Specialists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP are working on future ways to manufacture the popular construction material with as little climate impact as possible. They will be showcasing their solutions at the BAU trade show in Munich from January 13 to 17, 2025.

Under the motto "Mission for the future of building affordable.sustainable.safe", from January 13 to 17, 2025, the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance will be presenting innovations as part of its special exhibition at the BAU 2025 trade fair in three key areas of transformation in the construction industry: sustainability, productivity and resilience. The exhibits will be on display in and around a two-story Innovation Cube in Hall C2, Booth 528. The Innovation Cube is a symbolic building for demonstrating the latest smart solutions both for the building envelope and for the interior.

In Germany, there are around three million buildings that are contaminated with the toxic wood preservatives lindane and pentachlorophenol (PCP). Previous measures for minimizing contamination include insulating contaminated areas or disposing of treated wooden building materials as hazardous waste. However, these measures are neither sustainable nor cost-efficient. In the CycloPlasma project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP are developing a new type of process to remove these decades-old contaminants — in the air as well as in contaminated wooden structures — in a way that is residue-free, sustainable and does not pose a health risk. For this purpose, the scientists have combined an innovative adsorber material with plasma technology.

The number of incidents involving damaged electronic devices on board aircraft has increased in recent years. Most of these are caused by lithium-ion batteries, which are found in laptops and other portable electronic devices. In the LOKI-PED project, the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP are collaborating with Airbus to assess the fire and smoke risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in cockpits and cabins. The objective is to make it safer to use portable devices on board.