ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to compile studies which involve monitoring comfort and characterising thermal properties of actual earthen structures, at full-scale and/or sample unit levels, thus showing the current state-of-the-art in the field. Firstly, a table is presented, giving details on its author/s, journals, set-up, climate type, followed standards and the apparatus that were used to take interior measurements. Then, the use of standards like ISO 9869 and ASHRAE 55 is discussed, giving details on uncertainties and on analysis methods for in situ measurements that can be applied to earth constructions. To finish, a selection of apparatus is proposed, considering accuracy and other properties. It seems clear that further research is needed to thermally characterise earth constructions both at wall and room levels, using accurate equipment and following proper standards, whilst testing several structures with similar features under the same climatological circumstances.
