Press releases of the Fraunhofer IBP

Heat pumps are an efficient and future-proof key technology for the energy transition in heating systems and for achieving Germany’s climate goals. In the WESPE project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy systems ISEand their partners are working to make heat pump installation faster, more productive and more efficient to support the transformation of the heating sector, despite a shortage of skilled workers. Innovative, standardized digital tools and practical installation solutions tested in real-world conditions are to significantly speed up future heat pump retrofits.

Records are usually something to celebrate - unless they are associated with the current heatwave. As daytime temperatures in many regions are approaching 40°C, nighttime temperatures often remain above 20°C. Especially in densely built urban areas, asphalt and concrete absorb and retain heat during the day, releasing it only gradually at night. Effective climate adaptation strategies are urgently needed. However, determining which adaption measures are most effective in specific locations remains a challenge. The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP supports planners and local authorities in addressing this challenge through its web-based simulation platform OASITY®. The platform enables planning offices and municipal planning departments to evaluate the effects of urban greening, surface depaving, and other climate adaptation measures before implementation, while directly comparing different scenarios and strategies.

Through the CircularInFoam project, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE is developing sustainable, high-performance insulation materials based on polylactide. Halogen-free flame retardant systems, modular masterbatch solutions, and industrial scalability are opening up new possibilities for safe, low-emission, and economically competitive insulation materials.

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.