Press releases of the Fraunhofer IBP

  • Remediation of contaminated wooden structures

    Research News / January 02, 2024

    Cyclodextrin-Gele als Adsorbermaterial umschließen die giftigen Holzschutzmittel und kapseln sie vollständig ein.
    © Fraunhofer IBP

    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.

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  • Using laptops and similar devices safely on aircraft

    Research News / December 01, 2023

    Brand eines Laptops während des thermischen Durchgehens
    © Fraunhofer EMI

    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.

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  • Facade exposed to the elements Fraunhofer IBP Holzkirchen
    © Fraunhofer IBP

    The plaster and mortar used in facades often contain heavy metals and biocides that leach out and and infiltrate into the soil when it rains. The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP has created a model that combines measurements of the substances that leach out with regional meteorological data. This creates a precise forecast that can be used at the planning stage to determine the type and amount of substances that could be released from facade materials when it rains. This complex project was a collaborative effort alongside universities and numerous partners from industry.

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  • A simulation model to counter the climate collapse

    Research News / August 01, 2023

    As climate change progresses, extreme weather events such as prolonged hot spells, storms and heavy rain are occurring ever more frequently, and cities are feeling the strain. The new urban climate model PALM-4U will allow municipal staff and city planners to simulate the effects of their planned construction projects on the urban climate, so that they can gauge the consequences of extreme weather events before they happen, improve quality of life in urban areas and protect the health of the sick and the elderly. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP created the user interface for the simulator, putting their many years of expertise in fields such as hygrothermics and indoor climate to good use.

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  • CIRCONOMY® Hubs
    © Fraunhofer UMSICHT

    In order to implement sustainable production, sustainable consumption and circular economy in practice, both systemic and technical solutions are required. According to an idea of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, these solutions are to be created in so-called CIRCONOMY® Hubs. These are Germany-wide networks that bring together partners from science, industry, associations and society to focus on a specific area. Two of these networks have already started their work: the hubs "Material Cycles in the Construction Sector" and "Circular Carbon Technologies CCT".

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  • Exterior view of the EE module façade
    © Fraunhofer IBP

    Times are challenging: not only have building materials become significantly more expensive in 2022, but the number of building permits for apartments has also fallen by almost seven percent1. Changes are also in store for the construction industry due to increasing digitization as well as higher requirements governing the energy efficiency of buildings or their indoor climate. New solutions from industry, politics and research are therefore urgently needed. At the BAU 2023 trade fair, which will be taking place in Munich from April 17 to 22, 2023, Fraunhofer IBP will be showcasing innovative products and system solutions on the topics of Digitization, Energy and Heat, The Future of Living and Working, and Resources and Recycling at the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance booth (Hall C2, Booth 528) as part of the special exhibition “Building the Future”.

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  • Effective thermal management with programmable materials / 2022

    Programmable heat transition

    Research News / December 01, 2022

    Schematische Darstellung des Schaumstoffaktuator-Konzepts der ersten (A1), zweiten (B1) und dritten Generation (C1): Grenzzustände der Demonstratoren bei tieferer Temperatur (A2, B2, C2) und erhöhter Temperatur (A3, B3, C3).
    © Fraunhofer IAP, IBP und ICT

    Energy is scarce – and like all scarce things, it comes at a price. That is why Germany needs to greatly reduce its energy consumption. There is significant potential for this in the area of heating and cooling energy which accounts for a large proportion of Germany’s energy consumption. Innovative materials that can be programmed to control heat transition can be a valuable tool in this scenario. The use of materials like these could, for instance, save up to 40 percent of the energy used to cool single-family homes.

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  • Cover page report “Reusable plastic crates vs. single-use cardboard boxes”.
    © Fraunhofer UMSICHT

    The packaging world is experiencing a shift away from plastic toward paper, cardboard or paperboard. But how sustainable is this new trend? In its latest report “Reusable plastic crates vs. single-use cardboard boxes — two packaging systems in competition”1, the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP were commissioned by the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) to explain the background to and correlations between the ecological effects of single-use cardboard boxes and reusable plastic crates. A general discourse on the topic of single-use vs. reusable solutions intends to help political actors lay the groundwork for a viable circular economy of the future.

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  • Innovative drying technology / 2022

    FastDry® wall-drying technology is quick, quiet and energy-efficient

    Research News / August 01, 2022

    FastDry™ heating unit
    © Fraunhofer IBP

    Until now, noisy and power-guzzling building dryers have normally been the only way of repairing water damage to apartments from leaking pipes or following heavy rain and flooding. The “FastDry”® technology developed by Fraunhofer researchers requires significantly less energy and works at least as quickly as conventional systems. The idea that underpins the technology is incredibly simple.

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  • Die Software GENERIS® bietet die Möglichkeit, aus einem umfangreichen Katalog mit Standardkonstruktionen ein Gebäude zu modellieren, zusätzlich die vorkalkulierten Betriebsparameter einzugeben und im Anschluss das Bauvorhaben auszuwerten.
    © Fraunhofer

    The European Union wants the Life Cycle Assessment of buildings to be given more significance in the future, and the EU Taxonomy creates a systematic basis for this: It defines criteria for evaluating investments, including for the climate change mitigation objective of the taxonomy. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP worked together with a business partner to develop a software suite that combines ecological indicators and economic calculations for investments. This has an influence on banks’ lending decisions since interest surcharges are possible for non-green investments in the future.

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